Breadcrumbs
Agenda - 40th Meeting of the Countryside Agency
1. Apologies for absence and declaration of
interests
2. Chairman to sign two sets of minutes of meeting held 11 December September 2003
3. Chairman to sign minutes of Board Teleconference 22 January 2004
4. Draft minutes of October 2003 National Countryside Access Forum Meeting
5. Chief Executive’s report and matters arising (50kb word)
This paper updates the Board on activity within each programme area, any actions taken as a result of decisions from previous Board meetings and progress made on those issues
6. Third Quarter Report AP04/01 (60kb word)
This is the Quarter 3 report on progress towards the Corporate Plan for April to December 2003. Board members are asked to approve the Quarter 3 report; to note the Agency is facing up well to the demands of meeting existing corporate plan targets while also gearing up for Modernising Rural Delivery; to agree that an aggregate forecast outturn underspend for the Agency is between £4M and £6M against full year grant-in-aid budget of £100M; and to agree that the Agency should make a formal application to use end-of-year flexibility in line with the new Financial Memorandum about to be signed.
In September 2003 the Board considered a paper on a draft research strategy, and approved Evidence and Analysis operating as a research hub for the Agency. Following publication of Haskins’ Report and the Secretary of State’s subsequent response, the Board’s view is that research must be a key function of both a new Countryside Agency and an integrated agency. The Board is asked to approve use of material on strategic issues to inform discussions and submissions on future organizational functions, structures and processes; and to approve the Interim Research Strategy for the present Countryside Agency.
8. Use of Mechanically Propelled Vehicles on Public Rights of Way AP04/03 (87kb word)
Defra has issued a consultation paper on use of motor vehicles on rights of way following concern by the Rural Affairs Minister about problems caused on public rights of way and the wider countryside. The Agency is expected to provide a full response to the consultation as the Government’s statutory advisors on matters relating to open-air recreation. This paper asks for the Board’s agreement to a set of principles (paragraphs 8-12); and to agree that the Agency’s response to Defra’s consultation is based on these principles.
9. The Community Renewables Initiative AP04/04 (103kb word)
The Community Renewables Initiative (CRI) was launched by the Energy Minister in February 2002 and was highlighted in the Energy White Paper 2003 as a way of pursuing community based renewable energy. Funds were made available for an initial demonstration phase from Dti, but as yet no funds have been made available for a further phase or mainstreaming. The Agency coordinates the CRI and our activity is set to cease in March 2005. Board members are asked to agree that the Agency ceases to be directly involved in the CRI as planned; to agree that the Agency works with partners to secure the extension of CRI to the whole of England from April 2005; and to agree that new coordination arrangements are put in place from April 2005 and funding is secured from national, regional and private sources.
10. Audit and Risk Management Committee AP04/05
CLOSED PAPER
11. AOB
12. Date and location of next meeting
The next meeting of the Countryside Agency will be on 31 March 2004, John Dower House, Cheltenham.
