Breadcrumbs
Agenda for the 42nd Meeting of the Countryside Agency
1. Apologies for absence and declaration of
interests
2. Chairman to sign two sets of minutes of meeting held 31 March 2004
3. Minutes of Audit and Risk Management Committee – to note
4. Chief Executive’s report and matters arising (51kb 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
5. Modernising Rural Delivery AP04/14
The Board is asked to note the latest progress on Defra’s Modernising Rural Delivery programme and the Agency’s workstreams that feed into it.
6. Quarter 4 Report January-March 2004 AP04/15 (57kb word)
This is the final report for 2003/04 and summarises the progress towards the Corporate Plan 2003/04 – 2005/06 at the end of March 2004. The Board is asked to approve the Quarter 4 report and to note the main achievements; to note an aggregate unaudited outturn spend for the Agency of £94m against full year grant-in-aid budget of £100m.
The draft Planning Policy Statement 1 (PPS1) sets the high-level policy objectives for the revised planning system which will come into force following the expected passing of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Bill this summer. The Agency’s proposed response to the consultation makes suggestions on improving key areas of concern to the Agency and our vision for positive planning. The Board is asked to note the proposed response.
8. Housing – The Barker Review AP04/17 (62kb word)
This paper outlines the key findings and recommendations in the recent report to government – Review of Housing Supply – by economist Kate Barker, a member of the Bank of England Monetary Policy Committee. The review followed concerns about the lack of supply and responsiveness in the housing market. Board members are asked to agree an overall policy stance on the recommendations of the Barker Review; to consider whether our current policy line is sufficient; to agree an interim line on some recommendations; and to agree that further work should be put in hand to produce better estimates of rural housing need and on good development practice in rural areas.
9. Forest of Dean Integrated Rural Development Programme AP04/18 (50kb word)
In April 2003 the Board agreed a two year extension of the Integrated Rural Development programme for the Forest of Dean. Due to slippage in the programme during 2003 it has been agreed to support the locally based officer post until September 2005. An exit strategy has been prepared. The Board is invited to note progress with the project and to agree the exit strategy and arrangements for the future.
In June 2003 agreement was reached in Luxembourg on so-called mid-term changes to the Agenda 2000 CAP reform package. It turned out to be potentially the most significant reform of the CAP for decades. Member States have discretion on whether and how they should implement some of the measures. Defra is currently consulting on cross-compliance requirements and another on the detailed rules for eligibility, hardship and a national reserve for the Single Farm Payment scheme. The Board is asked to approve a Countryside Agency position on a medium term strategy for CAP support; and to agree the response to Defra on their consultation paper – Consultation on proposed and possible measures for implementation of Cross Compliance in England.
11. Open Access Total Project Costs AP04/20 (56kb word)
The figures in this paper are the latest estimate of the total expenditure that will be incurred by the Agency for the Open Access project since preparations to implement the CROW Act. The figures are still subject to fluctuation as some future costs are dependent upon volumes of work. Board members are asked to note that a review of the Agency’s costs for the project to the end of 2003/04 has been completed, and a firmer estimate of expected costs to be incurred has been made; and to note that this estimate has been sent to Defra so they can update our formal approval for the expenditure, and for Defra to amend their estimates of the total costs associated with meeting the PSA target.
12. Improving Access for Canoeing: Advice to Defra AP04/21 (61kb word)
The Agency has just received the final report from Brighton University who had been commissioned to review the feasibility of improving access for canoeing by voluntary agreement. The Board is asked to note that the Agency has completed phase 1 of a three year project and that the report has been sent to the Minister of the findings, along with recommendations on whether to proceed to the second phase; and to note these recommendations and brings Board members up to date with the conclusions of the study.
13. AOB
14. Date and location of next meeting
The next meeting of the Countryside Agency will be on Monday 5 July 2004, Royal Show Ground, Stoneleigh, Warwickshire.
