Breadcrumbs
Agenda for the 43rd Meeting of the Countryside Agency
1. Apologies for absence and declaration of
interests
2. Chairman to sign the minutes of meeting held 20 May 2004
3. Chief Executive’s report and matters arising (53kb 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
4. Corporate Plan 2004/05: Overlay to Reflect Modernising Rural Delivery Activity AP04/22
PAPER TO FOLLOW
This paper provides an initial view on progress towards, and deviation from the Corporate Plan 2004/05ahead of the usual quarterly report. It has been prepared specifically to assess the impact of Modernising Rural Delivery (MRD) activity on our baseline Corporate Plan and should be considered as an overlay alongside the Corporate Plan. Board members are asked to approve for submission to the Minister the variations to take account of foreseeable MRD activity within the Agency for 2004/05; and to endorse the bids currently proposed to the £2.5m fund.
5. Strategic Priorities for Countryside Agency Business 2005 - 2008 AP04/23
PAPER TO FOLLOW
6. Pre-Budget Submission 2004/2005 AP04/24 (95kb word)
The Agency intends to let a call-off contract for year-round economics influencing. In coordination with the successful tender applicant, and advice from the Board, partners will be approached in July so that the Agency might gain information concerning their Pre-Budget submission measures, and that we might work more collaboratively in the economics influencing process. The Board is asked to approve the approach concerning the Agency’s Pre-Budget submission for 2004/05; to advise Evidence and Analysis branch of any economic issues or strategies to include in the submission; and to approve the approach for working with partners.
The Agency is empowered to make National Park boundary modification orders and to modify Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) boundaries. A 2002 Defra review recommended that the procedures for making boundary changes was streamlined. The Board is asked to agree that the Agency adopts a proactive approach to National Park and AONB boundary revisions through a prioritised programme based on criteria upon which the Agency will consult.
8. Evaluation of the AONB Programme AP04/26 (94kb word)
This paper explains the main findings of internal and external evaluations of our investment in AONBs over the last three years and makes proposals for continued investment, grant in aid permitting, until new administrative arrangements are in place. The Board is asked to approve continued funding at the present levels until a successor organization takes responsibility for AONBs; to agree improved Agency practice, including revised eligibility for core and project costs and greater consistency in administration; and to approve improved monitoring and evaluation based on core performance indicators.
9. Modernising Rural Delivery (AP04/27)
Paper held in Closed Session.
10. AOB
11. Date and location of next meeting
The next (Extraordinary) meeting of the Countryside Agency will be on 22 July 2004, Dacre House, London.
