Breadcrumbs
Agenda for the 48th Meeting of the Countryside Agency
1. Apologies for absence and declaration of interests
2. Chairman to sign the minutes of meeting held 20 January 2005
3. Chief Executive’s report and matters arising (37kb 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 Governance AP05/07 (92kb word)
At the last Board meeting members agreed to retain the unity of the corporate Board and to continue with informal Task Groups for the new Countryside Agency (NCA) and Landscape, access and Recreation (LAR), subject to the approval of a ‘framework for decision making’. The Board is now asked to approve a ‘strategic framework’ to guide the business of the LAR and NCA Task Groups; and to agree the distribution of lead Board Member responsibilities in future.
5. Quarter 3 Report – October to December 2004 AP05/08 (70kb word)
This is the Quarter 3 report on progress towards delivery of the Corporate Plan for October to December 2004. The Board is asked to approve the report and to note that at Quarter 3 there was a grant-in-aid expenditure (GIA) of £66.5m; to note that the expected slowdown in delivery programmes in the socio-economic area has not materialized to the extent anticipated; to note a forecast spend of £1,180k on Evaluation, Dissemination and Mainstreaming ( EDM), together with forecast expenditure of around £400k for the establishment of the NCA by April 2005, and around £400k for Modernising Rural Delivery (MRD) related legal costs and HR consultancy work; to note a forecast outturn at Quarter 3 of £94.3m; and to agree that the Agency should seek to manage final corporate plan outturn within the GIA budget of £92.5m and make a case made to Defra for additional funding to meet the costs of implementing MRD.
6. EDM Transfers to RDAs and GOs – Update AP05/09 (73kb word)
This paper updates Board members about the work of the Evaluation, Dissemination and Mainstreaming Programme, and in particular the outcomes of negotiations with the regional development agencies (RDAs) and Government Offices. The Board is asked to note the outline agreements with Defra and the RDAs on transfer of staff; the number of staff on transfer; the number of posts that attracted no applicants or where applicant numbers were disappointing; and the number of staff remaining at risk.
7. Implementing the Rural Strategy – February 2005 AP05/10 (52kb word)
Despite the short period since the Board last met, good progress has been made. The Chairman has written to the Secretary of State with the Board’s agreed recommendation on the name for the (NCA), the Board has considered proposals for a logo for the NCA launch in mid-March and business plans for the NCA are in production. Progress towards LAR, the integrated agency and EDM is also being made. The Board is asked to note updates on the NCA, LAR (Confederation), the integrated agency, EDM, MRD and legislation.
8. AOB
9. Date and location of next meeting
The next meeting of the Countryside Agency will be on 10 March 2005, Dacre House, London.