Natural England

MATTERS ARISING REPORT 13 DECEMBER MEETING

Despite getting the draft to DEFRA early, we have yet to receive formal approval. We have had a discussion with the Minister (Alun Michael) on the Corporate Plan who is broadly content. There appear to be a number of points to resolve at DEFRA official level which Sarah Sleet hopes to resolve with Susan Carter on 7 December. She will report on this at the meeting.The Minister agreed that the access contingency plan should be a separate add on, once the Agency has examined the cost. Bob Roberts and Jon Tomlinson are advising the Chief Executive on that. 

AP01/43 SOUTH-WEST COAST PATH: REVIEW OF NATIONAL TRAIL IN SOUTH DEVON 

Officers have had initial discussions with Devon County Council with the aim of establishing a small team and work programme to take the detailed alignment work forward. Existing heavy work commitments at local authority level mean that there may be some delay before a team with the appropriate experience and skills can be assembled, but all parties are keen to make progress as quickly as possible. Meanwhile, we have established a joint Agency/County steering group to guide the work and are writing to all consultation respondents outlining the next stages of the process:a. research into possible historic routes along the coast;b. individual discussions with affected land owners and the Parish Councils to try to resolve some outstanding issues;c. site surveys to examine physical alignment constraints along the coast and safety measures on road sections.(prepared by Anne Cameron, November 2001)

AP01/44 REGIONAL GOVERNANCE 

Board members and Regional Directors will have had discussions about taking forward the regional influencing strategy discussed at the November meeting on 12 December. Meanwhile, a meeting with the Minister of State at DEFRA (Alun Michael) and the Rural Directors in the Government Offices on 5 December, presented a useful opportunity to work out how to clarify the roles of the department, Regional Development Agencies, the Government Offices and the Countryside Agency at the regional level. In addition, Board members with regional responsibilities have been invited to join the Chairman and Chief Executive in hosting a dinner with each of the Regional Development Agency chairmen and chief executives early in 2002. (Prepared by Claire Spink, December 2001)

AP01/45 NATIONAL PARK POLICY REVIEW

The Board paper and draft submission, together with comments and detailed points raised by Board members have been combined to produce the Agency's formal response to DEFRA on the National Park Review. Clarification of the issues surrounding sustainable rural development and the socio-economic duty were included.The final submission was circulated to Board members for instant feedback prior to sending to DEFRA. We have arranged meetings to discuss the Agency's contribution to the Review, the timetable and our role in proofing the outcomes.(prepared by Richard Partington, December 2001)

AP01/46 AGGREGATES LEVY SUSTAINABILITY FUND 

A Countryside Agency response to the Government's consultation on the operation of the new Fund has been approved by the Chief Executive and sent to the appropriate part of DEFRA. That response was sent with a covering letter outlining the flexibilities sought by the Agency to be able to deliver the scheme effectively, including an ability to grant-aid projects at 75% instead of our usual ceiling of 50%. We plan to have a two person team in place in the Bristol office from early January to prepare for the Fund's introduction on 1st April 2002. (Prepared by Andy Gale, December 2001)

AP01/47 CORPORATE PLAN PROGRESS - HALF YEAR REPORT 

The Executive have taken the action described in the report. The review of our running costs budgets has revealed further reductions in the overspend through tight management regimes, now estimated at £1.6 million as opposed to £2.4 million. Equally improvements in procedures for grant handling and new payment regimes are likely to improve the spending profile by the end of the year. The new fund for rural recovery has been launched very successfully. We have committed £2 million to guarantee a spend of £1.5 million. The biggest grant has been awarded to the Youth Hostels Association. The demand for grants has far outstripped the money available. At its meeting on 3 December the Executive agreed that an additional £50,000 may be prudently committed under the scheme given the exceptional level of need revealed and the ability to absorb some flexibility in next years programme.The latest quarterly reports are now being sought from Principal Managers. Guidance and exemplar reports have accompanied the request to help ensure more consistency in approach.(Prepared by Sarah Sleet, December 2001)

AP01/48 LAND USE PLANNING GREEN PAPER 

There is still no clear indication as to when the Planning Green Paper will be released. We expect to see it before the end of the year and to present a draft response to the Board in February 2002. (Prepared by Terry Robinson, December 2001)