Breadcrumbs
New Chairman for Countryside Agency - 13 September 2004
The Countryside Agency is playing a major role in helping Government translate its new Rural Strategy¹ into action. Dr Burgess, recently chair of the York and Hull Methodist District, will lead the Agency during this period of change, working alongside other organisations to deliver the outcomes in the Secretary of State’s vision of the countryside.
Next year will see much of the Countryside Agency’s successful demonstration work mainstreamed, with regional development agencies, government offices in the regions and rural community councils taking it forward. Pending primary legislation, about half the current Agency will work towards a new integrated agency for landscape, recreation and nature, providing a better, joined-up service for farmers and countryside users alike. And a distinctive ‘new countryside agency’ will provide strong and impartial advice to Government, as expert adviser, rural advocate and independent watchdog.
Dr Burgess’s role will be to ensure that real benefits are achieved for rural communities and the English countryside, as the Agency refocuses its socio-economic work into the ‘new countryside agency’, works closely with other partners to bring together its landscape, access and recreation work together with that of English Nature and most of the Rural Development Service, and hands over its successful programmes.
Pam Warhust, who has been leading the Agency as
acting chair since April and will remain deputy chair, said:
"At a time when there is so much potential for the Countryside
Agency to contribute strategically and practically to new
approaches to the countryside – for its landscape and for people -
I am delighted to work alongside our new chairman and board members
to make a real and lasting difference, in particular through to the
creation of the new integrated agency."
2004/39
Notes to editors:
For further information contact Isobel Coy at the Countryside Agency on 0207 340 2906 or (out of hours) 07973 94 28 92 (mob) or contact Defra for press enquiries on today’s announcement on 020 7238 5533.
The current Countryside Agency is the statutory body working to make the quality of life better for people in the countryside and the quality of the countryside better for everyone. It is a non-departmental public body sponsored by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. More information at www.countryside.gov.uk
Lord Cameron of Dillington, the previous chairman of the Countryside Agency and rural advocate², retired on the 31st March 2004. Pam Warhurst has been acting chair of the Agency since April.
¹ The Rural Strategy 2004 was announced in the House of Commons on 21 July 2004. Further information from www.defra.gov.uk/rural
² The role of Rural Advocate was created in the Rural White Paper 2000 to argue the case on countryside issues and for rural people at the highest levels in government and outside, with direct access to Ministers.
Stuart Burgess has been appointed chair of the Countryside Agency and the Government’s new Rural Advocate². He has been chair of York & Hull Methodist district since 1989. During this time he has held a number of positions within the church, including chair of the restructuring committee of the Methodist Church from 1992-1995. He was also president of the Methodist Church of Great Britain from 1999-2000, and represented the Church at national level, with government and ecumenical partners. His interests include furthering third world debt cancellation, social regeneration and rural issues.
