New Forest National Park Authority Meeting NFNPA 386/11 29 September 2011 Chief Executive’s Report NFNPA 386/11 NEW FOREST NATIONAL PARK AUTHORITY AUTHORITY MEETING – 29 SEPTEMBER 2011 CHIEF EXECUTIVE'S REPORT Report by: Alison Barnes, Chief Executive Summary: This report covers the period since the Authority meeting on 23 June 2011. The report has been formatted to accord with the ‘Protect, Enjoy, Prosper and Aiming for Excellence’ themes from the 2011-15 Business Plan, summarised below: Protect Enjoy Prosper Our priorities: Our priorities: Our priorities: . Enhancing the Forest’s . Enabling high quality . Supporting a distinctive landscapes and habitats experiences of the local economy National Park . Achieving excellence in . Improving affordable development and . Improving understanding housing provision planning of the special qualities of the National Park . Promoting sustainable . Conserving strong local transport distinctiveness and the . Agreeing positive character of the historic recreation management . Encouraging sustainable environment living . Leading on education . Encouraging about the New Forest environmentally sustainable land management Aiming for Excellence In all we do: . seeking to provide the highest quality of service . working closely with others in championing the Forest . achieving an efficient and high performing organisation Recommendation: To note the report Contact: Alison Barnes Tel: 01590 646633, Email: [email protected] New Forest National Park Authority Meeting NFNPA 386/11 29 September 2011 Chief Executive’s Report NFNPA 386/11 NEW FOREST NATIONAL PARK AUTHORITY AUTHORITY MEETING – 29 SEPTEMBER 2011 CHIEF EXECUTIVE'S REPORT Report by: Alison Barnes, Chief Executive INTRODUCTION AND OVERVIEW Over the summer period the team has been focussed on working with partners to respond to new Government guidance in several work areas, including the Natural Environment White Paper, the draft National Planning Policy Framework and Defra’s announcement on the governance of National Parks, for which the New Forest is to be a pilot area for direct elections in April 2013. A bid will be prepared to put the New Forest in a position to benefit from the new initiatives being supported by Government for Nature Improvement Areas and Local Nature Partnerships. Adding more depth to our Core Strategy in specific areas has also been a focus, with a draft design guide and draft guidelines for horse-related development going out for consultation as supplementary planning documents. We are expecting a good response to these calls for views. In addition, the planning team gave a very well received training session for over 50 Parish Councillors to support them in the delivery of our new Core Strategy. A number of our projects have achieved a high profile in the Forest over the summer season, with a new route for the New Forest Tour in the north and east of the Forest being very well received by visitors, communities and businesses. The ranger team and education officers have been out in force at both NPA events and those of partner organisations, reaching 3,500 people at public events, an additional 6,000 visitors at the New Forest Show and nearly 8,500 school children and young people with messages about the Forest’s special qualities and how people can help care for it. Our Sustainable Development Fund annual report has been published, showing that in the last year 15 projects have been supported by £227,776. These have taken the total of SDF projects to almost 100 engaging around 55,000 people and drawing in new funding of £1.8 million. The projects are exemplars of innovation and best practice for sustainable living and a number of them were showcased in the first ever ‘Green Open Doors Open Day’ in early September. We are also proud that our SDF grant and officer input played a key part in working with partners to secure the opening of new facilities at Beaulieu Road Sales Yard in August. Three important projects are now at critical stages - a £1m scheme with nine other protected landscapes to promote sustainable tourism is about to launch; we are awaiting an announcement about whether our bid for Heritage Lottery Fund money to develop a WWII project has been successful; and, as a partner with Hampshire County Council, a bid for £5m to fund sustainable transport initiatives is being finalised. We are hopeful that we can bring this significant funding to make a real difference to the Forest environment and heritage. The new structure and business plan put in place from April are settling down well, as is working through three clear programmes, ‘protect, enjoy and prosper’. We have also responded positively over this period to recommendations for improvements to our governance from the District Auditor. 2 New Forest National Park Authority Meeting NFNPA 386/11 29 September 2011 Chief Executive’s Report Substantial work is underway as the whole team prepares for our move to the new shared accommodation at Lymington Town Hall in November. We are looking forward to settling into a new home which will be much more accessible for our customers and visitors. This fresh start will bring an opportunity to look forward to a new phase for the NPA, with renewed focus on delivery with our partners for the Forest. DELIVERY OF NATIONAL PARK PURPOSES AND FUNCTIONS The report has been formatted to accord with the ‘Protect, Enjoy, Prosper’ objectives from the new Business Plan, a summary of which is set out on the previous page. In addition, a fourth section, ‘Aiming for Excellence’, summarises those activities that support and contribute overall to all our work, and the final section lists Members’ activities and events. 1 Protect 1.1 Enhancing the Forest’s landscapes and habitats Government’s Natural Environment White Paper . Since the publication of the Government’s Natural Environment White Paper in June, officers have given presentations and opportunities for discussion to all parish quadrant meetings and the Consultative Panel. A staff workshop was also facilitated to identify current and potential future action to support the objectives of the White Paper. We have been working with the Hampshire Wildlife Trust and other partners to develop bids for a New Forest Local Nature Partnership and Nature Improvement Area; a workshop on 20 September was attended by over 50 partners, with unanimous support for developing bids. Ragwort control . Officers have responded to concerns regarding control of ragwort by working to promote a British Horse Society initiative and providing information via the website. The Authority’s Chief Executive has also written to the Highways Agency to highlight concerns regarding control of ragwort on trunk road verges. Wildlife management on road verges . Liaison has taken place between the Authority and Hampshire County Council Highways representatives and other interested parties to address concerns relating to the management of road side verges to benefit wildlife. This follows the issue being raised at the New Forest Consultative Panel. An initial process to identify verges has been outlined and further stakeholder discussion is planned. Increased protection for local birds . A meeting between local bird group members, the Forestry Commission and representatives of the Ministry of Defence to address issues arising from training helicopter use over Crownland was facilitated by the Authority. This is believed to be causing disturbance to a roost site for overwintering Hen harriers, one of the rare bird 3 New Forest National Park Authority Meeting NFNPA 386/11 29 September 2011 Chief Executive’s Report species for which the New Forest is internationally important. Follow-up responses from the Ministry’s representative are awaited and it is hoped that parties can agree some voluntary approaches that limit the impact of such uses. Work is underway with partners to investigate the impacts of urban effects arising from new housing growth on the three important rare birds of the New Forest (Nightjar, Dartford warbler and Woodlark). An inception meeting has been held with a contractor undertaking research and they have already started their analysis of data. Heritage Landscape . The new Heritage Landscape and Mapping Officer, Dr Laura Basell is being funded through the New Forest Higher Level Stewardship Scheme and hosted by the Authority. Data licence and data request forms are being devised to allow the widest possible access to the data without compromising the Authority’s joint copyright with Cambridge University who undertook the data collection. A presentation about the data to all those involved with this Higher Level Stewardship scheme and also for Authority members took place on the 8 of September. ‘Better Boundaries’ . A ‘Better Boundaries’ project has been initiated to look at ways of improving boundaries to fields and domestic plots. A pilot area to the north east of Ringwood has been identified to test the methods of improving boundaries that are being formulated; a combination of guidance, education and practical help for land and house owners. If the pilot area is considered to be a success, the methods could be rolled out across the Forest leading to marked improvements in both the visual impact and ecological connectivity of field and domestic plot boundaries. HLS Scheme . Continued involvement in the implementation of the New Forest Higher Level Stewardship Scheme has included meetings with partners to plan future work programmes and to develop the monitoring programme for the scheme. Development of the archaeological conservation projects funded through the New Forest HLS (Ashley fragmentation range observers hut, Longbottom observers’ hut and target, Eyeworth gunpowder factory weir, Murray & Carter Stones) has progressed. Detailed reports were delivered during July and tenders for the necessary conservation works to the various structures are now being sought. 1.2 Achieve excellence in development and planning Design Guide . The proposed draft National Park Design Guide SPD was considered by members of the Authority’s Planning Development Control Committee in August.