Future Directions Forum

5th October 2012

Enclosure 12

Purpose of the meeting

• To consider priorities for 2013-14 and beyond• To better align corporate priorities with those of the

National Park Management Plan• To achieve shared agreement of Members and

Officers

Format of the session

• Recap on definitions and the objective setting process

• Overview of output to date from the process• Presentation of identified priority areas by

lead officers• Workshop discussion to review, refine/amend

proposals

Definitions and the objective setting process

Paul Funnell

Key Terminology

NPMP

Corporate Goals

Annual/Improvement objectives

Team/Individual actions

Performance indicators

Corporate Goals

Taking care of:

Planning Business

Environment People

Objectives for 2012/13:The process

• Future Directions Forum 7 October 2011• JMT workshops 6th, 17th and 20th October• RBA workshops 12th & 13th December• Final JMT 11th January 2012• Reported to ASC on 20th January 2012• Approved by NPA on 3rd February 2012

Next steps

• Outcome focused score cards prepared for each objective

• Actions entered into Ffynnon for performance monitoring

• Reporting rota for improvement objectives prepared for reporting to ASC

• Published in Authority Improvement Plan

Corporate priorities Flow Chart 2012 - 2013

Month of September (and

before): Directorate

discussions on priorities

Peer review of workstreamsPreliminary

resource implications

Early October:FDF/JMT meeting

to:-agree priorities-establish work

groups

October to mid November:

Workgroups to:-Identify actions

-Identify resources required

15 November:JMT to agree final priorities , actions

and resource requirementsAnnual peer

review of workstreams (impact vs. resources)

15 to 29 November:Budget estimates

preparation

13 December:Directors meeting to finalise budgets

20 December:CMT to agree budgets for submission to ASC

and NPA

Early January 2013

Budget to ASC

End January 2013

Budget to NPA

15 February 2013Absolute deadline

to set budget

Overview of proposals for Corporate Goals for 2013-14

John Cook

Current Corporate Goals and Annual Objectives

2012/13 Objectives: Planning

• The Authority provides an excellent planning service

• The LDP protects and enhances the special qualities of the Park and encompasses communities’ needs

• The enforcement service protects the Park’s special qualities from inappropriate development

• The Park’s built heritage is conserved and enhanced

2012/13 Objectives: Business

• Public confidence in and accessibility to the Authority’s conduct of business and governance will be improved

• Decision making within the Authority will be improved through a programme of research and improved information management

• The Authority’s carbon footprint will continue to be reduced year on year and will serve as an exemplar to others

2012/13 Objectives: Environment

• The Park’s ecosystems will benefit from broad-scale and targeted conservation works

• Biodiversity is conserved and enhanced through public engagement, practical action and planning advice

• A sustainably managed range of access opportunities will be available

2012/13 Objectives: People

• The principles of sustainable development are increasingly embedded in the economic activity of the Park

• Communities are inspired by and recognise the benefits of where they live

• People benefit from the special qualities of the National Park

Progress reports to ASC

• July 2012: Biodiversity is conserved and enhanced through public engagement, practical action and planning advice

• October 2012: Public confidence in and accessibility to the Authority’s conduct of business and governance will be improved

• January 2013: Review of progress against all objectives

• April 2013: The Park’s built heritage is conserved and enhanced

Better alignment with NPMP priorities

Planning Business Environment People

Excellent planning service LDP Enforcement Heritage Confidence Research CO2 Ecosystems Biodiversity Access SD Communities Benefits

Landscapes

Historic environment X X X X X X X X X X

Public benefit X X X X X X X X

Understanding X X X X X X

Woodlands X X X

Visitor impact X X X X X

Geodiversity X X

Biodiversity

Protect & manage X X X

Community projects X X

Research X X X

Understanding X X X X

Access & Recreation

PROW X X X X

Information X X X X

Provision X X X X

Awareness & Understanding

Generate opportunity X X

Visitor experience X X

Shared responsibility X X

Prioritisation X X

WG agenda X

Research X X X

Sustainable communities

Climate change X X

SDF X X

Local Food X X

PrIde & benefit X X

LDP X X X

Sustainable ED

Tourism X X X X X X

Business X X X X X

Economic Impact X X X

Tourism Impact X X X X

Transport X X X

Partnership X X X

Farming X X X X X

Resilience X X X

Designates Improvement Objectives

NPMP Key Themes1. Managing Park Landscapes to maximise

conservation and public benefits2. Conserving and enhancing biodiversity3. Providing everyone with opportunities for

outdoor access and recreation4. Raising awareness and understanding of the

Park5. Building and maintaining sustainable

communities, towns and villages6. Sustainable economic development

Sub theme Focal area Action

Managing the Historic environment

Protect and manage the historic environment

• Develop a strategy for buildings at risk (BBNPA)• Deliver one townscape heritage scheme (BBNPA)• Deliver the buildings at risk conservation function

within the Planning Service (BBNPA)• Develop and deliver an implementation plan of

positive projects (Cadw)

Raise awareness and understanding

• Produce a suite of guidance for built heritage (BBNPA)• Develop education, interpretation and information

strategies (Cadw)

Develop a research and management agenda

• Deliver two research projects (Cadw)• Develop and regional strategy to protect manage and

monitor the (Cadw)

Recognise and enhance farming’s role in managing the Park’s landscape

• Develop and implement mechanisms to actively involve young farmers in decision making and management of the Park’s landscape (YFC/BBNPA)

• Develop a demonstration project to address at least one key issue facing the future of farming

• Explore better ways to utilise the Agriculture stakeholders group

Proposal for 2013-14 onwards

• Corporate Goals (4) = NPMP key themes (6)• Annual objectives = Selected focal areas• Actions = Actions!• Some work would be needed to make

everything outcome focused

The benefits

• Total alignment with NPMP priorities• Far simpler process

– For Members – For Officers– For reporting

• Allows focus on actions for lead organisations• Facilitates stronger partnership working

Proposed priority areas

Key Officers

Education, Interpretation & Information: Telling National Park Stories

Sunita Welch: Education Manager

• Deliver core education and guided walks programmes

• Teacher training (ITT and INSET)• Vincent Wildlife Trust Project • Romans in Carmarthenshire• Deliver site interpretation• Information strategy/action plan• Support conservation and Geopark projects• Maintain and enhance destination website areas• YHA Danywenallt National Park Study Centre

Sustainable CommunitiesClare Parsons: Sustainable Communities Manager

• Sustainable Development Fund (& SDF Loan Fund) • Community energy & resilience support ( with TGV) • Community Engagement Action Plan :

– Community Council Charter & Action Plan– Community newsletter – Implement Scrutiny review recommendations

• Social Inclusion & Child Poverty Action Plan :– Rural Skills :Agored accredited skills training– Community Champions: training for group leaders to revisit– Mosaic Wales:BME Champions/ Group Visits / Feedback & Change– Fair Play in the Park: subsidised initial visits for child poverty groups

• Volunteer Development: Walking with Offa, Heritage, Events

• Community events marquee

Planning: Strategy, Policy and HeritageTracy Nettleton: Head of Strategy, Policy and Heritage

Raising awareness and understanding of the Park; Building and maintaining sustainable communities, towns and villages;

Sustainable economic development

• Adopt the Local Development Plan• Produce a suite of Supplementary Planning Guidance• Embark on Village Plans• Produce a Heritage Strategy• Complete the programme of Conservation Area Appraisals • Develop a Monuments at Risk Register• Increase heritage volunteer involvement and skills capacity• Host a Heritage Open Day

Conservation Section• Develop Uplands

Management Programme• Implement Waterfalls

Management Programme• Implement RoW Mgmt

Programme• Deliver SPLASH project• Promote Research

Prospectus• Undertake site mgmt,

monitoring and staff training

• Prioritise understanding of Park's water resources and Usk catchment

• Deliver Calch project• Develop Staff Farming Forum• Support TGV Biodiversity

programme• Working group for large

events (e.g., OMM)• Capital Works programme• National consultations (e.g.,

Env' Bill)

(Conservation, Access and RoW, Wardens, Property Mgmt)

Other work: information management project

Visitor CentresWayne Lewis : Commercial Manager

• Improve the visitor experience at our Visitor Centres, And

• Deliver a long term commercial strategy for the Visitor Centres by:– Training our staff to deliver a first class welcome to our

visitors.– Improve the retail offer at our Visitor Centres.– Improve the layout and presentation of our Visitor Centres.– Making Visitor Centres more relevant for the local

community.– Introduce play provision at the National Park Visitor Centre

and Craig y nos• Continue Craig y nos recovery

Dummy slide in case someone likes this format!

NPMP Theme Proposed work

Managing Park Landscapes to maximise conservation and public benefitsConserving and enhancing biodiversity

Providing everyone with opportunities for outdoor access and recreationRaising awareness and understanding of the ParkBuilding and maintaining sustainable communities, towns and villagesSustainable economic development

Sustainable Economic Development: Promoting Sense of Place & Quality Experiences

Julian Atkins: Director

• Deliver Rural Alliances project• Sustainable Tourism Strategy• Visitor Transport Initiative• Cycling Strategy• Fforest Fawr Geopark• Visitor Management Plan• Destination Marketing• BBNP Branding project• Walking with Offa/ Walkers are Welcome• Deliver Beacons Bus service

Funding Development and Account ManagementRuth Coulthard: Funding Development Manager

• Develop and maintain register of funding opportunities and priorities

• Develop and implement programme of targeted external funding applications including HLF programme

• Investigate the potential of a charitable vehicle for the National Park and potential fundraising initiatives

• Create a prioritised account management framework with key partners and officers

• Engagement with key organisations and agencies to deliver NPA work and priorities

• Gain International Dark Sky accreditation for the National Park

Planning – Development Management 2013/14.Director – Chris Morgan. Head of Service – Kevin Jones.*That the Authority builds upon what it has defined as an ‘excellent planning service’;*Achievement of local targets for speed of decision making;

*Robust and quality decision making demonstrated by high percentage of appeal refusals upheld;

*Securing of public benefit and maintain or enhance the quality of the Park through the planning process by ensuring only high quality designed and sustainable development in accord with policy are approved.*That the Enforcement Service continues to protect the special qualities of the Park from inappropriate development by;

*Achieving locally set targets for speed of investigation of enforcement complaints.

*successfully carrying out formal action or prosecution to rectify harm

Corporate GovernanceNPMP Theme Continue to encourage understanding of

and access to Authority governance by:

Managing Park Landscapes to maximise conservation and public benefits

Conserving and enhancing biodiversity

Providing everyone with opportunities for outdoor access and recreation

Raising awareness and understanding of the Park

• Evaluating success of webcasting project, identify funding, work with partners to promote open governance;

• Delivering two scrutiny reviews of improvement objectives to improve performance – will impact on one or more NPMP priority areas;

• Improving our information governance

Building and maintaining sustainable communities, towns and villages

Sustainable economic development Widening the funding base of the Authority by establishing a commercial arm/charitable trust

Workshop

In Groups1. Are you content with the proposal i.e. that

Corporate Goals = NPMP key themes2. What are the current benefits? 3. What are the downsides?4. Are you content with the proposed priority

areas?5. Are there any additions?