Contact: Mel Watkins, ext 6778

1. Summary

1.1 The following decision is sought:

That approval be given for the appointment of a Woodland Officer by the County Council.

2. Reason

2.1 The appointment of a Woodland Officer would provide a more effective use of the County Council's resources allocated to woodland conservation, and by strengthening working links with the Forestry Commission as a means of pursuing a more effective role within the England Forestry Strategy.

3. Other Options Considered and Rejected

3.1 None.

4. Conflicts of Interest Declared by the Decision Maker or a Member or Officer consulted - Not applicable.

5. Dispensation granted by the Standards Committee - Not applicable.

6. Reason(s) for the Matter being dealt with if Urgent - Not applicable.

Approved by: Date:

Councillor K B Estlin

7. Introduction

7.1 Hampshire is one of the most well-wooded counties in the United Kingdom (UK), with its 19.7% woodland cover comparing favourably with a national county average of 7.5%. Around one-third of the woodland is ancient in origin, ie pre-1700, although not all of this is semi-natural. Agriculture, mineral extraction, development and commercial forestry has resulted in a 50% decline in the county's ancient, semi-natural woodland over the past 70 years. However, its remaining woodland cover represents nearly all the possible variations of lowland woodland in the UK, with some stand types being recognised as nationally rare.

7.2 The County Council has an established record of supporting measures to conserve Hampshire's woodlands as important features of its landscape, biodiversity and rural economy. Structure Plan policies recognise the significance of much of the county's woodland, especially those notified as Sites of Special Scientific Interest and Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation. In addition, further support is provided by the County Council's `Hazel Coppice Restoration Scheme', `Landscape Strategy' and involvement as a principal partner in the `Hampshire Biodiversity Action Plan'.

7.3 Much of the County Council's work in fostering the conservation of the county's woodlands has been via a range of successful partnerships involving both professional and voluntary woodland conservation organisations. It has established the `Hampshire Woodland Forum' as a means of promoting woodland conservation across the county and supports the `Wessex Coppice Group' as its principal funding partner, with a view to sustaining a successful coppice industry within Hampshire.

7.4 The County Council plays a regional role by supporting the South East Regional Local Authority Woodland Network (SERLAWN) on more regional and national issues, eg renewable energy. Such issues are very likely to have implications for woodland management in Hampshire in the future.

7.5 Finally, the management of the County Council's own woodland estate is providing opportunity for Hampshire to promote, by example, an approach to sustainable woodland management which is critical in the countryside of the 21st century.

8. Background

8.1 The County Council's support for the conservation of woodlands in Hampshire has had a considerable influence on the policies and activities of other bodies and organisations, eg the Forestry Commission, both within the county and even at a national level. However, the circumstances under which woodland conservation is provided are different from when various initiatives were instigated. There are now ways in which the overall impact of the County Council's contribution to the conservation of Hampshire's woodlands could undoubtedly be improved.

8.2 This essentially implies a refocusing of inhouse expertise via the appointment of a Woodland Officer. Such an appointment would enable the County Council to underpin its land management programme, recently supported by Cabinet, with a generic habitat management input. This is currently a feature of the County Council's support for the conservation of the county's coastline, heathland and grasslands through staff with specific responsibilities for each of these habitats.

8.3 The Forest Authority has been encouraging the appointment of a permanent full-time Woodland Officer within the County Council for some while. The single-responsibility post is seen by the Forest Authority as a means of strengthening the links between the two organisations and has indicated that it would contribute to the post on an annual basis.

8.4 At the same time, appointing a Woodland Officer would enable the County Council to rationalise its woodland conservation work by bringing inhouse, at lower cost, some of the work of the Wessex Coppice Group and the Coppice Consultant, currently funded by the County Council. Support for both the Wessex Coppice Group and the Coppice Consultant would be maintained for a period to ensure that the County Council still had access to their necessary skills. However, such a move would result in an overall saving to the County Council.

9. Duties of the Post

9.1 The Main Accountabilities of the post would be to:

(i) act as the focus for all of the County Council's activities relating to the conservation of woodlands;

(ii) act as adviser to the County Council on all issues relating to woodland habitats; and

(iii) coordinate the County Council's woodland activities with other Government departments, groups and the public.

9.2 This work would involve:

(i) promoting the County Council's coppice restoration programme by providing specialist advice to Hampshire landowners, agents and coppice workers (initially in cooperation with the County Council's Coppice Consultant and the Manager of the Wessex Coppice Group);

(ii) administrating the coppice grant-aid programme, including the receipt, evaluation and assessment of applications, and confirmation of completed works with subsequent payment in cooperation with the County Council's Habitats Manager;

(iii) undertaking a programme of coppice survey and monitoring to identify potential woodland management areas where the coppice is in urgent need of regeneration;

(iv) developing woodland management databases;

(v) liaising with the Forestry Commission, Forest Enterprise, Wessex Coppice Group and conservation organisations on all woodland matters in the county;

(vi) advancing the objectives of the Ancient Semi-Natural Woodland Habitat Action Plan through the Hampshire Woodland Forum and other key partners identified in Volume 2 of the County Council's Biodiversity Action Plan;

(vii) advising on the management of the County Council's own woodland estate in close liaison with the Arts, Countryside and Community and Property, Business and Regulatory Services Departments, with a view to achieving `Woodland Certification' under the United Kingdom Woodland Assurance Scheme;

(viii) assisting in the organisation of the Hampshire Woodland Forum;

(ix) preparing and presenting reports to the Executive Member for Environment, the Environment Policy Review Committee, Hampshire Woodland Forum and the Wessex Coppice Group;

(x) representing Hampshire County Council on SERLAWN and other regional networks, eg Renewable Energy;

(xi) providing new and updating existing data to the Hampshire Biological Record Centre; and

(xii) promoting development of markets for woodland products, particularly in relation to the Hampshire coppice industry and the future growth of wood fuel.

10. Funding

10.1 The funding for the post can be achieved through the utilisation of part of the underspends from 2001/02; a redeployment of the Environmental Improvement Fund following a reduction in the use of the external coppice consultant; and a contribution from the Forestry Commission which has indicated its intention to financially support it.

6967/MW