Contact: Bryan Boult, ext 6772

1. Summary

1.1 The following decision is sought:

That the County Council enters into agreements with the following voluntary sector and other bodies providing services and support to the County Council's environmental objectives for the amounts listed below:

Butterfly Conservation £3,000

British Trust for Conservation Volunteers £26,000

Bursledon/Hampshire Buildings Preservation Trust £30,000

Danebury Trust £6,000

Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Officer £30,000

(East Hampshire)

Forest of Bere Officer £15,000

Forest of Eversley Officer £15,000

The Hampshire and Surrey Farming and Wildlife

Advisory Group £15,000

Hampshire Biodiversity Information Centre £19,000

Hampshire Gardens Trust £15,000

Hampshire Ornithological Society £3,000

Hampshire and Wight Maritime Archaeology Trust £19,000

Hampshire Wildlife Trust £20,000

Learning Through Landscapes Trust £22,000

Wessex Coppice Group £10,000

2. Reason

2.1 Since 1997 the County Council has provided funds to support the provision of services which assist the County Council in delivering both statutory and discretionary environmental programmes. These payments are subject to individual annual service agreements and arrangements to provide services in 2002-03 must now be made.

3. Other Options Considered and Rejected

3.1 Not to make arrangements with these bodies this year.

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. Proposed Environmental Service Providers

7.1 Butterfly Conservation (Hampshire Branch) is the premier group recording and monitoring Hampshire's butterfly and moth species. Through its network of local recorders it generates important data on the distribution of Hampshire's butterflies and moths. This information is fed into the County Council's environmental records.

7.2 The British Trust for Conservation Volunteers has been in partnership with the County Council for many years. It provides support for many voluntary and community groups engaged in the practical conservation of Hampshire's countryside. The Trust is a source of advice and training for these groups, not just in terms of practical skills but also in the increasingly important application of health and safety practice.

7.3 Hampshire Buildings Preservation Trust provides many services in support of Hampshire's historic built heritage, which are complementary to the County Council's actions. Its role in the rescue and rehabilitation of threatened historic buildings and the provision of support and advice for other building trusts and members of the public are important components of the Trust's work. Staff resource for the Trust is provided by the County Council through means of a service agreement with Bursledon Brickworks. The service agreement also supports the work of the Brickworks itself and enables the County Council to call upon specialist advice for buildings, material and techniques.

7.4 Hampshire County Council set up the Danebury Trust to carry out further research into Danebury and its environs. The Trust commissions an annual programme of archaeological work under the guidance of the archaeological director, Professor Barry Cunliffe. The results of this work are an important addition to the County Council's Sites and Monuments Record. The Trust is currently working on excavations associated with the investigation of Iron Age/Roman landscape north of Danebury and is also supported by the Recreation and Heritage Committee.

7.5 The County Council is a member of the Joint Advisory Committee for the East Hampshire Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). The County Council's objectives for the day-to-day management of the AONB are met by the employment of a Project Officer, who is working closely with the Sussex Downs Management Board in a run-up to the possible creation of a national park.

7.6 The Forests of Bere and Eversley areas have now come to the point where the joint authorities have decided to employ project officers for each area. The County Council is a key partner in these initiatives and is supporting these posts.

7.7 The Hampshire and Surrey Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group (FWAG) provides an advisory service to landowners and farmers, particularly in the creation of whole farm conservation plans. The County Council is keen to see the promotion of archaeological and ecological interests as part of this process and to benefit from the data that such plans produce. The Hampshire Landscape Strategy aims and guidelines will be delivered as part of the agreement. It is also proposed that the FWAG officer pursues other County Council objectives such as working on Land Management Plans.

7.8 For a number of years the County Council has worked in partnership with several other agencies in the collection of biological data. This partnership has now become the Hampshire Biodiversity Information Centre and this agreement is to enable the County Council access to the Centre's data.

7.9 Hampshire Gardens Trust works with an increasing number of landowners and other interested parties promoting the care and appreciation of historic parks and gardens. The Trust supports the work of the County Council in a number of ways, for example research support in managing and maintaining the Historic Parks and Gardens Register.

7.10 Hampshire Ornithological Society provides data on birds to assist the County Council in a range of duties, including development control, identification of sites of importance for nature conservation and support to the biodiversity programme. The data enhances the Environmental Record.

7.11 The County Council has actively encouraged the work of the Hampshire and Wight Trust for Maritime Archaeology since its formation. The Trust provides maritime archaeological data and expertise which enhances the County Council's Sites and Monuments Record. The Trust promotes a better understanding of maritime and marine archaeology through a wide range of services to the public.

7.12 The Hampshire Wildlife Trust is working with the County Council in a number of important areas. The Wildlife Trust acts as the employer of a project officer who gives advice and assistance to owners and managers of Sites of Importance to Nature Conservation. The Trust will also provide the County Council with specialist input on community environmental issues.

7.13 The Learning through Landscapes Trust has developed over recent years into a body with international influence. Its headquarters are based in Hampshire and the Trust is working with Hampshire schools and provides a source of advice and support for the Hampshire Schools Landscape Project.

7.14 The Wessex Coppice Group was established by the County Council in 1995 to encourage the economic growth of hazel coppice through marketing, training and public awareness, whilst sustaining the landscape and ecological value of the woodland resource. Alongside the County Council's programme of grant aid for coppicing, the Group is very successful in helping to secure the long term viability of the coppice industry.

8. Legal Implications

8.1 The County Council has the power under the Local Government Act 2000 to do anything that is likely to achieve the promotion or improvement of the economic, social or environmental well-being of an area. In particular, Section 2 of the Local Government Act 2000 enables the County Council to enter into arrangements or agreements with any person, and give financial assistance to any person for the promotion or improvement of the environmental well-being of the area, and for the promotion or improvement of the social well-being of the area. Environmental well-being includes anything to do with the locality. Social well-being includes health and living issues.

7072/BB