Archived decisions

Contact: Linda Tartaglia-Kershaw, ext 6815

email: [email protected]

1. Summary

1.1 The following decision is sought:

That the County Council enter into agreements with the following voluntary sector and other bodies providing services and support to the County Council's environmental objectives:

British Trust for Conservation Volunteers £23,000

Hampshire Buildings Preservation/Bursledon Brickworks Trusts £15,000

Danebury Trust £6,000

East Hampshire Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty £30,000

- Joint Advisory Committee

Forest of Bere Partnership £15,000

Forest of Eversley Partnership £15,000

The Hampshire and Surrey Farming and Wildlife £15,000

Advisory Group

Hampshire Gardens Trust £15,000

Hampshire Wildlife Trust (Community Project Officer) £7,200

Hampshire and Isle of Wight Trust for Maritime £19,000

Archaeology

Learning Through Landscapes Trust £22,000

Hampshire Biodiversity Information Centre £20,500

Hampshire Wildlife Trust (Habitat Management Advisory Project) £15,000

Hampshire Ornithological Society £3,000

Butterfly Conservation £3,000

Total £223,700

2. Reason

2.1 Since 1997 the County Council has provided funds to support the provision of services which assist it in delivering both statutory and discretionary environmental programmes. These payments are subject to individual annual service agreements, and arrangements to provide services in 2004/05 must now be made.

2.2 The proposed funding for each Trust is cash limited at last year's budget. The total departmental funding allocation for environmental service providers is £238,700, of which £223,700 is proposed for the above trusts, leaving £15,000 still to be allocated. . The Ecology Group is currently reviewing the use of the remaining £15,000 to support work in furtherance of the Biodiversity Action Plan for Hampshire.

2.3 The decision supports the following aims of the Corporate Strategy:

(i) Aim 1 (Maximising life opportunities) by supporting with training and advice many voluntary and community groups in the practical conservation of Hampshire's countryside. Promoting an understanding and appreciation of local historic, cultural, natural and built environment heritage to develop a sense of place with communities and schools. Promoting an understanding and appreciation of maritime archaeology of the Solent among the public and those who find recreation in the Solent.

(ii) Aim 2 (Stewardship of the environment) by provision of advice to land managers and communities on the conservation and enhancement of Hampshire's countryside, data collection and management, and coordination of environmental projects to deliver the County Council's environmental policies and strategies. Provision of advice to communities within the Solent area and those with a professional interest. Promotion of surveys, studies and research information relating to the Hampshire Solent coast, to inform the delivery of the County Council's environmental policies and strategies.

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 Other Executive Member consulted - None.

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 The Environment Department has worked closely with specialist Hampshire organisations and independent Hampshire Trusts for many years to deliver the County Council's environmental policies, aims and objectives and more specifically direct services to support the Department's environmental programmes. The Trusts influence a wide range of environmental activities in Hampshire with their breadth of membership and specialist skills.

7.2 The service to be delivered by each organisation, with respect to the funding contribution received from the County Council, is set out in a service level agreement (SLA) with specified aims and primary objectives. The way the service is delivered ranges from agreed days per year dedicated to specific activities to a broader influencing role. Reports on activities undertaken to deliver the SLA objectives are provided by the organisations for monitoring purposes. Performance targets will be included where appropriate in the new SLAs in order to assist in the monitoring of the service delivered.

7.3 A schedule is attached in Appendix 1 setting out a departmental breakdown of the County Council's funding contribution to each organisation over the last three years.

7.4 Information available from the individual organisations' annual reports, with respect to funding contributions from other bodies, is set out in Appendix 2 to provide the wider context for the County Council's funding contribution.

7.5 A summary of the proposed Environmental Service Providers is set out for information in the following paragraphs.

8. British Trust for Conservation Volunteers

8.1 The British Trust for Conservation Volunteers provides support on behalf of the County Council 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.

8.2 The service is provided across a range of core staff through the Trust's independent role to deliver the following primary objectives under the SLA on behalf of the Environment Department:

(i) support the development of local groups active in environmental conservation;

(ii) provide training, support and advice to community groups and landowners;

(iii) enable the establishment of links between landowners and community groups in undertaking land management activities;

(iv) promote County Council guidelines for the protection and enhancement of the distinctive landscape character of the county, as a basis for land management activities;

(v) liaise between landowners and other statutory and voluntary organisations to secure land management advice and action and avoid duplication of advice and action;

(vi) facilitate local communities to undertake practical project work; and

(vii) promote the County Council's environmental activities and services targeted at Hampshire communities, making presentations to a variety of groups and contributing to other initiatives within Hampshire.

9. Hampshire Buildings Preservation/Bursledon Brickworks Trusts

9.1 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.

9.2 Discussions with the two trusts have been taking place for a number of years with the aim and understanding that as the trusts become more self-sufficient and independent, funding from the Environment Department will be gradually withdrawn. Funding for the SLA has been reduced from £30,000 in 2002/03 to £15,000 in 2003/04. In response to this Bursledon Brickworks Trust has been forced to move towards closer working in association with Hampshire Buildings Preservation Trust, sharing specialist and administrative staff support. Specialist advice from the Trust is provided by members of both Trusts and staff at Bursledon Brickworks. In 2003/04 a minimum of 90 person days were allocated to deliver the following primary objectives through the SLA:

(i) specialist services and advice to the voluntary sector, members of the public and the County Council for practical action in caring for Hampshire's built heritage;

(ii) working together with other bodies and preservation societies to promote and develop awareness and support for the conservation of Hampshire's built heritage;

(iii) specialist advice for building materials and techniques to this Department; and

(iv) support for the practical restoration of the Bursledon Brickworks by fundraising, both capital and revenue, in support of the Bursledon Brickworks Conservation Centre.

9.3 The Environment Department received a direct benefit as part of the current SLA, with technical advice to officers on research for two future County Council publications which will provide policy guidance on sustainable management of distinctive Hampshire historic structures.

10. Danebury Trust

10.1 Hampshire County Council set up the Danebury Trust to carry out further research into Danebury and its environs. The commitment to funding the work of the Trust runs until 31 March 2005.

10.2 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 funding from the Recreation and Heritage Committee. The following primary objectives are delivered through the SLA, to:

(i) provide the Director of Environment with specialist archaeological advice arising out of the work of the Danebury Trust;

(ii) provide the Director of Environment with a copy of the interim excavation report, as well as a copy of any final report, for inclusion in the Sites and Monuments Record;

(iii) encourage through contact with the public a better understanding and enjoyment of the archaeology of the Danebury environs; and

(iv) observe and record the level of damage to the archaeological levels arising from agricultural activity during the excavations in order to inform reasonable enquiries by the Director of Environment seeking to inform the County Council's management grant strategy.

11. East Hampshire Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty - Joint Advisory Committee

11.1 The County Council is a member of the Joint Advisory Committee (JAC) for the East Hampshire Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). The JAC was set up in 1991. The three funding authorities on the JAC are Hampshire County Council, East Hampshire District Council and Winchester City Council. Each authority is committed to funding support for the AONB staff through a Memorandum of Agreement which is operational until 31 March 2006. This funding in turn secures core funding from the Countryside Agency for the management of the AONB. The County Council's Recreation and Heritage Executive meets the cost of accommodation and management responsibility for the AONB team.

11.2 The County Council's statutory duty to produce and implement an AONB Management Plan and its objectives for the day-to-day management of the AONB are met by the employment of a Project Officer and AONB team. The team works closely with the Sussex Downs Management Board in a run up to the possible creation of a national park.

11.3 The County Council has directly benefited from the SLA through the production in 2003/04 of an interim AONB Management Plan which was adopted in March 2004.

12. The Forests of Bere and Eversley Partnerships

12.1 Local Authorities in the Forests of Bere and Eversley areas have formed respective partnerships, along with a number of other external organisations, and have agreed to jointly employ a project officer for each area. The County Council is a key partner in these initiatives and supports these posts. The projects deliver the Forests of Bere and Eversley Strategies prepared jointly by the partners, through coordination of other local community activities and direct delivery of the action plan on the ground.

12.2 The Forest of Bere Partnership Community Project Officer is funded by Havant Borough Council, Fareham Borough Council, Winchester City Council, , Forest Enterprise and the County Council through the SLA funding. The Forest of Eversley Partnership project is funded by Hart District Council, Basingstoke District Council, Forest Enterprise, the Forest of Eversley Trust, Environment Agency, Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust and the County Council through the SLA funding.

13. The Hampshire and Surrey Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group

13.1 The Hampshire and Surrey Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group (FWAG) provides an advisory service to Hampshire landowners and farmers on behalf of the County Council. The cost of a FWAG adviser is shared between Hampshire and Surrey County Councils and the time is shared between the two geographic areas. The primary objectives delivered through the SLA are to:

(i) provide a farm conservation advisory service to the farming and landowning community of Hampshire;

(ii) promote environmentally responsible farming practices to achieve the sustainable management of land and natural resources;

(iii) promote activities that will contribute to the protection and enhancement of the distinctive characteristics of the Hampshire landscape;

(iv) contribute to the collection of ecological, archaeological and historic landscape information. Subject to the consent of landowners, this data will be integrated into the Environment Department's environmental databases and made available to the public; and

(v) be an active participant in the network of organisations influencing and delivering land management action and community participation in land management.

13.2 Advice is particularly given in the development of whole farm conservation plans. As part of this process and through FWAG's independent advisory role, the County Council's environmental, economic, community and sustainable development policies and objectives are promoted.

13.3 The County Council has benefited this year from FWAG's advisory support on the ground, underpinning the roll-out of the County Council's national partnership pilot for the Land Management Information Systems (LaMIS) Project .

14. Hampshire Gardens Trust

14.1 Hampshire Gardens Trust works with an increasing number of landowners and other interested parties promoting the care, appropriate management and enhancement of historic parks and gardens. The primary objectives delivered through the SLA are to:

(i) seek to influence national policy in the interest of historic parks and gardens;

(ii) provide guidance and research information to the County Council on developments with respect to historic parks and gardens;

(iii) provide support and advice in the development, compilation and monitoring of Hampshire Local Historic Parks and Gardens Register giving research support;

(iv) provide support in dissemination of historic parks and gardens and heritage awareness in work with schools and communities;

(v) participate in joint working initiatives to promote understanding, appreciation and enjoyment of local historic, cultural, natural and built heritage, in order to develop a sense of place for the local community, in particular for the Hampshire Urban Parks Study;

(vi) make Hampshire Gardens Trust publications and training facilities available to the County Council; and

(vii) provide advice on direction and approach for the County Council's conferences and training seminars on Historic Parks and Gardens.

14.2 Over the last year the County Council has benefited from the support of the Trust on two Environment Department-led initiatives in the historic environment and on the County Council estate. Firstly, the Hampshire Urban Parks Study- was a county-wide County Council, District Authority and Gardens Trust partnership bid for national funding for the regeneration of urban parks. The second was a nationally acclaimed project led by the Environment Department with the Trusts' specialist support and advice on the corporate pilot for sustainable development at Orchard Close Social Services site in Hayling Island.

14.3 The most significant ongoing benefit from the close working relationship with the Trust is the invaluable research support to the development and management of the Hampshire Register of Historic Parks and Gardens managed by the Environment Department.

15. Hampshire Wildlife Trust

15.1 The Hampshire Wildlife Trust is working with the County Council in a number of important areas. The Trust employs several officers who give advice and assistance to land owners and land managers. Through the SLA the officers also provide the County Council with specialist input on community environmental issues, providing a focus for practical community action in caring for Hampshire's environment. The primary objectives delivered through the SLA are to:

(i) promote community-based activities that will contribute to the protection and enhancement of the distinctive characteristics of the Hampshire landscape and its wildlife;

(ii) be an active participant in the network of organisations influencing and delivering community participation in land management;

(iii) provide specialist advice to community organisations and others undertaking practical land management projects;

(iv) enable the establishment of links between landowners and community groups in undertaking land management activities; and

(v) promote the guidelines for the protection and enhancement of the distinctive landscape character of the county, as a basis for land management activities.

16. Hampshire and Wight Trust for Maritime Archaeology

16.1 The Environment Department has worked closely with the Hampshire and Wight Trust for Maritime Archaeology for a number of years. The policy objective which is the focus for the work by the Trust under the agreement is to ensure that specialist maritime archaeological advice is available for the Solent, and that data, specialist maritime archaeological staff and specialist maritime archaeological survey capability in the Solent is maintained.

16.2 The Trust delivers the following primary objectives under the SLA on behalf of the Environment Department, to:

(i) provide specialist maritime archaeological advice to the Director of Environment on relevant matters;

(ii) ensure that specialist maritime archaeological advice is available in the Solent region and, when invited, make specialist representation to the Solent Forum, the Dibden Forum; SCOPAC and on matters arising from current Shoreline Management Plans;

(iii) ensure specialist maritime archaeological survey capability is available;

(iv) promote survey and study relating to the Hampshire coast and present the results;

(v) promote a better understanding and enjoyment of the maritime archaeology of the Solent among the public and those who find recreation in the Solent;

(vi) promote a better understanding of the issues in the Solent, particularly amongst those with a professional interest in the Solent; and

(vii) liaise closely with the Hampshire Sites and Monuments Record to ensure effective data exchange of maritime archaeological data.

16.3 Such dedicated maritime archaeological research along Hampshire's coast has led to a rare discovery of an early Saxon boat in Langstone Harbour. Earlier in 2003 the boat was lifted out of the harbour by the Trust and transported to the Mary Rose Trust to be prepared for public exhibition.

16.4 Ongoing research and collection of data by the Trust under the SLA is invaluable to ensure the County Council receives data on Hampshire's historic environment, to which it would not otherwise have access.

17. Learning Through Landscapes Trust

17.1 The Learning through Landscapes Trust has developed over recent years into a body with international influence. The Trust provides assistance to the County Council in securing improvements to the environmental quality and educational use of school grounds and project funding, and is a source of advice and support for the Hampshire Schools Landscape Programme. The primary objectives delivered under the SLA are to:

(i) seek to influence national policy in the interest of school grounds;

(ii) provide guidance and dissemination of research information to Hampshire County Council on developments with respect to school grounds as an environmental educational resource;

(iii) make Learning Through Landscapes publications and training facilities available to the County Council;

(iv) advise and contribute to the County Council's School Landscape Programme through dissemination of information on similar national projects and practices, in order to inform and advance the development of the process for working with schools in Hampshire on improvements to school grounds; and

(v) provide advice on direction and approach for the County Council's publications, conferences and training seminars on school grounds.

17.2 Over the last year the Trust has made a significant contribution to schools in Hampshire. This includes developing a local support network of practitioners, facilitation of workshops and a total value of £112,150 in funding secured from other organisations for Hampshire school projects. The Trust, under the SLA, also provides complementary membership to the Trust and curriculum resource packs for support to Hampshire schools.

17.3 The County Council has benefited from the Trust's support at the corporate Hampshire Schools Fair, led and coordinated by the Environment Department. The Trust contributed to the exhibition as part of the Fair and the Director presented the first public unveiling of national school grounds research, subsequently made available to the Department's Schools Landscape Programme.

18. Hampshire Biodiversity Information Centre

18.1 The Hampshire Biodiversity Information Centre is a partnership funded record centre hosted by the County Council. The Centre provides comprehensive data and information on the natural environment to the County Council and to other local authorities, agencies, consultants and the public.

18.2 The County Council's contribution to the Centre is in return for a comprehensive survey and information service. The Centre provides the County Council with information essential to its forward planning and development control work, the Capital Programme, the management of the County Council's landholdings and for the implementation of a range of environmental projects.

18.3 The data supplied is essential to enable the County Council to meet its statutory planning obligations and for the implementation of the Biodiversity Action Plan for Hampshire.

18.4 The primary objectives delivered under the SLA are to:

(i) provide habitat and species data on request, in support of the development control, forward planning, land management and biodiversity action planning functions of the County Council;

(ii) undertake habitat surveys to meet the information requirements of the County Council;

(iii) evaluate habitat and species data for the identification of Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation (SINCs);

(iv) identify planning applications and allocations in draft development plans that may potentially affect important nature conservation sites;

(v) service requests for data from consultants, students, other organisations and the public on behalf of the Environment Department; and

(vi) manage comprehensive databases and the information on GIS in support of the above.

18.5 During 2003/04 the Centre has dealt with over 400 requests for data and undertaken 240 detailed site surveys, providing valuable updated information on Hampshire's biodiversity. The Centre has also undertaken a comprehensive review of Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation, including the updating of site schedules and the GIS.

19. Hampshire Wildlife Trust - Habitat Management Advisory Project (SINCs)

19.1 The County Council is working in partnership with the Hampshire Wildlife Trust to provide advice and assistance to the owners of SINCs under the Habitat Management Advisory Project.

19.2 SINCs form a county-wide network of over 3,000 particularly valuable wildlife sites. They are identified and designated by the County Council and receive protection from development in local plans. The County Council has an adopted policy on the identification and management of SINCs and they are also priority areas identified within the Biodiversity Action Plan for Hampshire.

19.3 The funding under this agreement is a contribution to the costs of a Project Officer employed by the Wildlife Trust who provides habitat management advice and support to the owners of SINCs. The officer is based within the County Council, since it holds the data on SINCs and takes overall responsibility for their designation.

19.4 The primary objectives delivered under the SLA are to :

(i) notify landowners of the SINC designation and promote available land management advice;

(ii) facilitate the management of SINCs by acting as a central point of contact for management advice and coordinating the provision of advice from a network of advisers;

(iii) provide advice to landowners and land managers on the appropriate management of SINCs;

(iv) develop a database to record the management and condition of SINCs, linked to the Hampshire Biodiversity Information Centre and the Biodiversity Action Plan reporting system; and

(v) assist the Land Management Advisers Forum in its initiatives to coordinate land management advice, to promote good land management practice and to oversee the implementation of land management actions in the Biodiversity Action Plan for Hampshire.

19.5 The Project Officer has undertaken the first phase of an extensive programme of notification of landowners. There has been a positive response to this from landowners which has resulted in land management advice being given on a wide variety of sites. As a result of raising awareness of SINCs these important sites have become a specific target for agri-environment schemes and other projects operating in the county.

20. Hampshire Ornithological Society and Butterfly Conservation

20.1 The Hampshire Ornithological Society (HOS) and Butterfly Conservation (BC) are voluntary organisations dedicated to the recording and conservation of birds and butterflies. They hold and record comprehensive data on the status of individual species, many of which are identified as priority species within the Biodiversity Action Plan for Hampshire. BC manages several nature reserves within the county.

20.2 The services provide under the SLAs by these organisations is assisting the County Council with its statutory planning work, land management and the Biodiversity Action Plan for Hampshire.

20.3 The primary objectives delivered under both SLAs are to:

(i) make existing data held by the organisations available to assist the County Council's development control and land management functions, and the identification of SINCs;

(ii) undertake survey and provide specialist management advice on sites of known or potential importance for nature conservation which the County Council is involved with;

(iii) provide regular reports on the status of species in Hampshire;

(iv) assist the Hampshire Biodiversity Partnership in the preparation, monitoring and implementation of Species Action Plans for priority species; and

(v) provide copies of the annual Hampshire Bird Report and Moth and Butterfly Report.

20.4 Information provided by HOS and BC has greatly assisted the identification of SINCs and the development control work of the County Council. Specific Biodiversity Action Plans have been produced by HOS and BC for Coastal Birds, Farmland Birds, Birds of Wet Grassland and Butterflies and Moths, and the implementation of these plans is being overseen by the two organisations.

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