Countryside Commission
Introduction
The mission statement of the Countryside Commission is :
'to ensure that the English Countryside is protected, and can be used and enjoyed now and in the future.'
The Countryside Commission was set up under the Countryside Act 1968 and became an NDPB under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.
The Commission has its Headquarters in Cheltenham and seven regional offices. The Commission is headed by the Chairman, Richard Simmonds, and about ten Commissioners. The Commission is not an executive body, it owns no land nor directly manages any facilities. A blend of grants, research and experiment funds and publicity and promotion are used to achieve its aims, working in partnership with the public, private and voluntary sectors to promote its ideas and policies.
The Commission launched a ten year strategy in March 1996 to provide a framework for its work. A four year rolling programme of work is set out annually in its Corporate Plan.
| | Number of Staff | | | Expenditure (£m) |
| 1995/96 | 318 | | 1995/96 | 42.2 |
| 1996/97 | 242 | | 1996/97 | 26.2 |
| 1997/98 | 226 | | 1997/98 | 24.1 |
The Commission's Annual Report and Corporate Plan are available from: Countryside Commission Postal Sales, PO Box 124, Walgrave, Northampton. NN6 9TL. Telephone: 01604 781848. The Annual Accounts are published by the National Audit Office and are available from HMSO.
Achievements in 1996/97
- The launch of the Millennium Greens project, a £20m programme (including £10m from the Millennium Commission) to support local communities to acquire and create an area of open space to be enjoyed permanently by the local community.
- The launch of the Countryside Character map which records the diversity of England's countryside and will be used to inform various activities.
- 'Design in the Country' initiative which encouraged good quality in rural design, including the publication and distribution of Countryside and Village design guidance to local planning authorities and communities.
- 90% of Highway Authorities adopted the Milestones approach to measuring and managing progress towards the year 2000 target, to get rights of way legally defined, properly maintained and well publicised.
- Approximately 1500ha of new woodland was planted in twelve Community Forests and 760ha of non-woodland habitat was created.
Plans for 1997/98
- To continue to support the development of the twelve Community Forests and to work with the Forestry Commission to pursue the target of doubling England's Woodland Cover.
- To develop new policies for sustainable recreation and secure major improvements to rights of way and other access to the countryside.
- To achieve 150 Millennium Greens agreements by March 1998.
- To develop demonstration initiatives on rural traffic management, quiet roads, Greenways and arable land management.
- To provide advice on policy matters (e.g. the housing debate) to government.
- To produce exemplar Village Design Statements, showing how rural design can respect its local setting and contribute to regional diversity and local distinctiveness,
- To develop a training programme to improve key skills and achieve an Investors in People award in 1998.
- A major upgrade of the Commission's IT systems, following the principles of the Private Finance Initiative.
Key Performance Targets
|
| 1994/95
| 1995/96
| 1996/97
| 1997/98
|
Key Measure
|
Set
|
Achieved
|
Set
|
Achieved
|
Set
|
Achieved
|
Set
|
Proportion of rural land area under conservation management & influenced (%)
|
54
|
44
|
43
|
50
|
47
|
50
|
45
|
Proportion of rights of way activity managed for public enjoyment influenced (%)
|
18
|
15
|
16
|
13
|
15
|
15
|
17
|
Proportion of targets achieved (%)
|
100
|
78
|
100
|
80
|
100
|
83
|
100
|
GIA outturn (%)
|
100
|
99
|
100
|
99.1
|
100
|
97
|
100
|
Proportion of Budget spent on programme (%)
|
75
|
78
|
75
|
77
|
75
|
67
|
75
|
Staff Turnover (%)
|
-
|
23
|
-
|
7
|
-
|
11
|
-
|
|
