Issue - meetings

To review the provision of various services by the National Park Authority on behalf of New Forest District Council.

RESOLVED:

(a)       That in relation to the Tree and Conservation Services:

i.        Notice be given to the National Park Authority that New Forest District Council will not be seeking to continue with the Service Level Agreements regarding the provision of the Tree Service and Conservation Service beyond 31 March 2019.

ii.       Discussions be entered into with the New Forest National Park Authority to secure the transfer of records to this Council relating to the Tree and Conservation Services during the life of the present SLA arrangements.

iii.      Officers commence the process of TUPE transfers and recruitment of Conservation and Tree Service staff;

(b)       That in relation to Ecology and Archaeology Services both Hampshire County Council and the New Forest National Park Authority be invited to put forward proposals to this Council for the future provision of these services; and

(c)       That in relation to the People and Wildlife Ranger Service the current arrangements with the National Park Authority be extended until March 2021.

The Cabinet considered how to achieve the future efficient and cost-effective delivery of 5 of the District Council’s service areas that were currently provided by the National Park Authority under service level agreements.  The majority of these agreements expired on 31 March 2019.  Two of these services were core to the delivery of the planning function and the context within which they would be provided was changing as the Council’s new Local Plan introduced much higher levels of development, that must be managed effectively to safeguard high quality environments.  Currently, the separation of the sources of advice on trees and building conservation from the Council’s wider planning service was perceived to hinder taking a joined up approach.

Having considered the options available, the Cabinet concluded that the tree and building conservation services should be brought back in-house, while new arrangements should be sought for the provision of the specialist ecological and archaeological services.  The transfer of the tree and conservation functions back in-house would involve the TUPE transfer of staff.

The Council also subscribed to a People and Ranger service, provided by the National Park Authority, and funded from developers’ contributions to meet part of the Council’s obligations under the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017 to mitigate the impact of recreational pressure on the New Forest Natura 2000 site.  It was proposed that the current arrangements with the National Park Authority should be extended until March 2021, pending a further review in about 18 months once changes to the Government’s intentions on this issue became clearer.

RESOLVED:

(a)       That in relation to the Tree and Conservation Services:

i.        Notice be given to the National Park Authority that New Forest District Council will not be seeking to continue with the Service Level Agreements regarding the provision of the Tree Service and the Conservation Service beyond 31 March 2019.

ii.       Discussions be entered into with the New Forest National Park Authority to secure the transfer of records to this Council relating to the Tree and the Conservation Services during the life of the present SLA arrangements.

iii.      Officers commence the process of TUPE transfers and recruitment of Conservation and Tree Service staff;

(b)       That in relation to Ecology and Archaeology Services both Hampshire County Council and the New Forest National Park Authority be invited to put forward proposals to this Council for the future provision of these services; and

(c)       That in relation to the People and Wildlife Ranger Service the current arrangements with the National Park Authority be extended until March 2021.