CMA Corporate Member
& Senior Officers' Seminar

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The CMA held its first Seminar for Corporate members and Senior officers at Losehill Hall in April 2005. Over 50 members and potential members attended and the themes included:

- Finding out more about what members want and how we the CMA can improve our services; and
- The Regional and Rural agenda in relation to Countryside and Urban Greenspace management.

The following is a report from the seminar.

CMA Chairman’s Address
CMA Chair Mike Woods observed that as the CMA approaches its 40th Birthday it had reached an important crossroads in its evolution. Mike felt strongly that the CMA could not afford to rest on its laurels, and needed to face up to the many challenges facing countryside and greenspace management in the 21st Century.The new planning system recognises that countryside is more than just farming.

Mike saw his key tasks during his chairmanship are to:

- Double the membership.
- Publish annual reports on progress.
- Develop a new ‘cradle to grave’ ethos that supports volunteers, students and professionals alike.

Three workshops were held.

How can CMA support the Training and Development of Countryside and Urban Greenspace Professionals?
Delegates argued for a greater emphasis on people skills and training which addressed the emerging health, well-being and inclusion agendas.

Key workshop recommendations stressed CMA involvement in:

- Supporting managers by providing training profiles for generic posts.
- Facilitating placements, exchanges and secondments.
- Providing information of training course availability, perhaps providing accreditation of both short and long courses.
- Encouraging longer term information sharing that mirrors the annual review training cycle.
- Networking - outlining what each organisation delivers, and listing internal training events and marketing these to other organisations.
- The identification of training to meet change and new initiatives.

How can CMA best serve Corporate Members, their staff and their organisations?
The workshop felt that CMA already had an excellent reputation for its “Ranger” magazine, and its e-group works very well for many operational issues. The CMA’s role in contributing to policy consultations from Government was also appreciated, but there was recognition that this was limited by the CMA’s largely voluntary capacity.

Key workshop recommendations included CMA involvement in:

- Promoting the work and services of the CMA, particularly a sense of the size and value of the CMA and the industry.
- Developing membership levels which further mandate the CMA as the industry representative.
- Further developing clear policy positions and a network of policy advisors.
- Developing an e-group for managers and senior officers that might embrace more strategic issues.
- Mentoring and training for senior managers.
- Developing an e-library of key documents and information.

How can CMA best facilitate effective information exchange for Senior Countryside and Urban Greenspace professionals?
The group felt that there was still not enough sharing of good/best practice. Moreover, it was sometimes difficult to distinguish what constituted best practice. It was suggested that CMA might have a role in determining how industry best practice is framed.

It was also felt that information was needed with regard to grants, funding streams, income generation, strategies and business plans, research published in specialist and academic press, etc.

Key workshop recommendations included CMA involvement in:

- Developing an e-library of key documents and information.
- Developing an e-group for managers and senior officers that might embrace more strategic issues.
- Identify and share key information between organisations.
- Identify/link into a framework for developing best practice.
- Consideration of how the CMA network can be supported by a professional dedicated member of staff, to reduce the burden/reliance on volunteer activity.

‘Regional Planning & the New Environmental Agenda’
Mark Middleton: Worcestershire County Council

The new planning system recognises that countryside is more than just farming, and includes a fundamental move to embrace Landscape Character Assessment, particularly with a recognition that all landscape is important. The documents also actively try to incorporate the Water Framework Directive’s River Catchment Area planning approach, Biodiversity Action Plans and Open Space Strategies.

Mark Middleton concluded that there is considerable potential for countryside and greenspace professionals to engage positively in developing arrangements that better reflect the community’s countryside and environmental concerns.

‘A Rural Pathfinder’
John Tickle: Hampshire County Council

Establishment of the Rural Pathfinders reflects the Government’s commitment to devolve decision-making and resources to the English regions and to local decision makers. Rural Pathfinders are about testing how best to give greater empowerment to rural communities, within the framework of national policy and the availability of taxpayers’ resources. John outlined the aims of the Hampshire Pathfinder through its network of projects, which seek to identify:

- Ways of achieving more joined-up delivery of services in rural areas, addressing economic, social and environmental issues.
- Where practicable, innovation in rural development and delivery of services in rural areas, building as appropriate on existing best practice.
- Better prioritization of existing resources, in line with local priorities, towards areas, communities and people with the greatest needs.

‘The Rural Funding Review – A Strategic Overview’
Tim Allen: DEFRA

Tim provided a fascinating insight into the strategic direction of the Review of Rural Funding (RRF) recommendations. Funding will be structured around the following strategic priorities:

- Sustainable food and farming.
- Sustainable rural communities.
- Natural Resource Protection.

The RRF recommendations are designed to improve the quality of service to customers and to achieve better value for money for the taxpayer. The quality of service will be improved by creating simpler and more accessible systems for those people and businesses that DEFRA and its agencies need to support and help, without inhibiting them through unnecessary rules. There will be a commitment to more proactive and professional advisory services, with more decision-making devolved from DEFRA to its agencies, and to the regional and sub regional/local level. DEFRA are also committed to better investment decisions, operating 3 main funding programmes, rather than the current ‘forest’ of 100 or more schemes, which in turn will make resources allocation choices easier and more transparent. Funding priorities should therefore become clearer to customers and public alike.

So what next?
The CMA National Council have agreed to look at ways of realising many of the recommendations that came from this Seminar and will be reporting back to members on progress to this end over the next few months.

For more information contact:
Ian Bamforth: Countryside Services Manager,
Worcestershire County Council
01905-768210

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