New era in history of Broads Authority
A new era began in the history of the Broads Authority when it met
on Friday June 3rd with a stream-lined membership expected to create
closer working and a quicker decision making process.
Membership has been reduced from 35 to 21 after a Statutory
Instrument was laid before Parliament in April, in keeping with the
Government’s policy for a tighter membership in National Parks.
Chief Executive Dr John Packman said: “This is a significant change
in the history of the Broads Authority which has taken three years to
achieve. It couldn’t have been done without the cooperation of our
partner organisations such as the Royal Yachting Association (RYA),
Norfolk and Suffolk Boating Association (NSBA), British Marine
Federation (BMF), English Nature and the Environment Agency. I am
really excited about the prospect of working closely with all our
members to tackle the many changes we face in the years ahead.
The new constitution is expected
- To provide a more streamlined, efficient and quicker decision making process
- To enable members to become more involved and better informed in all aspects of the Authority's work
- To increase members' accountability.
The new look membership comprises:
- Two appointed by Norfolk County Council
- The each appointed by Suffolk County Council and the six district councils in the Authority's area
- Ten appointed by the Secretary of State for the Environment
- Two appointed from members of the Authority's Navigation Committee who are not already members of the Authority.
The Broads Authority will meet monthly instead of bi-monthly with
members being involved in all aspects of the Authority’s work. The
Strategy and Resources and Broads Management Committees will cease to
exist. Five main committees will deal with the Broads Authority
business – the Planning, Navigation and Standards Committees, the
Broads Forum, comprising a cross section of Broads users, and the
Broads Local Access Forum, which comprises recreational users of the
countryside, landowners and other interest groups who advise on the
improvement of access in the Broads.
This change is part of the Authority's ongoing modernisation
programme and results from the Review of English National Park
Authorities, published by Defra in July 2002, in which it was
recommended that national park authorities and the Broads Authority
should seek to reduce their membership to between 20 and 25.
The Broads Authority had more members than the Lake District, one
of the largest national parks, yet covers an area under half the size
of Exmoor, the next smallest national park.
02/06/2005
