Project Board
3 May 2000
English Nature
Attendees:
Niall Machin (GLA, Chair)
James Farrell (LBAP Project Officer)
Steve Gilbert (RSPB)
Alister Hayes (LB Bromley)
Ralph Gaines (LWT)
Nick Radford (EN)
1. Apologies. Received
from Andy Tomczynski, Thames Water.
2. Action points from last meeting. Those
not dealt with elsewhere on the agenda:
Biodiversity Charter: JF reported that the CTG had decided to
put this in abeyance pending the Communications Strategy.
Web Site: JF reported that a holding page had been set up (not
yet advertised) and the Audit would go on sometime in May. The
Web page will also need to be integrated into the Comm. Strategy.
RG reported that although some info. had gone onto the London
Initiative page, the Audit maps will be put on over the next few
days.
Cultural issues paper: AH is still progressing this paper with
Mathew Frith, JF and others and more meetings are planned.
Calendar of events: CTG taken this idea on board.
3. Recommendations from the Topic Groups
Communications Topic Group
No recommendation. JF reported that the group is gaining momentum,
developing a communications strategy and looking at target audiences
for the Partnership and mechanisms for reaching such groups.
Habitats, Species and Data Topic Group. The Board endorsed the
following recommendation:
‘The BAP should address the value of London’s introduced
species, both in a separate chapter and in the preparation of
individual action plans’.
David Bevan is drafting a paper on the above.
4. London Borough Biodiversity Forum
JF/AH reported that all 4 sectors have met successfully and have
appointed sector representatives. The response has been positive
from the boroughs, who feel that the Forum fills a gap. In addition
to sector meetings, the whole Forum intends to meet annually.
The 4 sector co-ordinators will attend the Steering Group. It
was envisaged that there would be Forum representation on the
HSDTG as and when appropriate, but that a borough communication
‘expert’ would be drafted onto CTG. The Forum meetings need to
feed into the Partnership meetings programme: JF agreed to draw
up a flow chart setting out such a process. Action JF
5. Funding for Project Officer
JF and RSPB drawing up bid for a further year’s funding for Bridgehouse
Estates Trust Fund. There was a discussion regarding Project funding
which highlighted the following:
 |
JF
raised the possibility of expanding the Partnership staffing
in the long-term, with particular reference to business and
marketing skills. SG agreed to raise this issue with Bridgehouse
in connection with the application for a further year’s funding.
Action SG |
|
The
possibility of overlap between Partnership funding applications
and those by the boroughs or sectors, e.g. for biodiversity-related
posts. |
|
Contingency
plan if further Bridgehouse bid fails … agreed to leave action
on this until later in the year when the GLA’s role and its
relationship with the boroughs becomes clearer. |
6. Election of Chair of Partnership
The assimilation of LEU into the GLA raises the issue of David
Goode’s continued Chairmanship of the Steering Group/Partnership.
However, David had indicated that he could continue to Chair the
group but this will depend on a GLA decision … the GLA may propose
to nominate someone else, even a politician.
It was agreed it would be
appropriate for David to continue as Chair until the next Steering
Group meeting in July, when GLA and other nominations for Chair
can be voted upon. If the Chair is contested (i.e. more than one
nomination), then Steering Group representatives would be able
to vote. It was also agreed that JF would prepare a background
statement of our current position to inform the GLA (and other
nominations). Action JF
Once the GLA’s position is clear, and following the July Steering
Group meeting, there will be a need to review the structure of
the Partnership and Steering Group, particularly concerning partners
outside of the Steering Group.
The Board made the following recommendation to the Steering Group:
‘The Board recommends that the Steering Group promotes GLA involvement
in the Partnership and considers a GLA nomination for Steering
Group Chair, preferably a non-political nomination’.
The Board were happy for NM to continue to Chair the Project
Board at least until July when the GLA position will be clearer.
7. Timetable
See attached sheet. In terms of action plan progress, JF reported
that all 7 of the HAPs and 8 of the 11 SAPs now have initial contacts.
Still looking for initial contacts for house sparrow, tower mustard
and mistletoe. Relevant working groups were now taking the plans
forward with variable progress … the tidal Thames and the chalk
grassland groups were quite advanced, whereas others (e.g. wasteland)
were yet to really get underway. Inevitably, some plans will not
be ready by December (the funding driven deadline). JF agreed
to list progress in his progress report. Action JF
8. AOB None.
9. Date of next meeting 11 am Tuesday 4th
July at London Wildlife Trust.
Notes for Project Board Meeting 3.May 2000
Habitats, Species & Data TG (29.2.00)
Chair elected: Mathew Frith
All 7 first round habitats and 8 SAPs (out of 11) have initial
contacts.
Pellitory-of-the-wall has been removed from the list of Species
Statements endorsed by the StGp.
Recommendation 1: The BAP should address the value of London’s
introduced exotic and/or alien species, both in a separate chapter
and in the preparation of individual action plans.
Communications TG
No recommendations yet. The Topic Group is working on a Communication
Strategy for the Partnership, which will include communication-related
direction for the Action Plans. The Group met on 14.3.00, 6.4.00
and will meet again 18.5.00 and in June.
London Borough Biodiversity Forum
All 4 sectors met (NE, NW, SE, SW) and have named representatives.
JF attended 3 out of 4 meetings.
4 reps will attend Steering Group meetings. They have been invited
to the HS&D TG and have been asked to invite a council Communications
expert to the Comm TG. The Project Board is a slightly different
case.
Timetable
