Agenda item

The Chief Executive delivered the following update to his report:

·         The exact funding settlement has not yet been confirmed, the numbers  that are being worked on are indicative, however it is likely there shall be an 8.5% cut to the revenue for the year ahead.  It looks to be the same percentage cuts for all English National Parks. 

·         The PDNPA is likely to get the £600,000 cut replaced as Capital funding which is welcome, however this cannot be spent in the same way. 

·         Also the PDNPA may receive additional one-off capital funding of up to £1.1 million but there are restrictions on how to spend this capital and it needs to be spent within the year.

·         Also there has been funding offered to all 10 members of English National Parks to pay cover the membership fee.

·         Fipl has been given extra money for the next year, staff are in place and money is now available to allocate, this has come at a time that sustainable farming initiative has been put on hold for farmers that are new applicants.

·         There has been a date set for a round table with Minister for National Parks with all the Chief Executives of English National Parks, Mary Creagh.

·         The Chief Executive was on BBC Derby this week for an hour participating in a question and answer session.

·         Attended the tourism awards for region where the PDNPA received a silver award for Millers Dale and the accessibility there which was a good example of a joint project.

Members asked what the extra funding could be used for. There is an existing capital programme where it could be used.  Also looking at opportunities for spending the money that could generate more income in the future.

Members congratulated the CEO for predicting the funding issues and dealing with the re-structure ahead of time and for forward planning for the cut in the budget.