Terms of Reference
1. To make recommendations on how best to improve the effectiveness of delivery arrangements for Defra’s rural policies with a view to:
- simplifying or rationalising existing delivery mechanisms and establishing clear roles and responsibilities and effective co-ordination;
- achieving efficiency savings and maximizing value for money;
- providing better, more streamlined services with a more unified, transparent and convenient interface with end customers;
- identifying arrangements that can help to deliver Defra’s rural priorities and Public Services Agreement target cost-effectively.
2. The review should cover the delivery needs and/or responsibilities of the following parts of Defra and its agencies:
- Defra’s Land Use and Rural Affairs Directorate-General
- Countryside Agency
- Rural Development Service
- Other parts of Defra that contribute to delivery of rural policies
- English Nature (in so far as their work relates to the delivery of Defra’s rural policies)
3. It should also:
- examine the implications for the Countryside Agency of the rural Public Services Agreement target and the creation of Defra, bearing in mind the latter’s new leadership role in rural affairs in government;
- examine the respective roles of the Regional Development Agencies, the Government Offices for the Regions, the National Parks Authorities, the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty teams, the Forestry Commission, British Waterways, the Small Business Service, local and voluntary sector delivery agents, local authorities, and parish and town councils in furthering the achievement of Defra’s rural objectives, and consider whether changes are desirable in the contributions they bring to bear or the responsibilities which they discharge on behalf of or in partnership with the Department;
- take account of the emerging findings of the review of learning opportunities to improve rural businesses announced in November by Defra;
- look at the activities of the Environment Agency (in so far as their work relates to the delivery of Defra’s rural policies);
- look at the relationship between EU structural funds in rural communities and other expenditure programmes.
4. The following are outside the scope of the review:
- the Rural Payments Agency, except the interface and relationship with the Rural Development Service;
- the State Veterinary Service;
- the non-rural environmental activity of the Department and of the Environment Agency.
5. In addressing the above issues, the review team will:
- need to start from a clear understanding of the Government’s rural policies and policy objectives, which do not in themselves fall within the scope of the review;
- take account of developments affecting the likely future shape of regional and local government,
- have regard to the desirability of strengthening the role of the Regional Development Agencies in rural economic development;
- take account of parallel reviews of forestry policy in England, the Rural White Paper programme, and agri-environment schemes (including the establishment of pilots);
- make arrangements for consulting and keeping informed those bodies and agencies that lie within the scope of the review and take evidence from a broadly representative sample of stakeholders, including those currently responsible for delivering rural programmes;
- use the Rural Affairs Forum for England and its active sub-groups (including the Regional Forums) to provide a forum for debate and discussion during the course of the review;
- devise a communications strategy to ensure effective communication with all those potentially affected by the outcome of the review;
- report progress as required to the Minister of State for Rural Affairs and to an official Steering Group that includes representatives of interested government departments.
6. The timetable for the review will be as follows:
- draft a report on the scope of the review, and secure Ministerial approval of that report, by 20 December 2002;
- present a report on findings and emerging conclusions to Defra Ministers by the end of April 2003;
- present a final report to Defra Ministers by Autumn 2003, to include recommendations for future action supported by a costed business case and a timetable of implementation.
Page last modified:
19 May, 2005
Page published: 10 December, 2002