2022 – 1 December extraordinary meeting minutes

2^nd December 2022

Minutes of the Extra Ordinary HLS Board Meeting Held on 1^st December 2022

Apologies for Absence

Apologies from Jenny Thomas - New Forest Nature Recovery Senior Adviser – Natural England

Declarations of Interest

OV is Chairman of the VGS Management Committee.

AB declared an interest in all Wetland Restoration projects because of the NPA’s responsibilities as local planning authority.

CL is a member of the VGS and a committee member of the CDA

5 Year Roll Over of Current HLS Agreement

The RPA have offered the New Forest HLS Scheme a 5-year rollover of the current agreement. The purpose of this extra ordinary HLS Board Meeting is to vote and formally minute the decision of the HLS Board. OV quoted from page 6 of the new domestic HLS Terms & Conditions that will be effective from 1 January 2023. Under the heading – Terminating agreements – it states “where you are successful in securing an agreement in another land management scheme (for example, Countryside Stewardship (CS) or Environmental Land Management schemes. Such as Local Nature Recovery) that will continue to deliver at least equivalent management. In this case, in agreement with the RPA, you will be able to end your existing HLS agreement early and without consequence.”

With this assurance that accepting the extension would not prejudice other options in the future the board voted unanimously to accept the RPA’s offer. OV to sign documentation and return to RPA before the offer’s deadline.

Action OV

Role of HLS Board

AB reminded the members that the HLS Board’s role is to govern the HLS Scheme and is not the forum to discuss other future schemes. We require a clear and ordered process for this conversation that gives partners ability to engage constructively and align resources to the task.

Partnership Agreement

As the roll over extension is a continuation of the existing agreement OV proposed to approve the existing Partnership Plan and for a MoA to be drafted to cover the extension period. It was noted that the partnership agreement could be reviewed with a view to updating/ amending at a later date.

Action TW