Terms of Understanding

Introduction

The Mendip Hills AONB Partnership supports and encourages an active partnership between all of the bodies involved in and co-ordinating management across the Mendip Hills AONB. The management of the AONB is co-ordinated by the Mendip Hills AONB Service whose working area includes all of the Parishes affected by the AONB boundary.

The Partnership Committee represents the main mechanism for the co-ordination, facilitation monitoring and review of the implementation of the AONB Management Plan and ensuring that the Mendip Hills AONB landscape is conserved and managed effectively. It sits within a management framework that is outlined below.

The principle aims of the Mendip Hills AONB Partnership are to:

• Promote the AONB and the Management Plan to all the constituent organisations and others.


• Promote the vision for the AONB via the implementation of the Management Plan. That vision being 'The Mendip Hills are conserved for their unspoilt beauty, their sense of peace and serenity , and for their value as an historic landscape supporting thriving communities'.


• Review and monitor progress of the Plan and its objectives.


• Consider, debate and recommend courses of action on the main issues relating to the AONB.


• Accommodate new requirements due to changes in AONB legislation.

• agreeing and reviewing the Management Plan and Action Programmes


• monitoring the success and achievements of the Mendip Hills AONB Service


• commissioning special studies of issues if necessary, utilising appropriate forums


• advising the local planning authorities about developments which are likely to significantly affect the AONBs landscape character


• ensuring the Partnership is representative of the Mendip Hills AONB


• advising the funding partners and AONB Team on the level of resources necessary for effective AONB Management


• dissemination of information through the AONB web site, newsletter, Annual Forum and other mechanisms


• the exchange of information and ideas


• promotion and championing of the aims of the AONB

• The Annual Forum is the mechanism for communicating with the wider community.


• The Steering Group and AONB Service are the main mechanisms for organising the funding and practical delivery of the Service.


• Working Groups will be utilised to assist with the development of policy and action priorities during the management planning and delivery process.

• The Partnership Committee will meet twice a year, although in exceptional circumstances additional meetings may be arranged.


• The Chairman and Vice Chairman will be elected on a two yearly basis in order to provide some stability to the Partnership. This can be reviewed at any time by the Partnership.


• Once elected, the Chairman will also Chair the AONB Annual Forum and attend the AONB Resources Steering Group.


• The secretariat for the Partnership Committee is Somerset County Council with all the other groups serviced by the AONB Service with support from SCC as required.


• Representatives will be expected to attend all meetings or to send a suitable replacement with prior notice.


• Meetings will be open to press and public with opportunities for the items to be bought in by the public for part of the meeting with prior notice either as part of public questions taken after each item (3 minutes per speaker) or as below;


• Suggested agenda items and questions should be presented 3 weeks before any meeting.


• Press and publicity must be channelled through and authorised by the AONB Service.


• New Members may be adopted onto the Partnership with the agreement of the Partnership following a presentation to the Partnership outlining the reasons why they wish to join.


• Membership of the topic working groups is open to associate members and organisations who if accepted onto a topic group would become an associate member. As above ,new members are required to outline their reasons for wishing to join the group concerned and a decision would be made by that group.


• These terms of understanding will be reviewed in line with the review of the Management Plan, every five years.