3.6 Principles for partnership management

General commitments

The Norfolk Coast Partnership recognises that many of the area’s key natural beauty characteristics are the result of change, either natural or man-made. The Partners will not seek to preserve the area in a fixed state, but will aim to manage change in a way that conserves these key characteristics.

In order to manage change effectively, the Norfolk Coast Partnership and its partner organisations will seek to continue to understand the processes driving change affecting the area’s natural beauty and communities and their implications for the area and to share this understanding with others.

Sustainable development

When making and implementing management decisions in or affecting the AONB, the Norfolk Coast Partnership will seek to use the best available information to ensure that future generations are not tied in to local options that are unsustainable for the foreseeable future, in environmental, technical, economic and social terms.

Partners will seek to ensure that they take appropriate responsibility for changes needed to ensure global and local sustainability, including reduction of energy use and production of greenhouse gases, reduction in use and better recycling of resources, control and reduction of pollution, reduction and management of waste; and to do so in ways that do not significantly damage, and which preferably conserve and enhance, the area’s natural beauty.

Commitments to partnership management

This has resulted in broad commitments describing a general approach and way of working in the AONB for organisations involved in its management.

Vision of the future for partnership management

A vision for partnership working sets the scene and guides the activities of the Norfolk Coast Partnership:

Those responsible for making decisions and managing activities that affect the area, as well as everyone living in, working in or visiting it, are aware of its special qualities and how they can contribute towards maintaining these.

There is a committed and effective partnership between different organisations and interests, within which all work towards agreed aims and objectives. This partnership acts to prevent things that would be detrimental to the area, to address problems that may affect its special character and to take advantage of opportunities for appropriate development.

There is good communication within and between organisations managing the area, and between them and the wider public. The knowledge and views of local people are sought and taken into account in making important decisions.

Individuals and communities work together where necessary for the benefit of the whole community or a wider area.

Five year objectives and policies

The five year objectives and policies for partnership management are designed to achieve the partner vision:

P1. Partners take an active role in implementation of the Management Plan:

P1.1 Partner membership will be assessed and an appropriate partner group maintained;

P1.2 Partners will communicate regularly about the Management Plan and Action Plan progress;

P1.3 Partners will understand and respond to key external pressures for change on the area, whilst aiming to ensure that pressures for change do not adversely affect the AONB; and

P1.4 Partners will measure change to the state of the AONB and respond appropriately if negative changes are found.

P2. The Norfolk Coast Partnership communicates a consistent brand and message:

P2.1. The Norfolk Coast Partnership will maintain defined brand guidelines.

P3. The Norfolk Coast Partnership maintains national and international links:

P3.1. The Norfolk Coast Partnership will participate in the wider family of AONBs;

P3.2. The Norfolk Coast Partnership will assess and maintain other designations within the area, that help to achieve the objectives of AONB management; and

P3.3. The Norfolk Coast Partnership will help to source and obtain funding for actions, if required.

P4. The Norfolk Coast Partnership operates effectively:

P4.1. The Management Plan, including the Action Plan, will focus on the statutory purpose of designation for AONBs i.e. the conservation and enhancement of the area's natural beauty, and the wider objectives for Heritage Coasts in the relevant area. Natural beauty is understood by the Partnership as comprising the area's distinctive landscape character, biodiversity and geodiversity, historic and cultural environment;

P4.2. In aiming to meet the statutory purpose of designation, the Norfolk Coast Partnership will take account of the needs of agriculture, forestry, fishing and other local rural industries, and of the economic and social needs of local communities, paying particular regard to promoting sustainable forms of social and economic development that in themselves conserve and enhance the area's natural beauty;

P4.3. The Norfolk Coast Partnership will seek to meet the demand for recreation so far as this is consistent with the statutory purpose of conserving and enhancing the area's natural beauty and meeting the conservation objectives - and which preferably supports this purpose by increasing understanding, valuation and care for the area - and is also consistent with the needs of rural industries;

P4.4. Partners will take account of and promote the statutory duty to have regard for the conservation and enhancement of natural beauty when preparing and implementing plans and projects for other functions not directly related to this statutory purpose;

P4.5. The Norfolk Coast Partnership recognises that many of the area's key characteristics that we value are the result of change, either natural or man-made. They will not seek to preserve the area in a fixed state, but will aim to manage change in a way that conserves the area's key characteristics of natural beauty;

P4.6. In order to manage change effectively, the Norfolk Coast Partnership will seek to continue to understand the processes driving change affecting the area's natural beauty and communities and their implications for the area, and communicate this understanding to all stakeholders;

P4.7. When making and implementing management decisions in or affecting the AONB, the Norfolk Coast Partnership will seek to use the best available information to ensure that future generations are not tied in to local options that are unsustainable for the foreseeable future, in environmental, technical, economic and social terms;

P4.8. Partners will seek to ensure that they contribute their fair proportions to the changes needed to ensure global and local sustainability, including reduction of energy use and production of greenhouse gases, reduction in use and better recycling of resources, control and reduction of pollution, reduction and management of waste; and to do so in ways that do not significantly damage, and which preferably conserve and enhance, the area's natural beauty;

P4.9. Partners will recognise and refer to the AONB as a statutory designation, and the Management Plan and relevant associated guidance, in all new plans relating to the area;

P4.10. Partners will support and participate in the Norfolk Coast Partnership for the overall benefit of the AONB and will use statutory powers, existing schemes and initiatives to help to meet AONB objectives and implement policies;

P4.11. Partners organisations will involve the public in significant decisions affecting their interests in the AONB, and will work with and communicate with each other and with communities, and facilitate working between communities, for the benefit of the AONB;

P4.12. The Norfolk Coast Partnership will continue to develop clear frameworks and systems for monitoring and communicating change in the area, the impacts of management actions, and progress on the Management Plan;

P4.13. The Norfolk Coast Partnership will co-ordinate and communicate relevant information and best practice locally, nationally and internationally;

P4.14. The Norfolk Coast Partnership will develop and promote guidance where necessary to achieve co-ordinated and consistent management to conserve and enhance the area's natural beauty; and

P4.15. Partners will recognise the AONB as an entity in management terms, and seek to manage it holistically and in partnership to achieve objectives and to implement policies and actions in the Management Plan.