the role of the board
The Conservation Board is an independent body established by Parliamentary Order in July 2004, and has 29 members, 15 appointed by local authorities, 8 by the Secretary of State and 6 have been elected by parish councils.
The Board’s purposes are given in Section 87 of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000;
It is the duty of a conservation board, in the exercise of their functions, to have regard to:
the purpose of conserving and enhancing the natural beauty of the area of outstanding natural beauty, and
the purpose of increasing the understanding and enjoyment by the public of the special qualities of the area of outstanding natural beauty,
but, if it appears to the board that there is a conflict between those purposes, they are to attach greater weight to the purpose mentioned in paragraph (a).
A conservation board, while having regard to the purposes mentioned in subsection (1), shall seek to foster the economic and social well-being of local communities within the area of outstanding natural beauty, but without incurring significant expenditure in doing so, and shall for that purpose co-operate with local authorities and public bodies whose functions include the promotion of economic or social development within the area of outstanding natural beauty.
The Board has a statutory duty to publish a Management Plan for the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and to promote its implementation by a wide range of organisations, including local authorities, government agencies, community groups and landowners.
