AONB Partnership

Northumberland County Council has a statutory duty to ensure that the natural beauty of the Northumberland coast is conserved and enhanced and to prepare a management plan setting how the council’s policies for the management of the AONB.

To assist the council in the conservation and enhancement of the Northumberland Coast AONB, the Northumberland Coast AONB Partnership was formed in 2003. Comprising of local people, representatives of statutory agencies and interest groups, the Partnership guides the policies of the council and the work of the staff team.

The role of the Partnership

The role of the Partnership is to pursue and champion the purposes of designation of the Northumberland Coast AONB and to assist in the delivery of the partners’ statutory duties and other management aspirations in respect of the AONB. Specifically the objectives of the Partnership include:

• to prepare and keep under review on a five yearly basis, a statutory AONB Management Plan on behalf of the Northumberland County Council;
• to implement and encourage others to implement the agreed AONB Management Plan;
• to coordinate and demonstrate the protection and management of the AONB according to the purposes of designation;
• to promote the purpose, importance, characteristics and significance of the AONB;
• to advise partners on the level of funding needed for AONB management and act to secure funding from a number of other sources;
• to establish a management structure that is relevant to the objectives of the AONB;
• to establish and provide guidance to a staff unit to undertake AONB core functions;
• to advise relevant authorities on appropriate planning policies, and to offer advice on appropriate design and on development proposals which may affect the character and quality of the AONB;
• to advise public bodies, agencies and statutory undertakers about the impact of their activities on the AONB and engage them in positive management initiatives;
• to commission research, special studies and monitoring;
• to establish links, exchange best practice and seek opportunities for joint initiatives, with other AONBs, National Parks and protected areas both nationally and internationally.

The Partnership achieves these objectives principally through its role in steering the work of the Partnership Staff. From time to time the Partnership may establish and agree terms of reference for any other panels or working groups it feels are necessary to assist in the delivery of its objectives.

Current membership

This table shows the current AONB Partnership.

Agenda for the next Partnership meeting

18th June 2024 at Boulmer Memorial Hall 

1. Welcome and apologies
2. Election of Chair and Vice Chair
3. Minutes of the last meeting and matters 
arising
4. Questions from members of the public 
(maximum of 5 minutes each)
5. Staff team update
6. Governance review
7. Budget and business plan
8. Management Plan review
9. Parish Council reports
10. Partners’ updates
11. Dates of next meeting