Our priorities and other work

The Authority has an established priority setting process which provides a clear framework enabling us to plan and manage the Authority’s resources and stay focused on what matters most. It is also part of being honest and open with our partners, stakeholders and customers and has been recognised as an area of ‘best practice’.

The Authority’s work is split into 27 ‘programmes’, which cover all the services we provide - from dealing with planning applications and farm conservation to looking after toilets and car parks.  Each programme has a level of priority attached to it. This is to ensure that resources are allocated appropriately and that everyone is clear on where we are directing our efforts.

Our priorities for 2011 to 2012

• Biodiversity: Ensure that at least 50% of the area covered by the priority habitats listed in the 2011 Local Biodiversity Action Plan is in good condition by 2013.

• Building conservation: Reduce the number of ‘at risk’ listed buildings to 60 by 2014.

• Climate change: Restore up to 14,000 hectares of degraded peatland through the Yorkshire Peat Partnership by 2013; create 500 hectares of upland ash woodland by 2016; support implementation of at least three hydro-electric schemes by the end of 2012.

• Farm conservation: Encourage and support widespread take-up of Environmental Stewardship and other environmental schemes so that at least 80% of the National Park remains covered by agreements.

• Recreational activities: Provide up to 1,900 spaces for at least 380 individuals on outdoor activity taster days by 2011.

• Rights of way: Manage and maintain the network of rights of way so that at least 90% are ‘easy to use’.

• Sustainable tourism: Increase the number of businesses offering ‘sustainable tourism products’ from 10 in 2010 to 80 by 2015.

Programmes where we will seek to maintain a good level of service

• Dales Countryside Museum

• Development management

• Green lanes

• Planning policy

• Sustainable Development Fund

• Volunteers

• Yorkshire Dales Millennium Trust (until March 2013)

• Archaeology

• Communications

• Countryside skills & training (until March 2012)

• National Park Centres

• Outreach

• Toilets

• Web-based services

Programmes where progress will be limited and/or dependent on external funding

• Car parks

• Definitive Map (until March 2013)

• National Park Management Plan

• Open Access

• Pennine Bridleway

• Retail

Programmes that have been deleted due to budget cuts

• Branding

• Education

• Environmental footprint

• Events

• Geodiversity

• Public transport.

• State of the Park

• Traffic management

Find out more about how we set our priorities.