Governance of the Great Fen

The five Project Partners have all entered into an agreement (the Collaboration Agreement) under which they agree to work together to develop, promote, manage and secure funding for the Great Fen.

The Project Partners have formed the Great Fen Steering Committee to undertake the strategic direction of the Great Fen and to fulfil their Collaboration Agreement commitments. The Great Fen has also recently created a Community Forum to extend involvement in the governance of the Great Fen to strategically important stakeholder groups.

Community Forum

The first meeting of the Great Fen Community Forum took place on October 11^th 2011 at the Ramsey Heights Countryside Centre. The creation of a Community Forum was a commitment stated in the Great Fen Masterplan, in order to provide an open and transparent platform for the Project Partners and staff to interact with representatives from policy making and executive bodies in the public arena, to exchange information, and to listen to and respond to any concerns.

The Community Forum was attended by 20 invited representatives (Councillor and Senior Executive level) from local and regional authorities, Parish Councils, and organizations. Apologies were received from some whose representatives could not attend but who expressed interest in future meetings (such as Peterborough City Council) and/or sent messages of support (such as Shailesh Vara, MP).

The attendees were:-

Organisation / Position                                                                    Position of representative

Cambridgeshire County Council                                                  Service Director: Community Engagement

Middle Level Commissioners                                                      Clerk to Sawtry IDB and to Conington IDB

Ramsey Town Council                                                               Town Councillor

Huntingdonshire District Council  - Ramsey Ward                          District Councillor

Holme Parish Council                                                                Parish Councillor

Holme Parish Council                                                                Parish Councillor

Denton and Calecote Parish Council                                            Clerk to Denton and Caldecote Parish Council

Huntingdonshire District Council - Stilton                                     District Councillor 

Woodwalton Parish Council                                                         Parish Councillor

Woodwalton Parish Council                                                         Parish Councillor

National Farmers Union - Whittlesey Branch                                  Chairman of the Whittlesey Branch NFU

Huntingdonshire District Council - Earith ward                               District Councillor 

Huntingdonshire District Council - Fenstanton ward                        District Councillor

Huntingdonshire District Council - Yaxley and Farcet ward              District Councillor 

Ramsey Town Council                                                                 Mayor of Ramsey

Middle Level Commission                                                            Vice Chairman - Middle Level Commission

Farcet Parish Council                                                                  Parish Councillor

Cambridgeshire County Council                                                    Project Manager (Major projects) Countryside Access Team

Huntingdonshire District Council                                                   Planning Officer

Huntingdonshire District Council                                                   Corporate Team Director

Huntingdonshire District Council                                                   District Councillor

St Ives East                                                                                Executive Leader, Cabinet Member, Employment Panel

The meeting was chaired by Baroness Barbara Young of Old Scone who is President of the Wildlife Trust, and who has a long and distinguished career in the environmental and health sectors. Representatives of all five Project Partners (the Project Partner members of the Great Fen Steering Committee) supported Baroness Young, as well as project staff. 

Baroness Young opened the meeting by welcoming the guests and asking the Project Partners to introduce themselves and their organizations and briefly outline the nature of their support to the Great Fen. This was followed by a presentation from the Project Manager on the aims of the project and progress to date.

The meeting was then opened for questions from the floor. These covered a wide range of topics including water quality, land ownership, the impact of rising water levels on farming operations, asset protection, public health issues, the Impact of climate change, visitor facilities and services, timescales, and the delivery of economic benefit and social wellbeing.

The Steering Committee and Project Staff feel the first Community Forum made an excellent start and look forward to developing it.