The National Trust and Forestry Commission have jointly established the Alport Advisory Group in 2002 to help oversee the implementation of the Alport Project and act as a point of contact and communication between some key stakeholders and the two organisations concerned. The Group meets roughly on a quarterly basis - or as and when necessary. The Group members participate on a voluntary and informal basis.

Click on the links below for further information on AAG:

1. Geographical area
2. Purpose
3. The role of members
4. Composition of the Alport Advisory Group
5. Administrative arrangements
6. Reaching a consensus
7. Land under agricultural tenancies

[1] Geographical area
The remit of the Alport Advisory Group (AAG) will extend to all of the land included in the Strategy document within the Alport Valley and owned by the National Trust.

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[2] Purpose
The AAG will advise the Forestry Commission and the National Trust on the conservation and sustainable management of the Alport Valley and will act as a forum for the open discussion of relevant issues. We are keen to reach consensus over the preparation and implementation of the management plan.

The Group will give advice, oversee and guide the Project in three main areas:

1. Development of a management plan within the framework provided by the Strategy document
2. The implementation of the plan
3. The provision of information and access in the valley.

In achieving these purposes the Group will work to:

• Maintain an open dialogue so that the Project can listen and take account of the views of local interested parties at an early stage
• Involve members in the decision-making process as they affect the Alport
• Update members on progress and new developments

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[3] The role of members
Members will be able to:

• Influence the direction of the project within the broad framework of the Strategy Document
• Monitor and evaluate the progress of work plans
• Hold the lead organisations to account over their standards of performance in achieving objectives

Before appointment, members will be asked to confirm:

• Their broad support of the Strategy document
• Their commitment to working within these terms of reference
• That they are prepared to attend meetings 2 to 3 times a year (in the initial stages the frequency of meetings may be more frequent than this)

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[4] Composition of the Alport Advisory Group
We propose a full membership of 9 places, to include representation from the following stakeholders:

• The Derwent and Hope Woodlands Parish Council (one place)
• The Peak District National Park Authority (one place)
• Alport Hamlet residents / Friends of the Peak District (one place)
• Severn Trent Water (one place)
• English Nature (one place)
• Local Farming Interests (one place)
• Local Sporting Interests (one place)
• The Kinder and High Peak Advisory Committee / Rambler's Association / BMC (two places)
• The Forestry Commission (one place)
• The National Trust (one place)

In addition, occasional attendance by others with an interest in the matters under discussion will be encouraged.

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[5] Administrative arrangements
The AAG will be a sub-group of the Upper Derwent Officer's Group and make regular progress reports back to their meetings. A Chair will be appointed by the lead organisations.

The Trust will act as Secretariat for the Group. Agendas will be agreed between the Chair and Secretariat. Minutes will be made available to the general public by a variety of media. Observers will be welcome to attend and make contributions by arrangement or at the invitation of the Chair.

The Trust and Commission reserve the right to review the chairing and membership of the Group on an annual basis.

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[6] Reaching a consensus
The Group will work towards reaching a consensus over decision-making as it affects the project. In the event of differences arising, the AAG needs to make clear the nature of differing views and suggest how they may be resolved. These can then be taken to the Upper Derwent Officer's Group for further consideration. As a last resort, having taken full and reasonable account of the issues, the Trust and Commission, as those with the ultimate responsibility for managing the valley, reserve the right to make final decisions on unresolved matters. However it is not anticipated that such a situation is likely to arise.

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[7] Land under agricultural tenancies
The Group will not be asked to comment or discuss matters of detail relating to agricultural or sporting tenancies in the valley.

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