English Lake District World Heritage Site Governance

You may be wondering how the English Lake District World Heritage Site (WHS) is managed. Who does what and how can you get involved or ask a question? Hopefully this will provide some clarity and signpost to those who may be able to help.

Lake District National Park Partnership (LDNPP)

There are currently 25 organisations involved in the LDNPP. It is made up of representatives from the public, private, community and voluntary sectors. In 2006, the Partnership agreed a Vision for the National Park in 2030, representing a collective commitment to work together in the best interest of the National Park, its environment, communities, economy and visitors. Their shared vision is that:
The English Lake District is an inspirational example of sustainable development in action; a place where its prosperous economy, world class visitor experiences and vibrant communities come together to sustain the spectacular landscape, its wildlife and cultural heritage. Local people, visitors, and the many organisations working in the English Lake District or have a contribution to make to it, must be united in achieving this.
The 25 members of the LDNPP are:

Lake District National Park Authority; Cumbria Local Enterprise Partnership; Cumbria County Council; South Lakeland District Council; Eden District Council; Copeland Borough Council; Allerdale Borough Council; Environment Agency; Natural England; Cumbria Wildlife Trust; RSPB; Forestry England; National Farmers’ Union; Friends of the Lake District; National Trust; Historic England; United Utilities; ACT Cumbria; Cumbria Tourism; Lake District Foundation; Country Land and Business  Association; Cumbria Association of Local Councils; University of Cumbria; Local Access Forum

WHS Steering Group

The Steering Group oversees, on behalf of LDNPP a programme of activity (known as the World Heritage Site Programme) designed to deliver Breakthrough Action 2 of the LDNPP Plan. It also provides advice to the LDNPP on WHS issues and / or undertakes WHS related work as mandated by the Partnership.

Their activities include:

• Ensures that the WHS Programme remains aligned with the strategic objectives of the Lake District National Park and WHS Partnership Plan
• Act as an  nterface between the State Party (the UK Government), UNESCO and the full partnership
• Ensure that the programme achieves its strategic outcomes and realises its benefits
• Input into programme development and definition
• Make recommendations to the Partnership on programme and project scope
• Monitor and resolve programme risks
• Participate in end of tranche reviews and approve progression to the next tranche of the programme
• Authorise /seek to secure the investment required to set up and run the programme and projects, coordinating WHS related funding bids where appropriate.
• Engender integration of activity across the Partnership
• Keep the Partnership engaged and supporting
• Establish any task and finish/working groups required to provide specialist guidance to the programme
• Monitor the achievement of defined benefits
• Undertake other tasks as mandated by the Partnership
• Establish a Stakeholder Forum which will be an open to all group but with a core membership drawn from across the Lakes key stakeholders

The Group’s expected outcomes include:
• Liaises with the State Party and draft responses to UNESCO, with full agreement of the Partnership where appropriate
• Updates to the Lake District National Park Partnership
• End of programme report for sign off by the Partnership
• Project briefs / mandates to instigate the development of project initiation documentation
• Approval of Project Initiation Documentation
• Provision of programme delivery and sign off
• Sign off of programme documentation and project outputs (where necessary)
• Call upon sub groups for advice & support as necessary
• Provision of critical review and quality assurance to proposals to strengthen plans and delivery
• Provision of direction and support to the Programme Manager, releasing partnership resources as required
• Action Points captured by Programme Manager

WHS Technical Advisory Group (TAG)

1. The new Lakes TAG held its 1st meeting on the 16th Feb 2018 and agreed its terms of reference.
TAG will be constituted under the aegis of the LDNP Partnership and exists to assist, in an advisory capacity, the Partnership in delivering against its WHS responsibilities. TAG reports to the WHS Steering Group ~ Terms of Ref at Annex 1.
• Afford a forum for advice formulation on WHS technical reporting issues.
• Provide technical advice and make recommendations on issues and ideas that might impact, on and/or help sustain the Lakes OUV and our WHS inscription
• Act as a mutually supporting network within itself and other groupings and therein create a wider stakeholder forum.
2. The UNESCO inscription report is what TAG works with; it the definitive statement of our OUV.

WHS Marketing Group

Purpose: To provide professional marketing communication advice to the Lake District National Park Partnership to inform the delivery of a marketing programme to maximise the potential of World Heritage for all partners and the region.

Objectives: 
• To agree marketing activity and shape brand/campaign
• To deliver ongoing agreed marketing plans for pre-inscription, celebration and post-inscription
• To build excitement around the forthcoming inscription through compelling content and marketing as agreed in the marketing plan
• To contribute to LDNPP’s approach to secure sponsorship and funding opportunities to invest in the celebration, brand and campaign activity
• To maximise media exposure of this exceptional event
• To raising the profile and awareness of the benefits of World Heritage with residents, business and visitors and our own organisations/staff
• To utilise our own customer touchpoints and marketing channels to raise the profile of World Heritage
• To capture customer insight and data to inform product development and ongoing marketing