About Us
Our Vision
The Lake District National Park Authority wants a National Park for future generations. A prosperous economy, world class visitor experiences and vibrant communities – and all sustaining the spectacular landscape.
We are working hard to make sure they have it. Our role is to work with people to:
- respect the past
- care for the present and
- plan for the future.
You can find out more in Vision for the National Park in 2030 page.
Local government
The Lake District National Park Authority is an independent local authority and part of the local government in the Lake District. It does some, but not all, of the work that is done by the County and District Councils outside the National Park. These other councils also have an important role to play inside the National Park.
We are the local government body established to conserve and enhance the Lake District's natural beauty, wildlife, and cultural heritage; and promote the public's understanding and enjoyment of the National Park's special qualities. We try to ensure that developments and activities are not harmful, to encourage responsible countryside access, to inform and educate visitors and local people about conservation issues and foster the economic and social well-being of the local communities.
We provide expert advice and practical assistance to local residents, landowners, developers and visitors to the National Park. We work in partnership with other bodies and agencies towards the effective management of visitor and local needs within the context of landscape conservation and environmental improvement.
We are the Unitary Planning Authority for the National Park. We run information and educational services, maintain rights of way and a wide range of properties: car parks; woodland; moorland and mountains.
The Authority is made up of:
- Staff page - local government employees who advise members
- Members page - represent the public interest. About two thirds are elected local politicians
- Chairman - leads the members
- Chief Executive - leads the staff
Funding
Britain’s national parks are funded directly by Government grant from Defra (opens in new window), and receive no funding from council tax or other local taxes.
We get most of our money - £6.6 million - from the Government grant from Defra.
About a third of our income comes from trading activities such as car parking, planning application fees and sales at Information Centres.
Our History
Find out more about the National Parks movement and the family of National Parks in the UK by checking out our History of National Park page.
Code of Corporate Governance
Corporate Governance is how we demonstrate our responsibility and accountability to our customers. Check out our Code of Corporate Governance (opens Document Library).
We use the definition of CIPFA (Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy) and SOLACE (Society of Local Authority Chief Executives):
“Corporate Governance is the systems by which local authorities direct and control their functions and relate to their communities”.
We have agreed a local Code of Corporate Governance and will review existing practice and procedure to identify areas for improvement. This review will lead to an action plan to introduce and sustain best practice.
Assessment
The Lake District National Park Authority is continually improving and changing. We underwent a two-day inspection by the National Park Authorities' Performance Assessment Team who commented on issues such as leadership and communicating. Read the NPAPA Report 2006 (opens Document Library).
National Fraud Initiative – Code of Data Matching Practice
This authority is required by law to protect the public funds it administers. It may share information provided to it with other bodies responsible for auditing or administering public funds, in order to prevent and detect fraud.
The Audit Commission appoints the auditor to audit the accounts of this authority. It is also responsible for carrying out data matching exercises.
Data matching involves comparing computer records held by one body against other computer records held by the same or another body to see how far they match. This is usually personal information. Computerised data matching allows potentially fraudulent claims and payments to be identified. Where a match is found it indicates that there is an inconsistency which requires further investigation. No assumption can be made as to whether there is fraud, error or other explanation until an investigation is carried out.
The Audit Commission currently requires us to participate in a data matching exercise to assist in the prevention and detection of fraud. We are required to provide particular sets of data to the Audit Commission for matching for each exercise, and these are set out in the Audit Commission’s guidance, which can be found at www.audit-commission.gov.uk/nfi.
The use of data by the Audit Commission in a data matching exercise is carried out with statutory authority under its powers in Part 2A of the Audit Commission Act 1998. It does not require the consent of the individuals concerned under the Data Protection Act 1998.
Data matching by the Audit Commission is subject to a Code of Practice. This can be found at Audit Commission - National Fraud Initiative (opens in new window). You can also find out more information on Audit Commission's legal powers and the reasons why it matches particular information (opens in new window)
For further information on data matching at this authority contact Sue King on 01539 792601 or sue.king@lake-district.gov.uk .