Steering Group - Terms of Reference and Operation


Terms of Reference

  • Take a lead and championing role, providing direct liaison across the themes; setting up task and finish groups for individual themes, providing terms of reference, targets and deliverables and monitoring their progress
  • With a shared understanding of issues/barriers and opportunities facing the management of trees, woodlands and forests in the region identify and prioritise common actions that can be taken to address them
  • Fully utilise opportunities for advocacy, linking strategies and plans at regional and national level whilst contributing towards the information and data gathering processes
  • Ensure delivery of the Forestry Framework through monitoring activity and targets. Develop monitoring review process that satisfies SD/SA
  • Ensure sufficient infrastructure, systems and resources are in place to ensure the effective development, implementation and monitoring of the Forestry Framework Delivery Plan, year on year for the foreseeable future
  • Develop and maintain clear lines of communication with the Regional Woodland and Forestry Forum. The Delivery Plan Steering Group will also have the role of Management Committee for the Forum, which will include ensuring that the Forum is informed and has appropriate opportunity to contribute to the delivery plan and its implementation.

Modus Operandi

The Delivery Plan Steering Group will be kept to an effective working number but nevertheless representative of the sectors covered by key RFF stakeholders. The membership of the group may fluctuate according to the need for expert knowledge, which may entail co-opting key stakeholders onto the group at future times according to need. Effective communication with the Forum will be helpful in this respect. The APM will be in attendance at each meeting and provide an appropriate progress report and other papers as required by the group.

The Delivery Plan Steering Group will meet quarterly or as required, with the support of West Midlands Regional Assembly/Forestry Commission.

The core membership of the DPSG will be drawn from the following stakeholder groupings:

  • Government Office – overall regional policy lead, funder
  • West Midlands Leaders Board – regional policy integration lead and APM employer, funder
  • Advantage West Midlands – regional development agency, facilitating appropriate links with regional economic policy and action.
  • Forestry Commission – technical and forestry policy lead, APM line management and funder
  • Natural England – regional policy integration, funder
  • Local Authorities – sub-regional policy integration, policy/technical expertise
  • Woodland Initiatives/forestry sector NGOs – policy/technical expertise
  • Private forestry sector – technical/commercial expertise and perspective
  • Regional Woodland and Forestry Forum (Chair)