Corporate Information

We are focussed on delivering best value services for our users, local residential and businesses communities. Our system of performance management starts with the publicly endorsed visionary Northumberland National Park Management Plan describing what the national park should look like in 20 year's time with very specific targets to measure the progress. The National Park Management Plan is reviewed every five years.

Although prepared by the National Park Authority, the Management Plan is for everyone; residents, businesses, visitors, public bodies – all organisations and individuals with a stake in the National Park.  We have prepared a 3-year Business Plan to explain how the National Park Authority will respond to the challenges set out in the Management Plan for the next three years.  The Business Plan recognises the challenges that lie ahead in the coming years, not least to public finances.  However, it is ambitious and optimistic as to what can be achieved.

Detailed information is set out within the annual corporate plan.  This shows our annual performance, sets short-term actions and detailed budget planning including our needs for new funding. We produce this plan each June and a user-friendly summary is sent to all residents of the national park in the form of the annual report

The Government's public sector watchdog, the Audit Commission, audits our annual accounts. We fundamentally review one main service area each year and again the audit commission inspects these reviews.

Our elected and appointed members scrutinise performance on a planned, formal basis. A small number of lead members have been allocated specific portfolios to drive forward continuous service improvements.

We set individual staff and team work targets to delivery the annual programmes of work and this system is externally inspected as part of the Investors in People initiative.