The Shropshire Hills National Landscape Partnership was scheduled to meet on Thursday, 13 November 2025, to discuss a range of topics including the Shropshire Council's new priorities, the team's work programme, and new partnership structures. The meeting was also scheduled to include updates on landscape connections, the management plan review, sustainable tourism strategy and farming in protected landscapes.

New Partnership Structures

The meeting was scheduled to include a discussion of new partnership structures for the Shropshire Hills National Landscape, marking the end of the current Partnership's era. The report pack included a briefing paper from the National Landscapes Association titled 'The Future of National Landscapes', which was intended to provide a basis for discussion.

The proposed new structure was scheduled to include:

• A new Advisory Committee of 12 people, with appointees from both councils and seven open seats recruited through an application process.
• Closer working arrangements with key delivery partners, including public bodies and other organisations working at scale.
• A broad new Forum, open to anyone who wishes to participate and support the National Landscape, meeting twice a year.

The purpose of these changes is to improve the effectiveness of partnership working in the Shropshire Hills National Landscape.

Shropshire Council Update

The Partnership was scheduled to receive an update on Shropshire Council's new priorities, as set out in a paper presented to the full council on 25 September. The paper, titled 'A New Direction for Shropshire', outlines the new Liberal Democrat administration's commitment to building a council that values its residents and staff, delivers services with pride and respect, and operates with transparency and financial discipline.

The administration's three key priorities are:

• Financial Recovery and Stability
• Contract Reform and Value for Money
• Community Empowerment and Partnership

The paper also sets out the administration's aims and ambitions for various portfolios, including planning, adult social care, children's services, highways and flooding, waste and climate, housing, leisure and libraries, transport and economic growth, and health and public protection.

Team Work Programme

The Shropshire Hills National Landscape team was scheduled to provide an update on its recent activities.

This update included information on the Farming in Protected Landscapes (FiPL) programme, which is in its fifth year. To date, the programme has received 196 grant applications and funded 184 of them. The team has allocated 68% of its delivery budget for the current financial year (£680,871) and anticipates fully spending this year's grant allocation of £1,005,614.

The team also has Defra capital funding of £234,181 in 2025-26 for spend on either of two criteria: 'Innovation, invest-to-save and income generating activities' or '30by30 delivery'. Funding has been awarded to the Middle Marches Community Land Trust for habitat restoration at Norbury Hill and to the Severn Rivers Trust for palaeo-channel reconnection and floodplain restoration on the River Kemp at Walcot, in the Clun catchment.

The team was also scheduled to discuss the Ancient Woodland Restoration project, the Upper Clun Headwaters (peatlands) project, the Access for All project, the Young Rangers programme, outreach and engagement activities, the Shropshire Hills Shuttle Buses, the Stepping Stones project, the Teme Headwaters project development, the Landscape Connections project development, and the 'Nature Calling' arts project.

Other Business

• Charlie Bell from the National Trust was scheduled to provide an update on Landscape Connections.
• The Partnership was scheduled to receive verbal updates on the Management Plan Review, the Sustainable Tourism Strategy, and Farming in Protected Landscapes from Alison Jones, Farming in Protected Landscapes Adviser.
• The minutes of the meetings held on 18 March 2025 and 31 July 2025 were attached for confirmation.