The Peak District National Park Authority is beginning consultation with a number of staff over restructure proposals that are being driven by a need to cut costs.
The Authority is facing ongoing financial pressures due to a fixed government grant that does not take into account inflation and additional pressures such as the recent increase in Employers National Insurance Contributions, the rise in the minimum wage, the ending of the government’s rate relief scheme, and some external costs rising by as much as 150%.
Overall the Authority has faced a real-terms cut of around 50% over the last ten years. The continual squeeze on funding has happened at the same time as those using the National Park have increased and expectations about what the National Park should be delivering for nature, climate and wellbeing are rising.
It is only two years since the Authority last had to undertake a restructure programme. Those changes reduced management costs and combined several service areas whilst allowing for an investment in the Authority’s statutory planning function.
However, since the last round of changes the Authority has faced unprecedented financial pressures whilst the core government grant remains flat.
The current round of proposed changes includes making efficiencies within important functions such as customer services and communications and having to reduce the size and scope of much cherished work in the areas of community engagement, education and wellbeing.
With the ongoing support of a philanthropic donor, some transformational changes are also being proposed for the Authority’s Visitor and Cycle Hire Centres to ensure their long-term viability.
Phil Mulligan, the Authority’s Chief Executive, said: “We are facing a very challenging financial landscape. The proposals we are having to consider are extremely difficult and upsetting for everyone.
“We are looking at potentially cutting or reducing some of our high profile and much valued programmes. None of us want to make these decisions but they cannot be avoided unless there is significantly better news from government on our funding.”
The Authority has confirmed the possibility of a number of redundancies, which it is seeking to mitigate through the consideration of voluntary redundancies across the organisation. It is expected that the restructure will be concluded ahead of Authority Members needing to agree next year’s budget at their meeting on 21st March.
