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Our governance

The Natural England Board and the Senior Leadership Team are our main decision-making and managerial bodies.

Natural England Board

The Board ensures that Natural England fulfils the long term aims of our strategic direction and the annual objectives set by the Secretary of State, both of which are then translated into the corporate plan which is approved by the Board.

The main roles of the Board are to create Natural England’s strategy, approve its direction and review performance.

The Board acts in accordance with the strategic statement of board role (PDF, 31.2KB, 2 pages) and the board standing orders (PDF, 39.9KB, 6 pages) detail the procedures which govern the conduct of board meetings. Members act in accordance with the board code of conduct (PDF, 117KB, 8 pages) , and subject to the board retained authority (PDF, 45KB, 3 pages) .

The current management statement and financial memorandum (PDF, 377KB, 60 pages) sets out the broad framework within which Natural England operates.

Terms of reference for the Board’s committees and groups

• audit and risk committee (PDF, 129KB, 3 pages)

• science advisory committee (PDF, 80.4KB, 2 pages)

• remuneration committee (PDF, 77.6KB, 1 page)

• board innovation group (PDF, 78.8KB, 2 pages)

• upland peat working group (PDF, 196KB, 1 page)

• conservation strategy group (PDF, 27.5KB, 2 pages)

Board members

• Andrew Sells (Chairman)
• James Cross (Chief Executive, ex officio board member)
• William Cockbain
• Dr Joe Horwood
• Nigel Reader CBE
• Teresa Dent CBE
• Dr Simon Lyster
• Dr Andy Clements
• Dr Julia Aglionby
• John Varley OBE TD
• Professor Michael Winter OBE

Board meetings

Board meetings will be held on:

• 20 July 2016
• 21 September 2016
• 2 November 2016
• 7 December 2016 – open to members of the public (to be held in Nobel House, London)

Some board meetings are open to members of the public. Email naturalenglandcorrespondenceunit@naturalengland.org.uk if you’d like to attend. The agenda and papers will be published a week before open meetings.

Minutes of board meetings

The minutes are published after confirmation at the next meeting:

• 22 June 2016 (PDF, 312KB, 7 pages)

• 11 May 2016 (PDF, 331KB, 10 pages)

• 23 March 2016 (PDF, 330KB, 10 pages)

• 23 February 2016 (PDF, 320KB, 8 pages)

• 20 January 2016 (PDF, 80.8KB, 11 pages)

• 2 December 2015 (PDF, 72KB, 9 pages)

• 4 November 2015 (PDF, 342KB, 39 pages) – also includes meeting papers and agenda

• 16 September 2015 (PDF, 94.5KB, 12 pages)

• 15 July 2015 (PDF, 70.7KB, 9 pages)

• 17 June 2015 (PDF, 277KB, 12 pages)

• 20 May 2015 (PDF, 71KB, 10 pages)

• 29 April 2015 (PDF, 268KB, 12 pages)

• 25 March 2015 (PDF, 68.1KB, 9 pages)

• 25 February 2015 (PDF, 6.61MB, 101 pages) – also includes meeting papers and agenda
• 28 January 2015 (PDF, 86.9KB, 12 pages)

For details of previous meetings see The National Archives.

Senior Leadership Team

The Senior Leadership Team gives overall leadership by setting plans, reviewing performance and overseeing resourcing. The team assists the chief executive in carrying out their responsibilities.

Senior Leadership Team members

• James Cross, Chief Executive
• Guy Thompson, Chief Operating Officer
• Alan Law, Chief Strategy and Reform Officer
• Dr Tim Hill, Chief Scientist
• Paul Lambert, Chief Finance and Governance Officer
• Julie Lunt, Chief Legal Adviser