The Joint Advisory Committee.

The Joint Advisory Committee (JAC) was established in July 1997. Its main responsibility is to guide the production of a management strategy for the AONB, agree budgets and oversee the work and objectives of the AONB Unit. JAC members have a key role in implementing, monitoring and reviewing the current management strategy and generally promoting the AONB.

The JAC comprises local authorities within the AONB, statutory agencies, land owning, farming and community interest groups. In total, 18 organisations are represented on the JAC. These are:

• Natural England
• Kent County Council
• Ashford Borough Council
• Bromley Council
• Canterbury City Council
• Dover District Council
• Gravesham Borough Council
• Medway Council
• Maidstone Borough Council
• Sevenoaks District Council
• Shepway District Council
• Swale Borough Council
• Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council
• Environment Agency
• Country Land and Business Association
• National Farmers Union
• Kent Association of Parish Councils
• Action with Communities in Rural Kent
  

The JAC meets 2 times a year and as official representatives are often accompanied by colleagues there are usually around 40 attendees at each JAC meeting.

The role of the JAC Chairman is to chair JAC meetings, seek support and encourage members to promote the AONB regionally and nationally and lead the JAC so that it can meet existing and future challenges. The Chairman is also supported by a Vice Chairman and the secretariat of the JAC is currently undertaken by the Kent Downs AONB Unit.

The Executive.
A small Executive Group meets on a formal basis as required by the chairman but at least four times a year including a meeting before the JAC. The Executive Group is empowered by the JAC to implement the management plan, and be responsive to opportunities as they arise. The Executive Group is accountable to the JAC and has specific terms of reference delegated to it by the JAC.

Membership
The Executive Group membership is a maximum size of 12 people. The chairing of the Executive Group can be interchangeable between the Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the JAC– this ensures accountability to the JAC. Other members include Natural England as the major funding partner and Kent County Council as the employing authority. Tthere are four members from the other Local Authorities, either members or officers, one for each Area Strategic Partnership, and four members from other organisations according to the skills and influence they can offer, for instance the parish councils, business interests, NGOs – for instance National Trust or Wildlife Trust. At least one member should represent landowners or land managers.

Nominations and volunteers for membership are invited by the Chairman of the JAC and membership is agreed by the JAC.

The membership of the Executive Group is reviewed annually with the possibility of rotating membership for Local Authorities to ensure representation.

The Unit.
The Kent Downs AONB unit was established in July 1997 with one AONB officer. As the work programme has expanded the unit has grown to 4.4 full time equivalents:-

• AONB Director - Nick Johannsen
• Communications Manager - Frances Clayton
• External Funding and Partnership Development Officer – Tim Owen.
• Office Manager - Gill Bell.
• AONB Planning Officer – Stella Bandu (part time)

• Mid Kent Downs Project Officer - Naomi Betts
• Mid Kent Downs Orchard Officer - Pippa Palmar
• European Projects Co-ordinator– Catherine Brady
• Sustainable Rural Tourism Officer - Sarah Loftus
• Rural Advice Co-Ordinator - Jenny Bate
• Denge Woods Project Officer - Fran Thompson
  
  The Unit is a strategic body that works with partners to achieve the conservation and enhancement of the AONB. It undertakes a number of core functions and is also a source of expertise. An annual work programme is developed by the Kent Downs AONB Director and agreed by the JAC and Officers Steering Group.
  
  Kent County Council act as the employing authority and a supplier of line management and technical services (finance, IT, personnel) to the Unit.