The Chairmen and Chief Executives of Bannau Brycheiniog, Pembrokeshire Coast and Snowdonia National Park Authorities met at Plas Tan Y Bwlch, Maentwrog, Gwynedd to discuss and agree in principle further opportunities for joint work.
The three National Park Authorities have already agreed to work together to find additional efficiencies associated with back-of-office support services; communications and graphics; and translation services.
Chairman of National Parks Wales and the Bannau Brycheiniog National Park Authority, Cllr Eric Saxon said: “In these challenging financial times we need to react positively to protect frontline services for the communities of our National Parks as well as the services for visitors.”
“The public expects and we have a responsibility to identify efficiencies within each authority. By working together and with other partners we are able to maintain services across all three National Parks.”
“Efficiencies of more than £1million have been found, a significant sum given our size. However we are determined not to rest at that. We will continue to look for additional savings; in the current financial climate we must do more.”
Chairman of the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority, Richard Howells added: “We have worked over many years to deliver the purposes we share to protect and increase awareness and understanding of these precious landscapes.”
“The National Park Authorities are small public bodies, yet we have a proud history of joint working between ourselves and with other organisations that share our values.”
Cllr Caerwyn Roberts, Chairman of Snowdonia National Park Authority concluded: “The challenges we individually face are daunting, but we are well placed to work together to identify and develop new opportunities to save money.”
“National Parks can be viewed as natural laboratories and provide inexpensive activities for users to enjoy. These two principles, along with the use of modern technology stimulates innovation, in order to meet the purposes National Parks were created to deliver.”
The meeting of the three National Park Authorities took place during a two day seminar (25th and 26th November, 2010) at Plas Tan y Bwlch, Maentwrog; Snowdonia National Park Authority’s environmental education centre. The seminar focused upon the development of sustainable tourism within Wales’ National Parks.