RAPC 593-26 – Final Quarter Progress Report 2025/26
Summary
Document Viewer
Resources, Audit and Performance Committee Meeting
1 June 2026
NFNPA RAPC 593/26
Q4 Progress Report 2025/26
NFNPA RAPC 593/26
NEW FOREST NATIONAL PARK AUTHORITY
RESOURCES, AUDIT AND PERFORMANCE COMMITTEE MEETING – 1 JUNE 2026
FINAL QUARTER PROGRESS REPORT 2025/26
Report by: David Stone, Corporate Services Manager and Nigel Stone, Head of Resources
1. Purpose
1.1 To present fourth quarter (January-March) progress against the objectives from the 2025/26 Work Programme agreed by members in March.
2. Introduction
2.1 Following the adoption of the renewed Partnership Plan by its constituent organisations in 2022, members of this Authority approved the priorities for our own Business Plan in July 2023. This plan sets out what we need to deliver as our part of the partnership, alongside detail on how this will be achieved through specific outcomes, actions, timescales and measures of success.
2.2 Members also agreed the 2025/26 Work Programme in March 2025, and this report provides the third quarter progress against the outcomes and actions / priorities within it. As previously, many ‘business as usual’ items are removed from the tables, leaving a smaller number of clearly defined and concise actions to be monitored during the year.
2.3 Progress against these actions is measured by referring to the RAG (Red, Amber, Green) status under the quarterly column – this is simply progress seen in the period April to December against what was originally intended. A further column of RAG status’ confirms whether the overall objectives are still expected to be achieved by the end of the financial year. An amber or red status for the quarter or year has been addressed through an ‘action to regain’ column aimed at mitigation or corrective action to bring the status back to green.
3. Progress Reporting
3.1 Under the format agreed by the Committee, the Work Programme does not include a specific column for officers to provide a substantive progress narrative against each of the actions shown as ‘green’; however, these narratives will still be available through the Chief Executive’s reports which provide a more flexible, detailed and up-to-date account of what has been done. There is however a final column in the tables for any particularly noteworthy officer comments on progress or issues.
3.2 Members of the Committee can of course question officers in first instance at the meeting, however should they wish to receive further detailed information or clarifications on a specific issue(s) whilst at the meeting, please contact David Stone or an appropriate member of the Strategic Leadership Team beforehand and they will endeavour to bring such responses along with them.
4. Performance Indicators
4.1 As discussed with Members, the national Key Performance Indicators have now morphed into the newly agreed Protected Landscapes Targets and Outcomes Framework (PLTOF). These all have target dates greater than any single financial year and will be monitored over those timescales through annual year-end progress figures. As in previous quarterly reports, we have also provided our local list of annual indicators. All indicators will mirror the RAG status of the qualitative performance monitoring. For any amber or red indicators, officers have been given the opportunity to provide some text around ‘mitigation / actions to regain’.
5. Recommendation
It is recommended that Members note the contents of the report and following discussion, agree any necessary management action.
Papers:
- NFNPA/RAPC 593/26 Cover paper (including KPIs)
- NFNPA/RAPC 593/26 Annex 1: Q4 Work Programme Progress Report 2025/26
Contact:
David Stone
Corporate Services Manager
Tel: 01590 646645
Email: david.stone@newforestnpa.gov.uk
Equality and Diversity Implications:
A number of the work programmes and indicators are directly focussed around improving equality and diversity, for example, our work with the New Forest Voices project, all-ability cycling and by monitoring attendance of under-represented groups at our events.
Q4 Progress Report 2025/26
KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS
Quarterly Monitoring:
| Indicator | Annual Target | 25/26 Result |
|---|---|---|
| No. of planning applications received this year to date | N/A | 458 |
| % of planning decisions delegated to officers | 90%+ | 95% |
| % of planning applications approved | 85%+ | 89% |
| Speed of Major Development applications | 60%+ | 100% |
| Speed of Non-Major Development applications | 70%+ | 76% |
| Quality of Major Development applications (% overturned at appeal) | 10% or less | 0% |
| Quality of Non-Major Development applications (% overturned at appeal) | 10% or less | 42% (10 of 24) |
| Enforcement acknowledges complaints within 3 working days | 90%+ | TBC |
| Carry out initial enforcement investigation within 15 working days | 90%+ | TBC |
| Check compliance with enforcement notices within 5 working days | 100% | TBC |
| Initiate action for non-compliance with an enforcement notice within 15 working days | 100% | TBC |
| No. of tree works applications received this year to date | N/A | 605 |
| No. of tree works applications determined within 8 weeks | 90%+ | 95% |
| No. of planning consultations completed by the Archaeology team | N/A | 131 |
| Combined social media audience | 150,000+ | 166,403 |
| No. of Climate Pledges received | 1,800+ | 1,898 |
| Number of promoting understanding face-to-face contacts (education, events, rangers, talks, training) | 20,000+ | 35,789 |
| No. of Pedall participants | 5,000+ | 7,633 |
| % of income derived from sources other than the defra National Park Grant | 25%+ | 36% |
| Information requests processed within statutory deadline | 100% | 97% |
| Complaints processed within 20 working days | 100% | 100% |
| Member participation in attending committees | 82%+ | 77% |
| Undisputed invoices paid within 30 days | 98%+ | 98% |
| No. of working days lost due to sickness absence per FTE | 6 days | 5.6 |
| No. of working days lost due to short-term sickness absence per FTE | 4 days | 3.5 |
Promoting Understanding (max 150 words):
PEDALL Inclusive Cycling, hosted by the New Forest National Park Authority and supported by the Friends of PEDALL and the National Lottery Community Fund, continued to expand during 2025/26. PEDALL helps people of all ages and abilities experience the New Forest National Park, improve wellbeing and build confidence through supported cycling activity. During the year, PEDALL delivered more than 7,600 rides through guided sessions and community events, supported by volunteers and partnerships with schools, charities, care providers and NHS services.
- Delivered 7,633 inclusive cycle rides during 2025/26, representing growth of more than 200% since 2021.
- Supported over 1,100 unique riders, including people with disabilities, dementia, autism and mobility challenges.
- 97% of riders reported feeling happier after cycling with PEDALL and 96% said it improved their strength and fitness.
- Continued year-round inclusive cycling provision from hubs at Burley and Ashurst.
- Worked with 49 partner organisations in 2024 and 2025 calendar years.
Final Quarter Mitigation / Actions to Regain:
Planning Appeals – Due to the small number of appeals overall (24 in total), any upheld against us (10) significantly skews this percentage figure in this national indicator.
Enforcement Statistics – apologies these are currently unavailable, but Officers will bring them to the Committee meeting.
Information Requests – Of the 72 requests received, 70 were responded to within the deadline and the others were one and two days late respectively.
Member Attendance – The figure has remained stable, but is still not currently meeting the target.