Forest Services Board
This board is appointed by the Forestry Commissioners to enable them, as ‘the appropriate forestry authority’ in England, to discharge their duties and exercise their powers set out in the Forestry Act 1967 and other relevant legislation, including the Plant Health Act 1967.
The board also provides leadership for Forest Services by supporting, guiding, constructively challenging, and directing the Forest Services Executive Team in the development and delivery of its strategy.
Terms of reference
The Forest Services Board:
- Discharges functions delegated to them by the Board of Forestry Commissioners
- Sets the strategic direction for Forest Services’ activities
- Ensures that Forest Services’ activities contribute to the delivery of relevant government policy and the Forestry Commission’s overall strategic objectives
- Approves the strategy and Business Plan for Forest Services
- Promotes forestry policy as a means to deliver wider government objectives and provides insight to future opportunities for forestry in England
- Advocates forestry expertise as a means to maintain the Forestry Commission’s reputation and achieve government’s policy and objectives
- Regularly receives and reviews information on financial and operational performance of Forest Services against agreed objectives
- Demonstrates high standards of corporate governance at all times to help the board to address key financial and other strategic risks faced by the organisation, ensuring adequate systems and internal controls are in place to safeguard resources, including by using the independent audit committee
- Ensures that any statutory or administrative requirements for the use of public funds are complied with
- Ensures that effective relationships are maintained and the Forestry Commission’s reputation is upheld with stakeholders, customers, suppliers, employees and other government departments across England, including by establishing links with local delivery teams and Forestry and Woodlands Advisory Committees
- Ensures effective communication both internally and externally through focused and consistent messaging showing evidence and accountability for decisions made
- Addresses matters of relevance to the wider Forestry Commission (Forest Research and Forestry England, as well as Forest Services) as requested by the Forestry Commission Executive Board
Meetings and meeting papers
Read the Forest Services Board agendas, meeting papers and minutes