5. Our policies and procedures

• Subject: Corporate governance
  Description: Corporate governance is about the systems and frameworks by which an organisation is directed and managed. It provides clarity for staff about their duties and the decisions that they can take as individuals, thus ensuring an effective organisation. It provides visibility and transparency of operation for our stakeholders, partners, customers and suppliers. Natural England's governance framework continues to be developed. The framework is divided into several sections and a number of key documents in the framework are available.
  Availability: A range of documents are available as pdfs on the Natural England website from the Governance pages including:
  Management statement: (377kb)
  Financial memorandum: (377kb)
  Part 8 agreement: (126kb)
  Strategic Statement of Board Role: (31kb)
  Audit Committee Terms of Reference: (98kb)
  Board Retained Authority: (45kb)
  Non financial scheme of delegation: (233kb)
  Staff Code of Conduct: (32kb)
  Regularity and Propriety: (139kb)
  Anti-fraud Policy and Procedure: (223kb)
  Whistleblowing: (160kb)
  Internal Audit Terms of Reference: (98kb)
  Health and Safety policy: (78kb)
  or contact Natural England’s Enquiry Service for paper copies.

• Subject: Service Standards
  Description: Describes our service standards in areas such as conduct, enquiries and office hours.
  Availability: Our Service Standards are available on our website or contact the Natural England’s Enquiry Service for a paper copy.

• Subject: Comments and complaints procedures
  Description: Gives procedures and standards for making complaints to Natural England.
  Availability: Available on the complaints procedures pages on the Natural England website or contact Natural England’s Enquiry Service for a paper copy.

• Subject: Procurement guidelines
  Description: Explains Natural England’s approach to purchasing and contracting for the provision of goods and services with the objective of achieving value for money.
  Availability: Contact Natural England’s Enquiry Service. Some contents of the manual dealing with payment procedures may be withheld to prevent the risk of fraud.

• Subject: Finance guidelines
  Description: Sets out the details of Natural England’s financial relationships with its sponsoring body, The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and providing the corporate framework for the financial activities of Natural England. These include policies and procedures which are designed to meet the requirements of public accountability and to guide and protect staff in pursuit of their duties.
  Availability: Natural England’s Financial Memorandum: (377kb) is available as a pdf on our website or contact Natural England’s Enquiry Service. Some contents of the manual dealing with payment procedures may be withheld to prevent the risk of fraud.

• Subject: Access to information policies and guidance
  Description: Natural England’s policies, guidance and responsibilities under:
  Data Protection Act 1998
  Freedom of Information Act 2000
  Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations 2003
  Environmental Information Regulations 2004
  The Re-use of Public Sector Information Regulations 2005
  Availability: Available on the Natural England website on the Access to Information pages. Responses to access to information requests that we regard as having a wider public interest can be found on the Disclosure Log. For more information contact Natural England’s Enquiry Service for a paper copy.

• Subject: Records management handbooks
  Description: Natural England’s policies and procedures for records management.
  Availability: Contact Natural England’s Enquiry Service.

• Subject: Enforcement Action on Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) in England
  Description: Section 28 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 as replaced by Schedule 9 to the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 (the Wildlife and Countryside Act”) gives Natural England the power to make sure SSSIs are protected and managed effectively now and in the future. As part of our work, we are responsible for enforcing this section of the law and can take appropriate action when the law is broken and when the habitat and features of SSSIs are damaged, disturbed or destroyed. We use a range of enforcement methods appropriately, effectively and quickly to deal with these criminal offences. These methods range from information site notices and warning letters through to formal investigations and prosecutions.
  Availability: Our Enforcement position and guidance is available on the Natural England website or contact Natural England’s Enquiry Service for a paper copies.

• Subject: National Nature Reserve (NNR) Promise
  Description: Service standards relating to National Nature Reserves (NNRs).
  Availability: Our NNR promise is available on the Natural England website or contact Natural England’s Enquiry Service for a paper copy.

• Subject: National Nature Reserve (NNR) Management Plan Format Guide
  Description: Internal staff guidance for preparing, considering or approving Management Plans for National Nature Reserves managed by Natural England. Advises staff on scope, structure and detail required.
  Availability: The NNR management plan guide is available as a pdf on the Natural England website. To support the guidance document, a CD containing a sample management plan and a set of page templates is available by emailing enquiries@naturalengland.org.uk.