Clare’s spot diagram (from October 2017) provides an at-a-glance summary of various factors relating to LERCs’ main areas of interest and ALERC’s operations and objectives (plus which Director/Working group has the key role in relation to these).

Diagrams are always useful but it would be good to, e.g. differentiate between on-going activities, drivers and the relationships between these, relative priorities etc.

The strategic plan seems fine in general (although perhaps focussing too much on the situation in England) but circumstances have changed (in England) with the withdrawal of NE support, the replacement of the NBN Gateway with the Atlas system and the push from certain quarters for Open Data (whatever the cost). And then there are changes with the governance of the NBN, the push to replace Recorder 6 (with a currently non-existent online database system).

[Diagram of all that a LERC does, data flows, professional services, relationships etc.] (Expressed in terms of data and resource flows, and impacts which an individual LERC has locally, regionally, nationally)

[Diagram of idealised relationship between a LERC and ALERC] (plus regional structure atlas)

[Diagram of ALERC operations - Board, Working Groups, Trustees, Other activity leads, ANC (LERC sponsored time and other)]

[Diagram of ALERC relationships with different segments of National Biodiversity Network]

[Diagram of relationship between ALERC and other bodies/influence targets]

Questions.

What can we reasonably predict circumstances will be by 2020? And 2025?

What will be the key differences between then and now?

What trends are already underway?

What will be the key information/information service needs? For which of these would it be appropriate for LERCs to be key providers? What would be necessary to make this happen? What are the risks for LERCs/ALERC if we don’t pursue these.

What is the significance individually and in combination of each of these for LERCs, for ALERC (and local authorities/WTs/museums) and for the NBN?

Where are there pressures (+ve/-ve) to which LERCs will need to adapt?

What are the potential opportunities? (Easy wins. Those which require significant development)

Are these for LERC operations? For ALERC? For the relationship between LERCs and other bodies? For ALERC and other bodies?

What can LERCs/ALERC do to…. (try to remember what this was meant to be, Steve)

Possible Scenarios

1. Business as usual