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Part Three: Recommendations

The findings of the review have led to a number of key recommendations. These are presented below.

Value for Money

3.1 To increase the value for money provided by centres, it is recommended that the Ministry:

a) continue to refine the application and assessment system to take account of the Ministry's findings of the Environment Centre Review, the Government's wider goals for the environment, and the Ministry's strategic position

b) communicate to centres the findings of the Environment Centre Review and, in an ongoing way, the Government's wider goals for the environment and the Ministry's strategic aim

c) continue to develop realistic measures of value for money that are fair in as much as they take into account non-government organisations' ability to deliver and account for regional differences.

Funding Issues

3.2 It is recommended that the Ministry:

a) encourage environment centres to extend their range of activities, which will allow them to seek project-specific funding from a wide range of funders (as part of their project costs, centres should factor in a proportion of staff and running costs needed to run the project)

b) proactively advise the environment centres of the opportunities for project-specific support available through the Sustainable Management Fund, and how to apply for this

c) look at options for the multi-year funding of centres.

Governance

3.3 No recommendations have been made regarding environment centre governance.

Volunteers

3.4 It is recommended that the Ministry:

a) fund staff, committee and volunteer development costs as part of their grant. These costs should centre on increasing project management, and financial and marketing skills.

Relationships

3.5 It is recommended that the Ministry:

a) encourage environment centres to continue developing effective and productive relationships. These relationships should be centred on projects and services the centre can offer and organise in return for financial or in-kind support.

Issues Impacting on Service Delivery

3.6 It is recommended that the Ministry:

a) provide guidance to centres on the appropriate range of activities to be conducted with Ministry support and further develop its application material and Deed of Funding to reflect this.

Resource Management Act

3.7 It is recommended that the Ministry:

a) proactively advise environment centres of the opportunities for Resource Management Act project-specific support available through the Education and Advisory Services Fund, and how to apply to this.


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