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Conservation and natural heritage interests should be represented on forums, but it is best that that should happen at the discretion of local authorities.
The matter comes down to a judgment by the members concerned, who are best placed to judge their own needs and what will help them to do their job better.
The parallels between the GM issue and BSE in the 1990s are stark and horrific. ACRE is giving you the best available scientific advice. Similarly, in the 1990s the Swann committee and the BSE advisory committee gave the Government of the day the best available scientific advice.
For example, the spend on primary school pupils could be regarded as a GAE assessment. The indicator is the best basis that has been identified for driving an expenditure need.
I am aware that the issue is highly emotive and I think that it would be best to await the outcome of the review group's work, which is well under way.
Councils are at different stages: some will require more rigorous help than others; some started the process late and others started it early. The best time was probably in between.It is vital to state that there is no quick fix; we must get the changes right in the long term.