Prior to April 2002, the Service was directed by a Steering Committee comprising representatives from Lancaster City Council, South Lakeland District Council, Cumbria and Lancashire County Councils, the Countryside Agency, English Nature, the Arnside/Silverdale AONB Landscape Trust and the Joint Parish Committee.

This arrangement was reinforced in 1995, when a Joint Advisory Committee for the area named the Arnside/Silverdale AONB Forum was introduced. The Forum's role was to broaden participation and representation in the management of the AONB. It also supported and encouraged active partnership between all agencies involved in the co-ordination of management strategy over the whole AONB. Membership included representatives from a wide range of organisations, such as the National Trust, RSPB, English Nature, the CLA, National Farmers Union.

In 2002 the Steering Committee and Forum were effectively amalgamated and reformed as the Executive Committee. To view a full list of the current Executive membership click on the link.
Currently it is chaired by the Chairman of the Joint Parish Committee, as was the Steering Committee. The AONB Manager reports on a regular basis, to the Executive Committee on all the activities of the Arnside/Silverdale AONB Service, particularly regarding detailed appraisal of its budget, work programme, the identification of new projects and the AONB Management Plan.

Work has also been started on the review of the existing Management Plan, as required by law every five years. There will be many opportunities to express your "point of view" on the context and content of the review. Keep a look out for details of the view on this website - early in the New Year the consultation website will be linked from here.

Following the changes to the service's organisation the function of the Executive body will be largely the same as those carried out by the Steering Committee with an additional input into the Planning Process.