Authority Meeting 24 May 2018

The Openness of Local Government Bodies Regulations are in force, giving a right to members of the public to record (film, photograph and audio-record) and report on proceedings at committee meetings. Please read our protocol on Filming, Recording and Reporting of SDNPA Meetings Protocol for more information.

At the start of the meeting the Chair will make an announcement that the meeting may be filmed, recorded or photographed. Webcasting is undertaken in the public interest and in the exercise of our official authority, by entering the meeting room and using the public seating area you are consenting to being filmed, recorded and photographed. If you have any queries regarding this please contact committee.officer@southdowns.gov.uk

Agenda

1. Apologies for absence
2. Declaration of Interests
   To enable Members to declare to the meeting any disclosable interest they may have in any matter on the agenda for the meeting.
3. Urgent Matters
   To consider any matter on the agenda which the Chair agrees should be considered as a matter of urgency to due special circumstances (if Members have any urgent matters they are asked to consult the Chair before the meeting commences).
4. Public Participation
   The Chair will allow members of the public to ask questions, make statements or present a petition on any matter on the agenda for this meeting or on any matter that falls within the Authority’s powers, subject to procedures set out in Appendix 3 to the Authority’s Standing Orders.
5. Need for Part II Exclusion of Press and Public
   The Authority is asked to consider whether, in respect of Agenda Item 6 the public, including the press, should be excluded from the meeting on the basis that it is likely, in view of the nature of the business to be transacted or the nature of the proceedings, that if a member of the public were present during the items there would be disclosure to them of exempt information within Paragraphs 3 and 5 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972, being information relating to the financial and business affairs of the Authority and in respect of which a claim to legal professional privilege could be maintained in legal proceedings, and that in all the circumstances of the case, the public interest in maintaining the exempt information outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information. This conclusion was reached on the basis that whilst there is a public interest in maintaining transparency of Authority proceedings and ensuring public understanding in relation to the business of the Authority it is felt that on balance this is outweighed by the requirement of the National Park Authority to be able to discuss its business, take legal advice and fully consider the implications of its actions or proposed actions without confidential information being released into the public domain.

Part II

The next item is for Members of the Authority only

6. A27 Arundel – Next Steps Following Announcement of Preferred Route
   To consider a report from the Wealden Heath Countryside Policy Manager (Report to follow).
   The public, including the press, should be excluded from the meeting on the basis that it is likely, in view of the nature of the business to be transacted or the nature of the proceedings, that if a member of the public were present during the items there would be disclosure to them of exempt information within Paragraphs 3 and 5 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972, being information relating to the financial and business affairs of the Authority and in respect of which a claim to legal professional privilege could be maintained in legal proceedings, and that in all the circumstances of the case, the public interest in maintaining the exempt information outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information. This conclusion was reached on the basis that whilst there is a public interest in maintaining transparency of Authority proceedings and ensuring public understanding in relation to the business of the Authority it is felt that on balance this is outweighed by the requirement of the National Park Authority to be able to discuss its business, take legal advice and fully consider the implications of its actions or proposed actions without confidential information being released into the public domain.
   

Meeting Papers

• Agenda

Members’ Interests

SDNPA Members have a primary responsibility for ensuring that the Authority furthers the National Park Purposes and Duty. Members regard themselves first and foremost as Members of the Authority, and will act in the best interests of the National Park as a whole, rather than as representatives of their appointing body or any interest groups.
Members are required to declare any disclosable pecuniary interest that is not already entered in the Authority’s register of interests, and any personal interest and/or public service interest (as defined in Paragraph 18 of the Authority’s Code of Conduct) they may consider relevant to an item of business being considered at the meeting (such disclosure to be made at the commencement of the meeting, or when the interest becomes apparent).

Access to Information

If you would like a copy of this agenda in large print or an alternative format/language please contact the Committee Officer at committee.officer@southdowns.gov.uk or 01730 814810

Recording of Meetings

The Openness of Local Government Bodies Regulations give a right to members of the public to record (film, photograph and audio-record) and report on proceedings at committee meetings. The Authority has a protocol on ‘Filming, Recording and Reporting of South Downs National Park Authority Meetings’ which is available on our website.
As part of the Authority’s drive to increase accessibility to its public meetings, this meeting will be filmed for live and/ or subsequent broadcast via the internet; at the start of the meeting the Chair will confirm if all or part of the meeting is to be filmed. The images and sound recording may be used for training or any other purposes by the Authority. By entering the meeting room and using the public seating area you are consenting to being filmed, recorded or photographed and to the possible use of those images and sound recordings for webcasting and/or training purposes. If you have any queries regarding this, please contact the Governance Officer committee.officer@southdowns.gov.uk

Public Participation

Anyone wishing to speak at the meeting should register their request no later than 24 hours before the meeting by e-mailing public.speaking@southdowns.gov.uk. The public participation protocol is available on our website www.southdowns.gov.uk

Feedback

If you wish to give us feedback on your experience of the meeting please e-mail committee.officer@southdowns.gov.uk

Public participation

Anyone wishing to speak at the meeting should register their request, by emailing the following information to public.speaking@southdowns.gov.uk no later than 12 noon on the Monday before the meeting.

• Name:
• Address:
• Phone Number:
• Email:
• Planning Application Number:
• Details of Proposed Development:
• Indicate if you are speaking in support or against the application:
• Who are you representing?:
• In the event that more than 3 people request to speak in favour or against an item it may be necessary for them to agree amongst themselves who should speak at the meeting. In order to facilitate this process we would ask you to confirm that you are happy with us sharing your name and e-mail address with other potential speakers. We will not share any other personal details with any other third parties.
• YES / NO (delete as appropriate)

Confirmation that you have registered to speak will be send after 12 noon deadline. Further information on public speaking and registering as a speaker.

Please note that there is no catering provision for members of the public during meal breaks. However there are cafes, pubs and shops in Midhurst town centre, approximately 5 minutes’ walk away.