National Park Authority Meeting 28 March 2024

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

Webcasting

We broadcast all Planning Committee meetings through our webcasting portal. Meetings can be viewed live or on-demand up to six months after the meeting.

_Agenda

1. 1. 1. 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. Minutes of the previous meetings held on 12 December 2023
            To approve as a correct record the minutes of the Authority meetings held on 12 December 2023.
            Agenda Item 3
         4. 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).
         5. 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.
         6. Need for Part II Exclusion of Press and Public
            The Authority is asked to consider whether, in respect of Agenda Items 20 and 21, 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 1 and 3  of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972, being information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person including the Authority (Agenda Item 20) and information relating to any individual (Agenda Item 21) 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. It is proposed that this conclusion be reached for the following reasons:
            • In respect of Agenda Item 20, this conclusion is reached on the basis that whilst there is a public interest in maintaining the transparency of Authority proceedings relating to the delivery of its planning service, it is felt that on balance this is outweighed by the need for the Authority to be able to consider matters in relation to its business and fully consider the implications of its proposed actions which will have implications for the agreements regarding the ongoing delivery of its planning service without the disclosure of information that could undermine its position or its ability to deliver value for money through these arrangements.
            • In respect of Agenda Item 21, this conclusion is reached on the basis that whilst there is a public interest in maintaining the transparency of Authority proceedings, it is felt that on balance the individual’s right to privacy outweighs any public interest in releasing this information at this time.
         7. Authority Chair Update
            To consider a report from the Authority Chair (Report NPA23/24-23).
            Agenda Item 7
         8. Chief Executive’s Progress Report
            To consider a report from the Chief Executive (Interim). (Report NPA23/24-24)
            Agenda Item 8
         9. South Downs National Park Trust Annual Update
            To consider a verbal report from the Chair of the Trust and the Head of the Trust.
         10. The Chalk Coast National Nature Reserve: proposal to extend Lullington Heath National Nature Reserve to include land at Seven Sisters Country Park
             To consider a report from the Countryside and Policy Manager (Eastern Downs) (Report NPA23/24-25).
             Agenda Item 10
             Agenda Item 10_Appendix 1
             Agenda Item 10_Appendix 2
             Agenda Item 10_Appendix 3
             Agenda Item 10_Appendix 4
             Agenda Item 10_Appendix 5
             Agenda Item 10_Appendix 6
             Agenda Item 10_Appendix 7
             Agenda Item 10_Appendix 8
             Agenda Item 10_Appendix 9
             
         11. Revenue Budget, Capital Strategy and Treasury Management Strategy 2024/25 and Medium Term Financial Strategy 2024/25-2028/29
             To consider a report from the Chief Finance Officer (Report NPA23/24-26).
             Agenda Item 11
             Agenda Item 11_Appendix 1
             Agenda Item 11_Appendix 2
             Agenda Item 11_Appendix 3
             Agenda Item 11_Appendix 4
             Agenda Item 11_Appendix 5
             
         12. Update on South Downs Green Finance Summit
             To consider a report from the Communications and Engagement Manager (Report NPA23/24-27).
             Agenda Item 12
             Agenda Item 12_Appendix 1
             
         13. Revised Corporate Plan Measures
             To consider a report from the Performance and Project Manager (Report NPA23/24-28).
             Agenda Item 13
         14. Recruitment of the Chief Executive (National Park Officer)
             To consider a report from the HR Manager (Report NPA23/24-29).
             Agenda Item 14
         15. Appointments to Outside Bodies
             To consider a report from Head of Governance (Report NPA23/24-30).
             Agenda Item 15
         16. Revisions to Authority Standing Orders
             consider a report from the Head of Governance (Report NPA23/24-31).
             Agenda Item 16
             Agenda Item 16_Appendix 1
             THE FOLLOWING ITEMS ARE INCLUDED ON THE AGENDA FOR INFORMATION ONLY
         17. Planning Committee Minutes
             Minutes of the Planning Committee meetings held on 9 November, 14 December 2023 and 15 February 2024.
             Agenda Item 17
         18. Policy & Resources Committee Minutes
             Minutes of the Policy & Resources Committee meeting held on 23 November 2023.
             Agenda Item 18
         19. Appointment, Management & Standards Committee
             Minutes of the Policy & Resources Committee meetings held on 25 May, 19 September and 14 December 2023.
             Agenda Item 19 
             PART II
             THE FOLLOWING ITEMS ARE FOR MEMBERS OF THE AUTHORITY ONLY
         20. S101 Host Authority Arrangements – Lewes District Council
             To consider a report from the Director of Planning (Report NPA23/24-32).
             THE FOLLOWING ITEM IS INCLUDED ON THE AGENDA FOR INFORMATION ONLY
         21. Appointment, Management & Standards Committee
             Part II Minutes of the Appointment, Management & Standards Committee meetings held on 25 May and 14 December 2023.

             TO ALL MEMBERS OF THE SOUTH DOWNS NATIONAL PARK AUTHORITY

             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 virtual meeting room 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 mailto: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