National Park Authorities and Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Conservation Boards -Secretary of State Members
- Body
- National Park Authorities and Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Conservation Boards
- Appointing Department
- Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
- Sector
- Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
- Location
- Various
- Number of Vacancies
- 19 Dartmoor NPA (1); Exmoor NPA (3); New Forest NPA (1); Northumberland NPA (2); Peak District NPA (1); South Downs NPA (5); Yorkshire Dales NPA (2); and Cotswolds CB (4).
- Remuneration
- These positions are non-salaried but certain allowances are available if needed. These allowances range between £300 - £3,000 per annum depending on the National Park Authority or AONB Conservation Board – full details are in the candidate pack
- Time Requirements
- 1-4 days per month depending on the National Park Authority or AONB Conservation Board - full details are in the candidate pack
Campaign Timeline
-
Competition Launched
03/02/2020
-
Closed for Applications
06/03/2020 at 12:00
-
Panel Sift
27 March 2020 (London), 1 April 2020 (York), 1 April 2020 (Bristol)
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Final Interview Date
22/05/2020
-
Announcement
14/07/2020 at 12:00
Announcement
An announcement has been made on the outcome of this appointment.
New Appointments and Reappointments to England’s National Park Authorities (NPAs) and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) Conservation Boards have been made by Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.
New appointments in 2020
Appointments have been made to England’s National Park Authorities (NPAs) and the Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) Conservation Board
The following appointments have been made for four years:
Broads Authority • Stephen Bolt • Matt Shardlow
Dartmoor NPA • William Dracup
Exmoor NPA • Dominic Elson • Michael Patrick Kelly • Susan Warren
New Forest NPA • Victoria Mander
Lake District NPA • Jim Jackson
Northumberland NPA • Elizabeth Ellis • Marie Fallon
Peak District NPA • Annabelle Harling
Yorkshire Dales NPA • Mark Corner • Derek Twine
South Downs NPA • Annie Brown • Timothy Burr • Melanie Hunt • Stephen Whale • Baroness Jones of Whitchurch
The following appointments have been made for three years:
Cotswolds AONB Conservation Board
• Susan Crawford • Benjamin Dent • John Swanton
Re-appointments in 2020
The following members have been re-appointed for further four-year terms:
Broads Authority • Bill Dickson • Greg Munford
Dartmoor NPA • Andrew Cooper • Pamela Woods
Exmoor NPA • Evelyn Stacey
South Downs NPA • Heather Baker
Yorkshire Dales NPA • Jim Munday • Neil Swain
The following members have been re-appointed for further terms of two years:
North York Moors NPA • Alison Fisher • Andrew Scott
Peak District NPA • Robert Helliwell
The following members were re-appointed for further three year terms:
Chilterns AONB Conservation Board • Ian Waller • Elizabeth Wilson
Costwolds AONB Conservation Board
The following members were re-appointed for further three year terms: • George Lambrick • Brendan McCarthy
There is a requirement for appointees’ political activity to be made public. Baroness Jones of Whitchurch is a Labour life peer.
Date: 14/07/2020
Assessment Panel
- Panel Member
- Rebecca Leete (York Panel)
- Added
- 03/02/2020
- Panel Role
- Panel Chair
- Positions
- Defra Deputy Director, Head of Accountability and Governance Departmental Official
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| Political Activity | None |
|---|---|
| Notes | - |
- Panel Member
- Sarah Severn (London Panel)
- Added
- 03/02/2020
- Panel Role
- Panel Chair
- Positions
- Defra Deputy Director, Rural and Place Departmental Official
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| Political Activity | None |
|---|---|
| Notes | - |
- Panel Member
- Jessica Hodgson (Bristol Panel)
- Added
- 07/02/2020
- Panel Role
- Panel Chair
- Positions
- Deputy Director, Natural Environment Directorate Departmental Official
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| Political Activity | None |
|---|---|
| Notes | - |
- Panel Member
- Carl Lis (York Panel)
- Added
- 03/02/2020
- Positions
- Chair, Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority Representative of Organisation
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| Political Activity | Yes - Conservative Party |
|---|---|
| Notes | - |
- Panel Member
- Glen Sanderson (York Panel)
- Added
- 03/02/2020
- Positions
- Chair, Northumberland National Park Authority Representative of Organisation
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| Political Activity | Yes - Conservative Party |
|---|---|
| Notes | - |
- Panel Member
- Andrew McCloy (York Panel)
- Added
- 03/02/2020
- Positions
- Chair, Peak District national Park Authority Representative of Organisation
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| Political Activity | None |
|---|---|
| Notes | - |
- Panel Member
- Oliver Crosthwaite-Eyre (London Panel)
- Added
- 03/02/2020
- Positions
- Chair, New Forest National Park Authority Representative of Organisation
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| Political Activity | Yes - Conservative Party |
|---|---|
| Notes | - |
- Panel Member
- Margaret Paren (London Panel)
- Added
- 03/02/2020
- Positions
- Chair, South Downs National Park Authority Representative of Organisation
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| Political Activity | None |
|---|---|
| Notes | - |
- Panel Member
- Brendan McCarthy (Bristol Panel)
- Added
- 03/02/2020
- Positions
- Deputy Chair, Cotswolds AONB Conservation Board Representative of Organisation
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| Political Activity | TBC |
|---|---|
| Notes | - |
- Panel Member
- Pamela Woods (Bristol Panel)
- Added
- 03/02/2020
- Positions
- Chair, Dartmoor National Park Authority Representative of Organisation
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| Political Activity | TBC |
|---|---|
| Notes | - |
- Panel Member
- Robin Milton (Bristol Panel)
- Added
- 03/02/2020
- Positions
- Chair, Exmoor National Park Authority Representative of Organisation
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| Political Activity | None |
|---|---|
| Notes | - |
- Panel Member
- Sophie Churchill (Bristol Panel)
- Added
- 03/02/2020
- Positions
- Chair of the Potato Sector Board of the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board) Independent Member
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| Political Activity | None |
|---|---|
| Notes | - |
- Panel Member
- Sarah Mukherjee (London Panel)
- Added
- 03/02/2020
- Positions
- Director of Environment at Water UK and Chief Executive of the Crop Protection Association) Independent Member
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| Political Activity | None |
|---|---|
| Notes | - |
- Panel Member
- Jim Dixon (York Panel)
- Added
- 03/02/2020
- Positions
- Heritage Lottery Fund Trustee Independent Member
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| Political Activity | None |
|---|---|
| Notes | - |
Vacancy Description
I am looking for a diverse group of passionate and committed individuals who want to help shape the strategic direction of our National Park Authorities and AONB Conservation Boards. As a Secretary of State appointed member, you will have the opportunity to help conserve and enhance our most treasured landscapes now and for future generations. I welcome applications from people who have a clear understanding of land management, rural communities, as well as protection and enhancement of the environment. Applications are also encouraged from people with experience in planning, commercial and business leadership, communications and stakeholder outreach.”
Lord Gardiner of Kimble, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Rural Affairs and Biosecurity
There are ten National Parks (including the Broads Authority), and thirty-four Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, including two Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) Conservation Boards in England. The National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act (1949) enabled the designation of National Parks and AONBs in England and Wales. The Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 permitted AONBs to form Conservation Boards to aid management, particularly in cases where AONBs cross several administrative boundaries. In 2004, Conservation Boards were created for the Chilterns AONB and Cotswolds AONB.
National Parks and Cotswolds and Chilterns AONBs are protected because of their natural beauty and the wealth of opportunities provided for outdoor recreation, being designated nationally and internationally important landscapes. This high-quality environment supports vibrant local economies and communities.
National Parks are administered by individual National Park Authorities. The Chilterns and Cotswolds AONBs are each administered by a Conservation Board. Each National Park Authority/AONB Conservation Board is managed by an executive of permanent staff with oversight from members. Members make decisions about the actions that each National Park Authority/AONB Conservation Board should take to deliver its purposes. There are typically between 18 and 30 members, either appointed by Defra’s Secretary of State, or elected by local authorities or parish councils.
The executive carries out the necessary work to run the National Parks/AONBs and support and advise the members. Staff include professionals such as ecologists, rangers, planners and education specialists.
Defra encourages National Park Authorities/AONB Conservation Boards to maximise funding from a range of sources to supplement the grant they receive from Government.
The overall role of a member is to contribute to the leadership, scrutiny and direction of the National Park Authority/ Conservation Board and further the statutory purposes. Members are not representative of any organisation or group and have a duty to act in the best interest of the Authority/ Conservation Board on which they serve. Certain ineligibility criteria apply to these posts.
Person Specification
Essential criteria
Candidates must be able to demonstrate all of the following essential criteria:
• Commitment to protected landscapes and an understanding of the statutory purposes of National Parks/ AONBs;
• Ability to communicate effectively and engage a range of stakeholders – to diversify visitors to the landscapes, engage with people who live locally and work collaboratively with farmers and land managers;
• An ability to constructively challenge and influence within a leadership group; and
• Ability to think strategically and provide advice in ways which are impartial, creative and focused on finding solutions that take account of local and national priorities.
Skills
Ministers are seeking to attract high-calibre applicants from a range of diverse backgrounds who can discharge the full range of non-executive responsibilities.
Common priorities identified across the National Parks and AONBs are summarised below. Candidates with these skills will help broaden and deepen the boards’ capabilities. You may have these skills, or other areas of expertise relevant to protected landscapes, and applications are welcomed from any candidates who meet the essential criteria for the role.
• Communication: public engagement, stakeholder management, education, diversity and youth engagement.
• Commercial: business leadership, income generation, business engagement, marketing, fundraising, sponsorship and entrepreneurship.
• Nature conservation: environmental land management, climate change, access and biodiversity.
• Planning: sustainable development.
Successful candidates must abide by the Nolan principles of public service and the Code of Conduct for Board Members.
Additional Information
The statutory purposes of National Park Authorities are to:
i) Conserve and enhance the natural beauty, wildlife and cultural heritage;
ii) Promote opportunities for the understanding and enjoyment of the special qualities of National Parks by the public.
• When National Park authorities carry out these purposes they also have the duty to seek to foster the economic and social well-being of local communities within the National Parks.
• The Broads Authority has an additional purpose of protecting the interests of navigation, and in discharging its functions regard is to be had to the needs of agriculture and forestry and the economic and social interests of those who live or work in the Broads
The statutory purposes of AONB Conservation Boards are to: • Conserve and enhance the natural beauty of the AONB.
• AONB Conservation Boards have a further responsibility to: o increase the public understanding and enjoyment of the special qualities of the area of outstanding natural beauty
• When AONBs carry out these purposes they also have the duty to seek to foster the economic and social well-being of local communities within the AONB.
• If there is conflict between the purposes for National Parks and AONBs they are both required by statute to place greater weight to conserving and enhancing the natural beauty, wildlife and cultural heritage of the park, a concept known as the ‘Sandford principle’.
How to Apply
To apply, please send:
• a CV of no more than two sides of A4
• a supporting statement of not more than 1,000 words (approximately two sides of A4), setting out how you meet the essential criteria – make sure you refer to the contents of this document and provide specific examples
• e-mail addresses for two referees
• completed diversity monitoring and political activity form
• completed conflicts of interest, conduct and advertising form
• If you have any questions about the appointments process, you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, or require additional assistance to support you in your application, please email the Public Appointments Team on publicappts@defra.gov.uk
• For an informal discussion about the role please contact the relevant NPA/AONB CB using the contact details contained in the candidate pack.
Your CV and statement should be returned to the following address by the closing date: 12.00 (midday) on Friday, 06 March 2020 by email to publicappts@defra.gov.uk – quoting reference APPT10-19.