National Park Authorities - Secretary of State Members
- Body
- National Park Authorities (NPA)
- Appointing Department
- Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
- Sector
- Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
- Location
- Various
- Number of Vacancies
- Lake District (1); Peak District NPA (1); and Yorkshire Dales (1)
- Remuneration
- These positions are non-salaried but certain allowances are available, if needed – full details are in the candidate pack.
- Time Requirements
- Lake District National Park Authority 4-6 days per month, Peak District National Park Authority: 3-4 days a month, Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority: 2-3 days per month.
Campaign Timeline
-
Competition Launched
04/02/2022
-
Closed for Applications
14/03/2022 at 12:00
-
Panel Sift
w/c 21 March 2022
-
Final Interview Date
w/c 25 April 2022
-
Announcement
03/08/2022 at 09:00
Announcement
An announcement has been made on the outcome of this appointment.
The Environment Secretary, George Eustice, has made a series of appointments and reappointments to England’s National Park Authorities (NPAs) and Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) Conservation Boards.
All appointments are made on merit and the appointments comply with the Ministerial Code of Governance on Public Appointments. All appointees have declared that they have not taken part in any significant political activity in the past five years.
The following appointments have been made for four years:
Broads Authority (Norfolk) Tony Grayling
Lake District NPA James Stuart
North York Moors NPA Ann Allen Christine Robertson
Yorkshire Dales NPA Lizzie Bushby
The following appointments have been made for three years:
Chilterns AONB Conservation Board Joseph Stewart
Cotswolds AONB Conservation Board Katherine Chesson Ellie Fujioka
The following members have been re-appointed for further four-year terms:
Peak District NPA Ken Smith
North York Moors NPA Patrick James
Yorkshire Dales NPA Julie Hutton
The following members were re-appointed for further three-year terms:
Chilterns AONB Conservation Board Colin Courtney Paul Mainds John Nicholls John Shaw
Cotswolds AONB Conservation Board Brendan Costelloe Graham Hopkins
The following member was re-appointed for a third term of one year:
Northumberland NPA Fiona Gough
The following member was re-appointed for a third term until 9 June 2023:
Northumberland NPA Jean Davidson
Date: 03/08/2022
Assessment Panel
- Panel Member
- Siôn McGeever (All Panels)
- Added
- 04/02/2022
- Panel Role
- Panel Chair
- Positions
- Deputy Director for Landscapes, Peatlands and Soil Departmental Official
Show more information
| Political Activity | No |
|---|---|
| Notes | - |
- Panel Member
- Tiffany Hunt (Lake District Panel)
- Added
- 04/02/2022
- Positions
- Lake District NPA - Acting Chair Representative of Organisation
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| Political Activity | tbc |
|---|---|
| Notes | - |
- Panel Member
- Andrew McCloy (Peak District Panel)
- Added
- 04/02/2022
- Positions
- Chair, Peak District National Park Authority Representative of Organisation
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| Political Activity | No |
|---|---|
| Notes | - |
- Panel Member
- Neil Heseltine (Yorkshire Dales Panel)
- Added
- 04/02/2022
- Positions
- Chair, Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority Representative of Organisation
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| Political Activity | No |
|---|---|
| Notes | - |
- Panel Member
- Professor Kiran Trehan
- Added
- 04/02/2022
- Positions
- Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Partnerships and Engagement, University of York Independent Member
Show more information
| Political Activity | No |
|---|---|
| Notes | - |
Vacancy Description
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.
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, archaeologists/ heritage experts, 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 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 on which they serve. Certain ineligibility criteria apply to these posts.
Person Specification
All applicants must demonstrate the following criteria in their application:
• Enthusiasm and a genuine passion for connecting with nature, the work of the Natural Park Authority and its statutory purposes.
• An ability to successfully engage with and influence a wide-ranging audience in an ambassador role for an organisation.
• A demonstrable commitment to promote and increase equality, diversity, and inclusion.
• An ability to think strategically, contribute and scrutinise complex plans and policies.
• High standards of integrity and impartiality to ensure transparency, strong governance, and efficiency.
Background to the role
The overall role of a member is to contribute to the leadership, scrutiny, and direction of the National Park Authority 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 on which they serve. Certain ineligibility criteria apply to these posts.
The key functions of a member are to:
• Ensure the National Park Authority furthers its statutory purposes
• Agree plans that ensure the Park is available to all parts of society, is relevant and is valued as a national asset for its special qualities
• Represent the Authority through collaborative working with external stakeholders at a national and local level, including other National Park Authorities
• Agree appropriate policies to meet statutory duties and participate in collective decision making
• Encourage a creative, experimental, and innovative culture, where risks are appropriately managed
• Guide the development of policy and business plans by participating in activities as required including meetings, committees and working groups
• Scrutinise and monitor performance, including providing constructive challenge and oversight of governance
• Ensure there is effective and efficient governance and management in place
• Provide leadership and strategic direction towards national priorities
• Utilise broad knowledge and skills, to manage local and national interests, ensuring the national interest is taken fully into account.
Additional Information
The recruitment process
The closing date for applications is noon on 7 March 2022. We expect to have shortlisted by the end of March, with panel interviews at the end of April.
It is essential that your statement of suitability gives full but concise information relevant to the appointment, clearly demonstrating how you meet each of the essential criteria.
It is recommended that you format your statement under five headings, one for each essential criterion. This will make it easier for you to demonstrate how your skills and experience qualify you for the role. You should also read the ‘Public Appointments Guidance Notes’ which are attached to the advert.
Please also specify for which National Park Authority you are applying.
At the shortlist meetings the advisory assessment panel will assess each application against the essential criteria and decide who to invite for final interview. Candidates will be advised by email if they are invited to interview. The panel’s composition along with interview dates is outlined in the table overleaf.
Interviews will be held remotely via Microsoft Teams and are expected to last for approximately 50 minutes. Candidates will be advised by email of the outcome of the interview.
Ministers will be made aware of all candidates deemed appointable by the panel. They will then decide who to appoint to the roles advertised.
Diversity and inclusion
Given our commitment to diversity we would encourage applications from individuals with experience of improving access for people from underrepresented groups and expertise in identifying and improving inclusive communications.
Disability Confident.
We guarantee to interview anyone with a disability whose application meets the minimum criteria for the role. By ‘minimum criteria’ we mean that you must provide evidence in your application which demonstrates that you meet the level of competence required under each of the essential criteria, as well as meeting any of the qualification, skills or experience defined as essential. The Cabinet Office and Defra is committed to the employment and career development of disabled people. If a person with disabilities is put at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes where possible. If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, please refer to the ‘How to apply’ section below.
If you wish to apply under this scheme, please state this in the covering email or letter when submitting your application.
How to Apply
To apply, please send the following to publicappts@defra.gov.uk by the deadline of noon on 14 March 2022. Quoting reference APPT06-21.
• 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.
• completed diversity and political activity monitoring form (attached to the advert).
• completed conflicts of interest, conduct and advertising monitoring form (attached to the advert).
For further information please email: publicappts@defra.gov.uk