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Appointment details

Chair of the Dartmoor Steering Group (DSG)

Summary

• Organisation: National Park Authorities, with the exception of Parish Members
• Sponsor department: Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
• Location: South West
• Sectors: Environment, Agriculture & Fishing
• Skills: Transformation
• Number of vacancies: 1
• Time commitment: 2 day(s) per month
• Length of term: tbc
• Application deadline: Midday on 16 September 2022

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Timeline for this appointment

1. Opening date

   22 August 2022

2. Application deadline

   Midday on 16 September 2022

3. Sifting date

   22 September 2022

4. Interviews expected to end on

   13 October 2022

Timeline dates are only an estimate and can change

About the appointment

Introduction

The Dartmoor Steering Group was established in 1978 on the instructions of the Secretaries of State for Defence and Environment following the recommendation of Baroness Sharp's non statutory public inquiry into the Military use of Dartmoor in 1975.  It brings together the Ministry of Defence plus the key statutory and landowning bodies that have an interest in the management of Dartmoor Training Area to keep under review the best possible reconciliation between the requirements of military training, conservation and public access.

Appointment description

The Dartmoor Steering Group was established in 1978 on the instructions of the Secretaries of State for Defence and Environment following the recommendation of Baroness Sharp's non statutory public inquiry into the Military use of Dartmoor in 1975.  It brings together the Ministry of Defence plus the key statutory and landowning bodies that have an interest in the management of Dartmoor Training Area to keep under review the best possible reconciliation between the requirements of military training, conservation and public access.

Its members include senior representatives drawn from the following organisations:

• Defence Infrastructure Organisation

• Duchy of Cornwall 

• Dartmoor National Park Authority 

• Dartmoor Commoners’ Council 

• Historic England 

• Natural England 

• Commando Training Centre Royal Marines 

• Army - Ten Tors

Person specification

Essential criteria

The following are seen as essential criteria for the Chair of the Dartmoor Steering Group:

• Independent – able to demonstrate they can operate with independence of thought and deed but still representing different views and positions.

• Experience of chairing meetings at a senior level.

• Able to think strategically, analyse differing positions and summarise concisely but clearly.

• Proven track record of partnership working and able to demonstrate achieving consensus and conflict management through partnership working.

• Strong communication skills and able to represent the Dartmoor Steering Group.

Desirable criteria

• Familiar with Dartmoor National Park, the purposes of National Parks in England and with an awareness of the issues facing members of the Dartmoor Steering Group.

• Understanding of military structures and processes.

Application and selection process

How to apply

Candidate pack: https://papt-candidate-packs-live.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/Dartmoor+Candidate+Pack.pdf

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.

• Completed monitoring form1 (Conflicts of interest, conduct and advertising Questionnaire) Monitoring+form+1+(Conflicts+of+interest+conduct+and+advertising+Questionnaire).doc  Please note the section on conflicts of interest and due diligence in the candidate pack.

• Completed monitoring form 2 (Diversity Monitoring Questionnaire)  Monitoring+form+2+(Diversity+Questionnaire).docx

Your CV and statement should be returned by the closing date: 12 (midday) on 16 September 2022. Please send your application to: PublicAppts@defra.gov.uk –quoting reference APPT05-22.

If you have any questions or require additional assistance to support you in your application, please email: publicappts@defra.gov.uk.

Please let the Public Appointments Team know if you are applying under the Disability Confident Scheme

Advisory Assessment Panel (AAP)

• Kevin Bishop, Chief Executive of Dartmoor National Park; Joint Secretary of Dartmoor Steering Group, Panel Chair, Representative of Organisation.

• Lt Col Tim Jalland, Joint Secretary of Dartmoor Steering Group, Representative of Organisation

• Alison Walker-Fraser, Business Consultant, Independent Member (IPM) 

Eligibility criteria

In general, you should have the right to work in the UK to be eligible to apply for a public appointment.

There are a small number of specialist roles that are not open to non-British citizens. Any nationality requirements will be specified in the vacancy details.

The Government expects all holders of public office to work to the highest personal and professional standards. 

You cannot be considered for a public appointment if:

• you are disqualified from acting as a company director  (under the Company Directors Disqualification Act 1986);

• have an unspent conviction on your criminal record;

• your estate has been sequestrated in Scotland or you enter into a debt arrangement programme under Part 1 of the Debt Arrangement and Attachment (Scotland) Act 2002 (asp 17) as the debtor or have, under Scots law, granted a trust deed for creditors.

When you apply, you should declare if:

• you are, or have been, bankrupt or you have made an arrangement with a creditor at any point, including the dates of this. 

• you are subject to a current police investigation.

You must inform the sponsor department if, during the application process, your circumstances change in respect of any of the above points. 

When you apply you should also declare any relevant interests, highlighting any that you think may call into question your ability to properly discharge the responsibilities of the role you are applying for. You should also declare any other matters which may mean you may not be able to meet the requirements of the Code of Conduct of Board Members (see Outside interests and reputational issues section below)

If you need further advice, please contact: publicappts@defra.gov.uk.

Security clearance

The successful candidate will be required to undertake Baseline Personnel Security Standard checks in line with the Civil Service guidelines. Additional Security Clearance may also be required for certain roles. However, where this applies, candidates will be notified during the appointment process. Further information on National Security Vetting can be found on the Gov.uk website here.

Additional information for candidates

Equality and diversity

We encourage applications from talented individuals from all backgrounds and across the whole of the United Kingdom. Boards of public bodies are most effective when they reflect the diversity of views of the society they serve and this is an important part of the Government’s levelling up agenda.

We collect data about applicants’ characteristics and backgrounds, including information about people’s educational and professional backgrounds, so that we can make sure we are attracting a broad range of people to these roles and that our selection processes are fair for everyone. Without this information, it makes it difficult to see if our outreach is working, if the application process is having an unfair impact on certain groups and whether changes are making a positive difference.

When you submit your application, your responses are collected by the Cabinet Office and the government department(s) managing your application. The data is used to produce management information about the diversity of applicants. You can select “prefer not to say” to any question you do not wish to answer. The information you provide will not be seen by the Advisory Assessment Panel who review applications against the advertised criteria and conduct interviews.

Disability confident

When you apply, please let the Public Appointments Team know if you are applying under the Disability Confident Scheme.

Principles of public life

Holders of public office are expected to adhere to and uphold the Seven Principles of Public Life https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-7-principles-of-public-life/the-7-principles-of-public-life--2. These are:

1. SELFLESSNESS - Holders of public office should act solely in terms of the public interest. They should not do so in order to gain financial or other material benefits for themselves, their family or their friends;
2. INTEGRITY - Holders of public office should not place themselves under any financial or other obligation to outside individuals or organisations that might seek to influence them in the performance of their official duties;
3. OBJECTIVITY - In carrying out public business, including making public appointments, awarding contracts, or recommending individuals for rewards and benefits, holders of public office should make choices on merit;
4. ACCOUNTABILITY - Holders of public office are accountable for their decisions and actions to the public and must submit themselves to whatever scrutiny is appropriate to their office;
5. OPENNESS - Holders of public office should be as open as possible about all the decisions and actions that they take. They should give reasons for their decisions and restrict information only when the wider public interest clearly demands;
6. HONESTY - Holders of public office have a duty to declare any private interests relating to their public duties and to take steps to resolve any conflicts arising in a way that protects the public interest;
7. LEADERSHIP - Holders of public office should promote and support these principles by leadership and example.

Code of conduct for board members

The Government expects all holders of public office to work to the highest personal and professional standards. In support of this, all non-executive board members of UK public bodies must abide by the principles set out in the Code of Conduct for Board Members of Public Bodies. The Code sets out the standards expected from those who serve on the boards of UK public bodies and will form part of your terms and conditions of appointment.

Management of outside interests and consideration of reputational issues

Holders of public office are expected to adhere and uphold the Seven Principles of Public Life and the Code of Conduct for Board Members of Public Bodies. Before you apply you should consider carefully: 

• any outside interests that you may have, such as shares you may hold in a company providing services to government; 
• any possible reputational issues arising from your past actions or or public statements that you have made; 
• and/or - any political roles you hold or political campaigns you have supported; 

which may call into question your ability to do the role you are applying for.

You will need to answer relevant questions in relation to these points when making an application. Many conflicts of interest can be satisfactorily resolved and declaring a potential conflict does not prevent you from being interviewed. If you are shortlisted for an interview, the panel will discuss any potential conflicts with you during that interview, including any proposals you may have to mitigate them and record that in their advice to ministers. Alongside your own declaration, we will conduct appropriate checks, as part of which we will consider anything in the public domain related to your conduct or professional capacity. This may include searches of previous public statements and social media, blogs or any other publicly available information. The successful candidate(s) may be required to give up any conflicting interests and their other business and financial interests may be published in line with organisational policies. 

Details of declared political activity will be published when the appointment is announced, as required by the Governance Code (political activity is not a bar to appointment, but must be declared).

Status of appointment

As this is an office holder appointment, you will not become a member of the Civil Service. You will not be subject to the provisions of employment law.

Appointment and tenure of office

Appointments are for the term set out in this advert, with the possibility of re-appointment for a further term, at the discretion of Ministers.  Any re-appointment is subject to satisfactory annual appraisals of performance during the first term in the post. There is no automatic presumption of reappointment; each case should be considered on its own merits, taking into account a number of factors including, but not restricted to, the diversity of the current board and its balance of skills and experience. In most cases, the total time served in post will not exceed more than two terms or serve in any one post for more than ten years

Remuneration, allowances and abatement

The post of Chair, Dartmoor Steering Group is non-remunerated post.  Travel and incidental expenses are paid by the Ministry of Defence.  

Pension and redundancy

This is an office holder appointment and does not attract any benefits under any Civil Service Pension Scheme. You will not be eligible for redundancy pay as you are not an employee. No other arrangements have been made for compensation upon the end of your term of appointment because an office holder who is appointed for a limited duration would have no expectation of serving beyond that period.

Application feedback

We will notify you of the status of your application. We regret that we are only able to offer detailed feedback to candidates who have been unsuccessful at the interview stage.

How to complain

We aim to process all applications as quickly as possible and to treat all applicants with courtesy.

Please contact the public appointments team:publicappts@defra.gov.uk. They will acknowledge your complaint upon receipt and respond within 15 working days.

Data protection

Defra Public Appointments Privacy Notice: https://papt-candidate-packs-live.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/5_Public-Appointments-Privacy-Notice-1.pdf

Contact details

Guidance Notes: https://papt-candidate-packs-live.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/4_Public+appointments+guidance+notes.pdf  

For an informal discussion about the role please contact Kevin Bishop on 01626 832093 or email via his PA Penny Bailey: pbailey@dartmoor.gov.uk