Briefing Pack for Applicants

Briefing pack for applicants

Closing Date:Noon on 22 March 2017

Contents

Ministerial message to candidates

Defra mission statement

Introduction to the National Park Authorities and AONB Conservation Boards

Statutory Purposes of the National Park Authorities and AONB Conservation Boards

Role description

Essential criteria

Remuneration and time commitment

Remuneration and time commitment – cont’d

The recruitment process

The recruitment process – cont’d

How to apply and submit your application

Ineligibility criteria

The Commissioner for Public Appointments

Data protection

Annex A – The seven principles of public life

Annex B - English National Park Authorities vision

Annex C - Chilterns AONB Conservation Board vision

Annex D - Cotswolds AONB Conservation Board vision

Annex E – Current Secretary of State Board Members

Ministerial message to candidates

Dear Candidate

Thank you for your interest in becoming a National Park Authority and/or AONB Conservation Board member.

I am looking for a wide range of passionate and committed people who want to be involved in shaping the strategic direction of our National Park Authorities and Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) Conservation Boards. As a Secretary of State appointed member you will have the opportunity to help make our most treasured landscapes the best in the world, now and for future generations.I would welcome applications from people who have a clear understanding of rural communities, protection of landscapes and enhancement of the environment.

If you have the knowledge and skills required to help lead and support our National Parks Authorities and AONB Conservation Boards,and would derive satisfaction from public service, we very much look forward to hearing from you.

In March 2016 Defra announced its 8 point plan, which aspires to put English National Parks at the heart of how we think about the environment and how we manage it for future generations.

The plan forms part of our wider ambition to make our environment the best in the world and soon we will be publishing our 25 year Environment Plan. This is an exciting time to join one of these bodies.

Lord Gardiner of Kimble

Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Rural Affairs and Biosecurity

Defra mission statement

Defra wants Britain to be a great place to live. Our work plays a critical role in the wellbeing of everyone in the country through the creation of healthy environments, a world leading food and farming industry, a thriving rural economy and enhanced protection against floods and animal and plant diseases.

Appointing high-calibre people from diverse backgrounds with relevant skills, knowledge and experience to the boards of our public bodies will help us to ensure that our work is more effective, resilient and accountable.

Equal Opportunities

UK government has a policy of equality of opportunity. We aim to promote equal opportunity policies whereby no one suffers unfair discrimination either directly or indirectly, or harassment, on grounds such as race, colour, ethnic or national origin, sex, gender identity, marital status, disability, sexual orientation, religious beliefs or age.

Diversity

We positively welcome applicants from all backgrounds. All public appointments are made on merit following a fair and open competition as regulated by the Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments.

Disability

Defra will be operating an interview access scheme for disabled people (as defined by the Equalities Act 2010) who meet the minimum criteria for this appointment as published in these notes. If you wish to apply for consideration under this scheme, please notify the Department when you return your application. In addition, if you require any special arrangements at interview stage, please give details in a covering letter to enable us to make the appropriate arrangements if necessary. Furthermore, adjustments will be made in the event of a successful application.

Introduction to the National Park Authorities and AONB Conservation Boards

In England there are now ten National Parks (including the Broads Authority) and two AONB Conservation Boards. National Parks and AONBs have been in existence since 1949 which saw the passing of the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act, enabling the designation of National Parks and AONBs in England and Wales. The Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 allowed AONBs to form Conservation Boards to aid management particularly in cases where AONBs cross many administrative boundaries. In 2004 Conservation Boards were created for the Chilterns AONB and Cotswolds AONB.

These areas are protected because of their beautiful countryside, wildlife and cultural heritage. People live and work in the national parks and the farms, villages and towns are protected along with the landscape and wildlife. The AONBs take account of the need to safeguard agriculture, forestry and other rural industries and the economic and social needs of local communities. National parks and AONBs welcome visitors and provide opportunities for everyone to enjoy them and learn about their special qualities.

National Parks are administered by individual National Park Authorities. The Chilterns and Cotswolds AONBs are administered by a Conservation Board. Each National Park Authority/AONB Conservation Board is managed by members and staff. There are typically between 18 and 30 appointed Members who are supported by, and take advice from staff. Members make decisions about what the National Park Authority/AONB Conservation Board should do to deliver its purposes. Members are appointed by either the Defra Secretary of State (SoS), local authorities or parish councils.

Staff members carry out the necessary work to run the National Parks/AONBs and support and advise the Members. Staff range from ecologists and rangers to planners and education teams.

Although Defra works closely with National Park Authorities and the AONB Conservation Boards, they are independent bodies and it is for them to consider how they achieve their statutory purposes; the Secretary of State does not intervene in their day-to-day running.

Defra encourages National Park Authorities/AONB Conservation Boards to maximise funding from a full range of sources in order to help deliver their statutory purposes; there are opportunities forNational Park Authorities/AONB Conservation Boards to generate commercial and philanthropic income to supplement their grant from Government.

You can read more about the Vision of the National Parks in AnnexB, and the vision of the Chilterns and Cotswolds AONB Conservation Boards in Annex C and Annex D respectively.

Statutory Purposes of the National Park Authorities and AONB Conservation Boards

The Statutory Purposes of the National Park Authorities are:

•To conserve and enhance the natural beauty, wildlife and cultural heritage of the National Park;

•To promote opportunities for the understanding and enjoyment of the special qualities of the national parks by the public - when there is a conflict between these purposes, greater weight attaches to the conservation and enhancement of the park;

•The Broads Authority has an additional purpose of protecting the interest of navigation; and unlike the other National Parks all three purposes are given equal weighting;

•When carrying out these purposes, they also have a duty to seek to foster the economic and social well-being of the local communities within the National Parks.

The Statutory Purposes of the AONB Conservation Boards are:

•To conserve and enhance the natural beauty of the AONB;

•To increase the understanding and enjoyment by the public of the AONB’s special qualities; when there is a conflict between these purposes greater weight is attached to the conservation and enhancement of the AONB.

•When carrying out these purposes they should also seek to foster the economic and social well-being of the AONB local communities.

Role description

We are looking to appoint 11SoS members to National Park Authorities and threeSoS members to AONB Conservation Boards. The vacancies are shown in the table below:

National Park Authority / Confirmed appointment vacancies
Broads Authority / 1
Dartmoor NPA / 2
Lake District NPA / 1
New Forest NPA / 2
Northumberland NPA / 2
North York Moors NPA / 1
Peak District NPA / 2
AONB Conservation Board / Confirmed appointment vacancies
Chilterns CB / 1
Cotswolds CB / 2
Total / 14

The overall role of Secretary of State members is to contribute to the leadership, scrutiny and direction of the National Park Authority/ Conservation Board and further the statutory purposes of the Parks/ AONBs. Secretary of State Members are not representative of any organisation or group and have a duty to act in the best interest of Authority/ Conservation Board on which they serve. Certain ineligibility criteria apply to these posts.

The key functions of a Secretary of State member are to:

Be collectively responsible, with other members, for decisions and ensure the National Park Authority/ AONB Conservation Board furthers its statutory purposes;

Contribute towards the overall strategic direction of the National Park Authority/AONB Conservation Board through the development of policy, business plans and participation in the activities of Meetings, Committees and Working Groups;

Scrutinise independently the workings and policies of the National Park Authority/ AONB Conservation Board;

Approve and monitor programmes to implement the National Park Authority/ AONB Conservation Board policies and plans;

Influence the National Park Authority/ AONB Conservation Board to help it come to informed and balanced decisions;

Contributeknowledge and skills and provide advice fromthenational and local perspective which benefits the National Park Authority/ AONB Conservation Board

The successful candidate must abide by the Nolan principles of public service (Annex A).

Essential criteria

All applicants must demonstrate the essential generic criteria. Applications for the Broads Authority, Dartmoor National Park, Peak District National Park, Chilterns or Cotswolds AONB Conservation board must also demonstrate the relevant essential Park/AONB specific criteria.

Essential generic criteria for Secretary of State members:

Understanding of, and genuine commitment to, the National Park/Conservation Board statutory purposes including how it fosters economic and social well-being within local communities.

Ability to think strategically and provide advice and challenge in ways which are impartial, creative and focused on finding solutions and take account of interests at both the national and local level.

Ability to act as an ambassador, championing these protected landscapes and their communities. Engaging and influencing a diverse network of contacts and working collaboratively with all who are responsible for managing the land.

Essential Park/AONB specific criteria:

Broads Authority
•Understanding of natural environment issues including nature conservation and biodiversity. / Chilterns AONB Conservation Board
•Ability to engage and make links with businesses to develop the AONB’s commercial potential.
Cotswolds AONB Conservation Board
Two posts available. Candidates should satisfy one of the following local criteria:
•Communications skills with an emphasis on on-line/social media communication.
Or
•Expertise in fundraising and sponsorship / Dartmoor National Park Authority
Two posts available. Candidates should satisfy one of the following local criteria:
•Ability to engage and make links with businesses to develop the National Park’s commercial potential.
Or
•Enthusiasm for and an understanding of working with young people to help them enjoy and understand the National Park.
Peak District
Two posts available. Candidates should satisfy one of the following local criteria:
•Ability to engage and make links with businesses to develop the Park’s commercial potential.
Or
•Expertise in fund raising and sponsorship

Remunerationand time commitment

Appointments are made for a period of up to four years for National Park Authority’s and three years for AONB Conservation Boards; these terms may be extended. We anticipate the appointments will take effect from the 1 July 2017. Secretary of State members are unpaid but may qualify for specific allowances. An appointee may resign at any time by giving notice in writing to the Secretary of State. The Secretary of State may terminate an appointment under certain conditions; these will be notified to the successful candidate on appointment.

Broads Authority:The Broads Authority conducts most of its business meetings at Yare House, 62-64 Thorpe Road, Norwich NR1 1RY. There are many other opportunities for members to become involved in key committees and less formal meetings, site visits and briefings, and this can add up to a commitment of 2-3 days per month. All members qualify for a basic allowance of £1,046 per annum, and there are additional allowances for members who take on certain special responsibilities.Reasonable travel and other expenses can bereimbursed.

Dartmoor National Park Authority: Members are encouraged to take an active part in the work of the Authority, both in formal committee business on the first Friday of each month at the Authority’s headquarters (Bovey Tracey, Newton Abbot)and outside meetings as ambassadors for the National Park. While the time commitment will vary from month to month, at least two days each month should be anticipated. A basic allowance of £1,611 per annum is paid together with reimbursement of travel and other expenses reasonably incurred on Authority business. There are also a number of special responsibility allowances for roles such as chairmanship of a committee or working panel.

Lake District National Park Authority:A basic allowance of £3,000 per annum is paid to each member. Special Responsibility Allowances are paid to the Chairman and Deputy Chairman. Members’ business is conducted through meetings of the Authority and its committees; most meetings are held in the Authority headquarters in Murley Moss, Kendal. Members on average are required to commit at least 3 days a month, although this varies from month to month. Costs incurred in relation to travel and subsistence can be claimed in compliance with the National Park Authority’s Scheme of Member Allowances.

New Forest National Park Authority: A basic allowance of £1,865 per annum is payable to each member. Special responsibility allowances are paid to members undertaking additional roles e.g. Committee Chairmen and Deputy Chairmen.Costs incurred in relation to travel and subsistence can be claimed in compliance with the National Park Authority’s Scheme of Member Allowances. All meetings of the Authority and its committees take place at the Authority’s offices in Lymington. Time commitment varies but is typically 2-3 days per month, candidates appointed to the Authority’s Planning, Development Control Committee will be required to meet monthly and allocate additional preparation time. The Authority also requires its new members to attend the two day member induction course operated by National Parks UK which provides useful information relevant to carrying out the role.

Remuneration and time commitment – cont’d

North York Moors National Park Authority: A basic allowance of £2,171.42 per annumis paid to each member. A Special Responsibility Allowance is paid to members undertaking additional roles as defined by the Authority. Members are asked to commit 2–3 days a month to the Authority’s work. The majority of meetings are held at their office in Helmsley, with a few distributed around other venues in the National Park.Travel costs and subsistence allowances can be claimed for the 'authorised duties' of Members of the Board.

Northumberland National Park Authority:Members are expected to spend a minimum of 2 days per month on Authority business. There are monthly Authority days, consisting of Development Management (planning) meetings for those members who sit on this committee, followed by full Authority meetings (4 a year), Review meetings (4 a year), Policy conferences (2 a year). There is the opportunity to sit on other working groups and task and finish groups. The majority of meetings take place at the Authority Head Office in Hexham. The annual allowance for a member is £1717 and travel expenditure for approved Authority duties are paid at 0.45p per mile.Additional special responsibility allowances are paid for the following positions - Chairman, Deputy Chairman, Chairman of Development Management Committee, Chairman of Review Group.

Peak District National Park Authority: A basic allowance of £1,753 per annumis paid to each member. Members are asked to commit 3-4 days a month, plus reading and preparation time, to the Authority’s work. There are 6 Authority meetings a year and a further 6 training events and workshops, other work depends on the member duties e.g. Planning Committee Members meet 24 days a year (all held at Aldern House, Bakewell). Costs incurred in relation to travel and subsistence can be claimed in compliance with the Parks Scheme of Member Allowances.Special Responsibility Allowances are available but it is unusual to receive one in the first year.

Chilterns AONB Conservation Board: The Chilterns Conservation Board meets three times a year, each time at a different location in the Chilterns area and the Executive and Planning Committees meet 4 times a year each at the Board’s Chinnor offices. In addition there are informal meetings and site visits and Board members are expected to act in an ‘ambassadorial’ role, representing the Chilterns Board to other organisations and media. The time commitment is 6 days a yearminimum, but ideally this would go up to 12 days. A basic £300 allowanceis on offer if a board member needs it, thisamount increases for additional responsibilities such as chairing a standing committee. Expenses can also be claimed.