Authority Annual General Meeting 7 July 2020

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

Agenda (Republished 03.07.20)

1. Apologies for Absence
2. Election of Chair
   To elect a Chair for the following year.
3. Election of Deputy Chair
   To elect a Deputy Chair for the following year.
4. 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.
5. Minutes of Previous Meeting held on 21 May 2020
   To approve as a correct record the minutes of the Authority meeting held on 21 May 2020.
   Agenda Item 5
6. Matters Arising
   To enable any matters arising from the 19 December 2019 and 26 March 2020 Authority Meeting minutes that are not covered elsewhere on this agenda to be raised.
7. Urgent Matters
   To consider any matters 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).
8. 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.
9. Need for Part II Exclusion of Press and Public
   The Authority is asked to consider whether, in respect of Agenda Item 16 and the appendices to be considered under Agenda Item 17, 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 paragraph 3 (Agenda Items 16 and 17) of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972, being information relating to the financial and business affairs of a particular person including the Authority, and paragraph 5 (Agenda Item 16) information in respect of which a claim to legal professional privilege could be maintained in legal proceedings 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. This conclusion was reached on the basis that whilst there is a public interest in maintaining transparency of Authority proceedings in relation to the business of the Authority it is felt that on balance this is outweighed by the requirement of the National Park Authority to be able to undertake considerations in relation to its business and fully consider the implications of its actions or proposed actions without the disclosure of information that could undermine its position.
10. Chief Executive’s Progress Report
    To consider a report from the Chief Executive (Report NPA20/21-01).
    Agenda Item 10
11. Appointment of Committee and Outside Bodies
    To consider a report from the Head of Governance (Report NPA20/21-02).
    Agenda Item 11 
    Agenda Item 11 Appendix 3
12. Budget Monitoring Report 2019/20: Provisional Outturn Position
    To consider a report from the Chief Financial Officer (Report NPA20/21-03).
    Agenda Item 12
13. Transport for South East Transport Strategy
    To consider a report from the Countryside and Policy Manager – Wealden Heaths (Report NPA20/21-04).
    Agenda Item 13
    Agenda Item 13 Appendix 2
14. Review of Member Allowances
    To consider a report from the Head of Governance (Report NPA20/21-05).
    Agenda Item 14
15. Contract for Construction Works at Seven Sisters Country Park
    To consider a report from the Project Management Lead and the Head of Business Services (Report NPA20/21-06).
    Agenda Item 15

PART II

The next item is for Members of the Authority only

16. Part II minutes of the previous meeting held on 21 May 2020
    To approve as a correct record the part II minutes of the Authority meeting held on 21 May 2020.

PART I

The next item is for Members of the Authority and Public and Press

17. Phase I Seven Sisters Country Park by SDNPA
    To consider a report from the Project Management Lead and the Head of Business Services (Report NPA20/21-07).
    Agenda Item 17 (Published 03.07.20)
    Please note: Report NPA20/21-07 is publicly available and consideration of the report will be held in public, however, the appendices to Report NPA20/21-07 are considered to contain exempt information (as set out at Agenda Item 9) and may be considered in private session to which members of the public and press would be excluded.

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 on committee.officer@southdowns.gov.uk or 01730 814810.

Public participation

Anyone wishing to speak at the meeting should register their request, by emailing the following information to public.speaking@southdowns.gov.uk no later than 12 noon on the Monday before the meeting.

• Name:
• Address:
• Phone Number:
• Email:
• Planning Application Number:
• Details of Proposed Development:
• Indicate if you are speaking in support or against the application:
• Who are you representing?:
• In the event that more than 3 people request to speak in favour or against an item it may be necessary for them to agree amongst themselves who should speak at the meeting. In order to facilitate this process we would ask you to confirm that you are happy with us sharing your name and e-mail address with other potential speakers. We will not share any other personal details with any other third parties.
• YES / NO (delete as appropriate)

Confirmation that you have registered to speak will be send after 12 noon deadline. Further information on public speaking and registering as a speaker.

Please note that there is no catering provision for members of the public during meal breaks. However there are cafes, pubs and shops in Midhurst town centre, approximately 5 minutes’ walk away.

Feedback

If you wish to give us feedback on your experience of the meeting please e-mail committee.officer@southdowns.gov.uk.