National Park Authority Meeting 9 December 2025

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 meetings of the National Park Authority, Planning Committee and Policy and Resources Committee through our Youtube Channel. Meetings can be viewed live or on-demand up to six months after the meeting.

_Agenda Dec NPA

1. 1. 1. 1. Apologies for absence
         2. 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.
         3. Minutes of the previous meeting held on 16 Ocotober 2025
            To approve as a correct record the minutes of the Authority meeting held on  16 October 2025.
            Agenda Item 03
         4. Urgent Matters
            To consider any matter on the agenda 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).
         5. 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.
         6. Need for Part II Exclusion of Press and Public
            The Authority is asked to consider whether, in respect of Agenda Items 21 and 22, 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 paragraphs 1 and 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972, being information relating to any individual and information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person including the Authority 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. It is proposed on the basis that whilst there is a public interest in the transparency of Authority proceedings, it is felt that on balance this is outweighed by the individual’s right to privacy and the requirement of the National Park Authority to be able to consider matters in relation to its business and fully consider the implications of its actions or proposed actions particularly in relation to decisions which may have implications on the effective day-to-day running of the Authority without the disclosure of information that could adversely impact the day-to-day running of the Authority and its ability to deliver its services.
         7. Authority Chair Update
            To consider a report from the Authority Chair (Report NPA25/26-14).
            Agenda Item 07
         8. Chief Executive’s Progress Report
            To consider a report from the Chief Executive Officer (Report NPA25/26-15).
            Agenda Item 08
         9.  Approval of the Revised South Downs Partnership Management Plan 2026-2031
            To consider a report from the Performance and Project Manager (Report NPA25/26-16).
            Agenda Item 09 – revised 2.12.25
         10.  Local Access Forum update
             To receive a verbal update from the Chair of the Local Access Forum.
             
         11.  South Downs Active Travel Network Plan
             To consider a report from the National Trails and Access Lead (Report NPA25/26-17).
             Agenda Item 11
         12.  Amended South Downs Trust Memorandum of Understanding to support the Trust in setting up a trading company
             To consider a report from the Director of Growth and Organisational Development (Report NPA25/26-18).
             Agenda Item 12
         13. Audited Statement of Accounts 2024/26 and Letter of Representation
             To receive a report from the Interim Chief Finance Officer (Report NPA25/26-19).
             Agenda Item 13
         14. External Audit Findings and Opinion
             To consider a report from the External Auditor (Report NPA25/26-20).
             Agenda Item 14
         15. Value for Money – Auditor’s Annual Report 2024/25
             To consider a report from the External Auditor (Report NPA25/26-21).
             Agenda Item 15
         16. Review of the Member Code of Conduct
             To consider a report from the Head of Governance and Monitoring Officer (Report NPA25/26-22).
             Agenda Item 16
         17.  Appointments to Committee
             To consider a report from the Head of Governance and Monitoring Officer (Report NPA25/26-23).
             Agenda Item 17
             

             THE FOLLOWING ITEMS ARE INCLUDED ON THE AGENDA FOR INFORMATION ONLY

         18. Planning Committee Minutes
             Minutes of the Planning Committee meetings held on 11 September and 9 October 2025 .
             Agenda Item 18
         19. Policy & Resources Committee Minutes
             Minutes of the Policy & Resources Committee meeting held on 18 September 2025.
             Agenda Item 19
         20.  Appointment, Management and Standards Committee Minutes
             Minutes of the Appointment, Management and Standards Committee meeting held on 10 June 2025.
             Agenda Item 20

             PART II
             THE FOLLOWING ITEMS ARE FOR MEMBERS OF THE AUTHORITY ONLY

              

             THE FOLLOWING ITEMS ARE INCLUDED ON THE AGENDA FOR INFORMATION ONLY

         21. Policy & Resources Committee Minutes
             Part II minutes of the Policy & Resources Committee meeting held on 18 September 2025.
         22. Appointment, Management and Standards Committee Minutes
             Part II minutes of the Appointment, Management and Standards Committee meeting held on 10 June 2025.
             

National Park Authority Meeting 9 December 2025

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 meetings of the National Park Authority, Planning Committee and Policy and Resources Committee through our Youtube Channel. Meetings can be viewed live or on-demand up to six months after the meeting.