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Policy & Resources Committee 19 February 2026

Policy & Resources Committee 19 February 2026

Location: South Downs Centre Hall, Midhurst, GU29 9DH

Date and time: 19 February 2026 1.00pm

Contact Details:

Committee Officer

Tel: 01730 814810 Email: committee.officer@southdowns.gov.uk

Siôn McGeever

Chief Executive (National Park Officer)

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.

This meeting of the P&R Committee can be watched live here on YouTube

_Agenda P&R Committee 19 Feb 2026

      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 previous Policy and Resources Committee meetings
        To approve as a correct record the minutes of the Policy and Resources Committee meeting on 20 November 2025.
        Agenda Item 03
      4. Updates on previous Committee Decisions
        To receive any updates on previous decisions from the Policy and Resource Committee minutes that are not covered elsewhere on the agenda.
      5. 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.
      6. Public Participation
        To hear questions or comments from members of the public present at the meeting.
      7. Need for Part II Exclusion of Press and Public
        The Committee is asked to consider whether, in respect of Appendix 3 of Agenda Item 9, Appendices 4 and 5 of Agenda Item 11 and Agenda Item 18 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 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972, being 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 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.
      8. Chair Update
        To receive a verbal update from the Chair of the Policy and Resources Committee.

        GOVERNANCE STRATEGIES AND POLICIES

      9. Corporate Risk Register
        To consider a report from the Head of Governance and Monitoring Officer (PR25/26-17)
        Agenda Item 09
        Agenda Item 09_Appendix 1
        Agenda Item 09_Appendix 2
      10. Budget Monitoring Report 2025/26: Month 9
        To consider a report from the (Interim) Chief Finance Officer (PR25/26-18)
        Agenda Item 10
        Agenda Item 10_Appendix 1
        Agenda Item 10_Appendix 2
        Agenda Item 10_Appendix 3
        Agenda Item 10_Appendix 4
        Agenda Item 10_Appendix 4 REVISED – uploaded 18.2.26
        Agenda Item 10_Appendix 5
      11. Update on Internal Audit Progress and Implementation of Actions
        To consider a report from the Internal Auditor (PR25/26-19)
        Agenda Item 11
        Agenda Item 11_Appendix 1
        Agenda Item 11_Appendix 2
        Agenda Item 11_Appendix 3
      12. Internal Audit Strategy, Annual Audit Plan and Charter
        To consider a report from the Internal Auditor (PR25/26-20)
        Agenda Item 12
        Agenda Item 12_Appendix 1
      13. CIPFA Code of Practice for the Governance of Internal Audit in UK Local Government
        To consider a report from the Head of Governance and Monitoring Officer (PR25/26-21)
        Agenda Item 13
        Agenda Item 13_Appendix 1

        STRATEGIES AND POLICIES

      14. SDNPA Draft Corporate Plan 2026-31
        To consider a report from the Head of People and Place (PR25/26-22)
        Agenda Item 14
        Agenda Item 14_Appendix 1
      15. Framework for Ecological Consultation and Services, Centurion Way
        To consider a report from the Procurement Manager (PR25/26-23)
        Agenda Item 15
        Agenda Item 15_Appendix 1
        Agenda Item 15_Appendix 2
      16. Treasury Management Strategy Statement 2026/27
        To consider a report from the (Interim) Chief Finance Officer (PR25/26-24)
        Agenda Item 16
        Agenda Item 16_Appendix 1
        Agenda Item 16_Appendix 2
      17. Q3 Seven Sisters Country Park Performance Report 2025/26
        To consider a report from the Commercial and Strategic Manager (PR25/26-25)
        Agenda Item 17
        Agenda Item 17_Appendix 1

        PART II

        THE FOLLOWING ITEM IS FOR THE INFORMATION OF MEMBERS OF THE AUTHORITY ONLY

      18. Part II minutes of previous Policy and Resources Committee meetings
        To approve as a correct record the Part II minutes of the Policy and Resources Committee meeting on 20 November 2025

"The Downs...too much for one pair of eyes, enough to float a whole population in happiness."