Landscape Protection
National Park Authorities: Membership
Introduction
English National Park Authorities comprise:
- Local Authority appointees,
- Secretary of State (‘national’ appointees), and
- Secretary of State (‘parish’ nominees).
The rules for determining the relative size of these 3 groups were changed by the Natural Environment and Rural Communities (NERC) Act 2006. The basic rules are that:-
- every district, county, or unitary authority with land in a Park will be entitled to appoint at least one member unless it chooses to opt out; and
- the total number of local authority and parish members must exceed the number of ‘national’ members.
The size of all the English National Park Boards is currently 22, except for the Peak District at 30.
Every year the Secretary of State seeks nominations for appointees to the National Park Authorities and the Broads Authority. Usually the process starts in late summer for appointments to commence the following April.
Candidates are expected to:
- appreciate the national interest - the views of people not living in or near the National Parks and the Broads;
- understand issues affecting National Parks and the Broads, and to work to achieve the parks' purposes;
- bring experience of wider issues, which could include work with young people, environmental projects, social inclusion, or just an active interest in outdoor recreation;
- contribute positively to debate within an authority;
- be ready to make decisions on any aspects of Park and Broads management ; and
- commit a minimum of 2 to 3 days per month, to authority work (this can vary from Park to Park).
To ensure the right balance of personal qualities and experience the Secretary of State looks for candidates from a broad range of backgrounds, representative of the social and cultural mix in the country at large. Applications are particularly welcome from women, members of the ethnic minorities and promising young people as these groups are currently under-represented on the Authorities. The Secretary of State is keen to receive applications not just from those with formal qualifications and long track records in conventional careers but also those with other kinds of experience, such as that gained through community or voluntary work.
Secretary of State members are not paid but they are eligible for travel and other expenses incurred in the course of their appointments and are paid on allowance which varies from Park to Park.
The Secretary of State appoints ten of the twenty one members of the Broads Authority. The others are appointed by the local authorities and from the Authority's Navigation Committee. Of the ten appointed by the Secretary of State, at least three are appointed after consulting boating interests and two after consulting farming and landowning interests. No Parish appointments are made to the Broads Authority.
For enquiries about Secretary of State appointments please contact:
Defra, Sponsorship, Landscape & Recreation Division, Zone 1/03, Temple Quay House, 2 The Square, Temple Quay, Bristol, BS1 6EB
tel no: 0117 372 8086 or 0117 372 8033;
e-mail: nationalparks.aonbs@defra.gsi.gov.uk
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Page last modified: 04 October 2007
Page published: 5 February 2003