Report to:	Governance Committee
Date:	13 July 2021
By:	Director of Communities, Economy and Transport
Title of report:	Appointments to Outside Bodies – South Downs National Park Authority Seven Sisters Country Park Stakeholders Advisory Group
Purpose of report:	To consider appointments to the Board
RECOMMENDATION – The Governance Committee is recommended to appoint a Councillor to serve on the South Downs National Park Authority’s Seven Sisters Country Park Stakeholders Advisory Group.

Supporting Information

1.1       The County Council is invited to appoint Members (and in some cases non-County Councillors are eligible) to serve on a range of outside bodies whose role has a relationship to a function of the County Council. The appointments are a vital part of the County Council’s working in partnership with voluntary sector bodies, statutory agencies and the public and private sectors.

1.2       East Sussex County Council is transferring the freehold ownership and future management of Seven Sisters Country Park (SSCP) to the South Downs National Park Authority (SDNPA). The transfer is due to complete in July 2021. 

1.3       The SDNPA will be investing around £1.4m into SSCP, which will be focussed on improving visitor experience, facilities and ecological management. 

1.4       To inform the management of SSCP, the SDNPA will be establishing a “Stakeholder Advisory Group”.  This Group will provide a means by which identified stakeholders can be appraised of and discuss issues relating to the operation of SSCP, with a view to informing strategic decisions taken by the SDNPA Chief Executive.  The Group will not have decision-making powers. 

1.5       Under the conditions of the transfer of SSCP, the SDNPA has a requirement to include a County Council representative on the Stakeholder Advisory Group.  The Group will also include a representative from the Sussex Wildlife Trust and the SSCP Trading Company, set up by the SDNPA.

1.6       The views of the Stakeholder Advisory Group will be sought on matters relating to the operation of the Seven Sisters site as a Country Park. These include non-commercial activities relating to:

• Landscape management
• Visitor Experience
• Impacts on the local economy
• Local community engagement

1.7       Meetings of the Stakeholder Advisory Group will be called by the SDNPA Chief Executive at least three times a year. 

1.8       The Stakeholder Advisory Group will have no budget or allocated resources, but the SDNPA will provide administrative support.  With prior agreement, Group members may claim reasonable expenses in line with their role.

1.9       The appointment should be made for a four-year period ending in June 2025, to coincide with other appointments to outside bodies.  Nominations have been sought from each political and independent group.  

Organisation	No. of reps	Current Appointments	Nominations
South Downs National Park Authority Seven Sisters Management Board	1	None – new body	Councillor Adeniji Councillor Maples

2.         Recommendation

2.1       The Committee is asked to appoint a Councillor to serve on the South Downs National Park Authority’s Seven Sisters Country Park Stakeholders Advisory Group

RUPERT CLUBB

Director of Communities, Economy and Transport

Contact Officer: Andy le Gresley       Tel:  07786 181486

                                                            E-mail: andrew.legresley@eastsussex.gov.uk

Background Documents

 None