Contact: David Carman, ext 5967

1. The Countryside Agency has published its statutory consultation with local authorities on its proposals for a National Park in the South Downs. This follows an earlier non-statutory public consultation, the responses on which have now been considered by the County Agency and included in the latest consultation document. At its meeting on 15 July 2002 the Environment Policy Review Committee considered a report on the consultation and its comments will be reported orally to the Cabinet. A copy of the report to the Committee is attached. The closing date for comments is 16 August 2002.

2. The consultation report is in three parts:

(i) Part A - the Countryside Agency's proposed advice on administration of a South Downs National Park;

(ii) Part B - the Countryside Agency's proposed boundary for a South Downs National Park; and

(iii) Part C - revocation of the East Hampshire and Sussex Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty designations.

3. The following decisions are sought:

That the Countryside Agency be informed that:

1. Part A- Administrative Arrangements

Issue 1- Membership

(i) The County Council remains concerned at the lack of democratic accountability associated with National Park Authorities.

(ii) In the absence of special arrangements to address the lack of democratic accountability, the Countryside Agency's proposed advice to Government to establish a National Park Authority based on the model set out in the Environment Act 1995 is supported.

(iii) The apportionment of individual County Council seats on the National Park Authority should be based upon the geographical area and population within the National Park. Local authority representatives should be drawn both from locally elected members and from executive members with specific portfolios of relevance to national park purposes.

(iv) The County Council would support a proposal to form a decision-making executive or Cabinet supported by topic sub-committees, in the interests of achieving effective decision-making and subject to suitable representation of the County Council.

(v) The Agency should include landscape management as an essential area of expertise in its appointees and that professional institutions should be consulted to assist the Secretary of State in securing the range of identified professional skills on the National Park Authority.

Issue 2 (Forward Planning and Development Control)

(i) The Agency's proposed advice to Government that a Unitary Development Plan be prepared for the national park be rejected for the reasons stated in the report.

(ii) The County Council supports the original preferred option of three joint Structure Plans and three joint Minerals and Waste Plans, with each local planning authority preparing its own Local Plan, with all plans to include a chapter relating to national park purposes.

(iii) Formal joint working arrangements are essential to ensure the integration of strategic land use planning issues between a National Park Authority and adjoining authorities.

Issue 3 (A Role in Land Management)

(i) In its advice to Government the Agency should stress the important role of the local authorities in the management of landscape and cultural heritage, in terms of expertise and action.

(ii) A National Park Authority should promote and participate in the development of land management planning tools such as the Land Management Information System, to support the concept of a first-stop shop for landowners.

(iii) A National Park Authority should promote activities which further the knowledge of the landscape and cultural heritage of the national park.

Issue 4 (A Role in Visitor Management)

(i) The County Council's statutory responsibilities for access and rights of way should continue in their present form to prevent fragmentation of the network.

(ii) Transport: the proposal for the active involvement of the National Park Authority in the preparation of the Local Transport Plan be supported. The proposal that the National Park Authority should prepare a park-wide traffic strategy and deliver and implement parts of the transport plan be rejected.

(iii) The Agency's proposed advice to Government on countryside management, site ownership and management, tourism, education and interpretation be supported.

Issue 5 (A National Park Management Plan)

(i) The Agency's proposed advice to Government be supported, particularly with reference to the clarification of the role and importance of the management plan.

(ii) The Government secures flexibility in the use of European funds and application of European policy to enable National Park management objectives to be delivered.

Issue 6 (Working in Partnership)

(i) The Countryside Agency's proposed advice be supported.

(ii) The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs is an active participant in future meetings leading to designation of the national park.

Issue 7 (Involving Local People)

(i) The National Park Authority should be a Local Strategic Partner in the preparation, review and delivery of Community Strategies.

Financial Resources

(i) The Agency secures from Government a firm commitment to a level of funding that ensures that existing standards are exceeded.

The Countryside Agency

(i) The County Council appreciates the work of the Agency and its staff in involving the public and local authorities in the consultation processes.

2. Part B - Proposed Boundary

The proposed boundary of the South Downs National Park as defined by the Countryside Agency be supported, with the exception of the areas referred to in paragraphs 4.6 to 4.12, and paragraph 4.20 of this report. Also, that the Countryside Agency be informed of the concerns regarding the sand deposits of long term strategic importance referred to in paragraph 4.24.

3. Part C - Revocation of East Hampshire Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty

The proposed revocation of the East Hampshire Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty is supported.

2. Reason

2.1 To respond to the consultation document.

3. Other Options Considered and Rejected

3.1 Not to give a response.

4 Conflicts of Interest Declared by the Decision Maker or a Member of Officer consulted - not applicable.

5. Dispensation granted by the Standards Committee - not applicable.

6. Reason(s) for the Matter being dealt with if Urgent - not applicable.

Approved by: ................................... Date: .......................................

Councillor T K Thornber

7261/DC