Agenda item

The Chair provided the following verbal update to Members in addition to the weekly briefing meetings  with the Chief Executive and Deputy Chair, and attendance at the Planning and P& R Committees.

·       Attended a National Parks Partnership AGM at the end of March to discuss the alterations to the banking arrangements and authorizing particular users of credit cards.

·       Interviewed at the beginning of April as part of the assessment for the Investments in People Programme.  The results of the assessment are not known yet, but the Authority is hoping to maintain at least the position as a silver award holder.

·       On the 4^th April, together with the Deputy Chair, held an introductory meeting with Dan Smart the Business Transformation Manager.

·       On the 7^th & 8^th April with the CEO, attended a National Parks England Meeting organised by the South Downs National Park.

·       On the 9^th & 26^th April, attended a Youth Impact Collective Workshop.  The 9^th being an online session, then the 26^th being a face to face workshop at Aldern House, which was also attended by a number of Members.

·       Attended a meeting on the 22^nd April with the CEO and Victoria Peel (Executive Support Officer) to discuss the Authority’s input into the Secretary of State appointments recruitment campaign, and to finalise arrangements for the subsequent conference of National Parks Chairs and Chief Executives, which was held at Aldern House.

The Secretary of State appointments advert is now live on the DEFRA website for our two vacancies, and the closing date is quite soon.  The Chair & CEO have already had conversations with a number of interested people, so we are anticipating a good number of applications.  The interview dates have yet to be agreed, but possibly late June/early July, which will mean that they will possibly not be appointed  in time for the Authority AGM on the 11^th July.

·       On the 24^th April, together with the CEO, attended the 60^th Anniversary celebrations of the creation of the Pennine Way in Hawes in the Yorkshire Dales National Park, this was also attended by a number of Rangers from the Peak District, and ex Rangers that came together as part of the celebration.

·       On the 30^th April, together with the CEO, attended and spoke at a meeting  attended by 20 DEFRA officials at Castleton Visitor Centre.  The majority of the attendees were those that are involved with the Access for All initiatives and FiPL.

·       On the 1^st and 2^nd May together with the Chairs and CEO’s of the 15 UK National Parks, visited Cressbrook Bridge, Mam Tor and Chatsworth with presentations on AI, National Issues, and National Parks Partnership Branding.