Independent Person
Dartmoor National Park Authority’s Standards Sub-Committee promotes and monitors high standards of conduct for Members and Officers.
It has a key role in advising the Authority on the implementation of the Code of Conduct and assisting Members in observing the Code.
To ensure the integrity of this work a proportion of the Standards Committee must be independent. An Independent Person is someone who at the time of appointment; has not been a member or officer of the Authority or a parish council within Dartmoor National Park in the previous 5 years and is not a relative or close friend of a member or officer of the Authority.
The Government has stated that it is important that independent persons are seen to be ‘genuinely’ independent of the Authority.
Dartmoor National Park Authority is seeking to recruit an Independent Person to be appointed from January 2023 for an initial three-year period.
The time of commitment may vary, but it is likely to require attendance at Parke, Bovey Tracey for a minimum of six Friday meetings each year.
The appointment is unpaid although an attendance allowance (currently £209 per annum) and travel expenses may be claimed.
For further details and advice on making an application please contact:
Neil White, Head of Organisational Development and Monitoring Officer
Dartmoor National Park Authority
Parke
Bovey Tracey
Newton Abbot
Devon, TQ13 9JQ
Telephone: 01626 831078
Email: nwhite@dartmoor.gov.uk
A quote from a former Independent Person:
I was appointed to Dartmoor National Park Authority’s Standards Committee in 2009 at a time of increased interest in standards in public life. As an Independent Person I was in a good position to support the Authority in developing members’ skills, raising their awareness of conflicts of interest (actual or perceived) and promoting the need to maintain public confidence in governance and decision making. In addition to observing at meetings and giving feedback where appropriate, I also participated in the Authority’s adjudication panel when complaints had been raised against Authority members: clearly a sensitive process for all parties and one in which an independent view was vital.
I felt then that it was essential to have an independent voice on Standards Committee, to comment constructively and to contribute to members’ development and that this strengthened the Authority. On a personal level, I enjoyed the role and felt that it developed my own skills and knowledge. Now that I am a member myself I appreciate the appointment of Independent Persons even more as a means of reassurance to the public, particularly when the Authority is making difficult decisions and setting future policy.
Pamela Woods - November 2022
Location:
Dartmoor National Park Authority, Parke, Bovey Tracey, Devon, TQ13 9JQ.
Closing date:
Monday 28 November 2022 at 12:00 pm
How to apply:
To apply for this position please complete and return the application form using the links below. Once completed, please email your application to: hr@dartmoor.gov.uk.
Alternatively, please post to: Human Resources at Dartmoor National Park Authority, Parke, Bovey Tracey, Devon, TQ13 9JQ