Agenda and minutes

To receive and consider the attached Schedule of Correspondence and any recommendations thereon (below).

The Chair welcomed Members and Officers to the meeting.

Apologies for absence were noted.

To receive any declarations of interest from Members relating to items on the agenda.  Members’ attention is drawn to the sheet attached to the attendance sheet and the need to record their declarations verbally and in writing, specifying the nature of the interest.

If Members have declared an interest in an item please ensure that you inform the Chair when you are leaving the room, so that this can be recorded in the minutes.

No declarations of interest were made.

To give opportunity for members of the public to address the meeting in accordance with the Authority’s Public Speaking Scheme.

There were no requests to speak.

The Chair noted that with a new Senior Management Team in place and new Members to come following the election; the Authority is open and encouraging of engagement from the public. Anyone wishing to speak at upcoming meetings should put in a request with Democratic Services.

To receive a report from the Chief Executive on meetings attended and progress made on authority business since the last meeting of the Authority and to introduce the newly appointed Executive Board.

The Chief Executive introduced the Authority’s new Executive Board as Simone Lowthe-Thomas (Director of Nature Recovery and Climate Change), Gareth Jones (Director of Planning and Place) and Rotimi Akinsiku (Programme and Portfolio Manager).

She acknowledged the big job ahead, and the importance of Members and Officers working as one team. Having the right senior management in place would make this possible.

She gave updates on key engagements and new funding that had been made available.

The Chair noted that this was an exciting time for the National Park Authority and that Members were looking forward to working with the new Executive Board, and would look to them to drive the National Park forwards.

The Monitoring Officer presented a report to seek approval for an inter-authority agreement between Brecon Beacons NPA and Pembrokeshire Coast NPA for the role of Section 151 Officer.

Members were asked to appoint the S151 Officer for Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority as temporary interim and subsequent Deputy S151 Officer for the Authority which is to be recorded by agreement between the two National Parks.

The Monitoring Officer advised in response to a Member’s enquiry that the interim S151 Officer may be required to prepare a draft statement of accounts.

RESOLVED:

1.         Appoint the S151 Officer of Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority as:

a)        interim S151 Officer; and

b)        deputy S151 Officer on the appointment of the new post holder by the Authority

2.         Authorise the Chief Executive in consultation with the Monitoring officer to settle and conclude the S151 Officer agreement with Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority.