Public appointments: Brecon Beacons National Park Authority

Description of role and organisation

Member Role

National Park Authority (NPA) members are responsible, individually and collectively, for promoting effective leadership for the NPA, for setting its policy and for ensuring it meets its objectives within the statutory, policy and financial framework laid down for it. Members have a duty to act at all times within the law, in good faith and in the best interests of the National Park, and to be scrupulous in ensuring their public position is at no time compromised in favour of private interests or gives rise to suspicion this has been done. All members have equal status on the Authority, whether appointed by Welsh Ministers or by a Local Authority, notwithstanding any specific experience or skills members may bring.

Members of NPAs are required to understand and demonstrate a commitment to National Park purposes and be prepared to commit the time necessary for regular attendance at full Authority and committee meetings, as well as member development events, working groups, events, and representing the Authority on outside bodies.

Brecon Beacons National Park Authority

National Parks are landscapes of international importance. Although predominantly rural in nature they are close to urban communities and have significant potential to enrich the lives of the people of, and visitors to, Wales and to contribute positively to the Welsh economy. A key task of National Park Authorities is to help ensure that these special areas will in the future, be places with a richer and more diverse landscape, wildlife and heritage than today, enjoyed and cherished by a full cross section of society.

The National Park Authorities have two statutory purposes under the Environment Act 1995: 

• to conserve and enhance the natural beauty, wildlife and cultural heritage of the National Parks; 
• to promote opportunities for the understanding and enjoyment of the special qualities [of the Park] by the public. 

As well as seeking to fulfil their two statutory purposes the National Park Authorities have a duty to foster the economic and social well-being of their local communities. If it appears that there is a conflict between these purposes, greater weight shall be attached to the purpose of conserving and enhancing the natural beauty, wildlife and cultural heritage of the area within the National Park.

Appointment of Members 

The post of Member will be paid at £4,738 per annum.

The appointments will commence on 1 January 2023 and will last four years. Following this the Minister can consider reappointment without competition for up to a maximum of ten years (subject to a satisfactory performance appraisal)

This appointment was made in accordance with the Governance Code on Public Appointments.

Political activity

All appointments are made on merit and political activity plays no part in the selection process. 

• Dr Liz Bickerton – Declared no political activity within past 5 years
• Craig Stephenson – Declared no political activity within past 5 years
• Dr Yvonne Howard-Bunt – Declared no political activity within past 5 years
• Professor John Hunt – Declared the following political activity within past 5 years:
   
  • Member of the Labour Party [Llafur Cymru]
  • Community Councillor, Blaenavon Town Council
  • Branch Secretary, Blaenavon Branch
  • Disability Officer, Torfaen CLP
  • Disability Officer, LGBT+Labour [Wales]
  • Deputy Chair, Disability Labour [UK]
  • Co-Leader. Disability Labour [Wales]