Governance of National Parks Draft Bill

The purpose of the Bill is to enable the composition of National Parks’ authorities to be broadened in the future. The main purpose of the draft Bill would be to provide for the holding of local elections to the authorities.

1 Direct elections

Enable eligible residents of the National Parks to directly elect some of the Authority members responsible for running their Park and taking planning decisions.

2 Amending the political balance requirement on local authority appointees

Allow local authorities to depart from the political balance rule if they appoint three or more members to the Park Authority where doing so would allow them to appoint a representative of a ward within the Park.

3 Allowing a wider range of parish representation

Allow parish councils to select their representatives to a Park Authority more widely. Currently they must select a parish councillor or chairman. They would be enabled to include anyone eligible to stand as a parish councillor.