Policy & Resources Committee 9 July 2026

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At the start of the meeting the Chair will make an announcement that the meeting may be filmed, recorded or photographed. Webcasting is undertaken in the public interest and in the exercise of our official authority, by entering the meeting room and using the public seating area you are consenting to being filmed, recorded and photographed. If you have any queries regarding this please contact [email protected]

Webcasting

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_Agenda

1. 1. 1. Apologies for absence
      2. Declaration of Interests
         To enable Members to declare to the meeting any disclosable interest they may have in any matter on the agenda for the meeting.
      3. Minutes of previous Policy and Resources Committee meetings
         To approve as a correct record the minutes of the Policy and Resources Committee meeting on 19 February 2026.
         Agenda Item 3
         
      4. Updates on previous Committee Decisions
         To receive any updates on previous decisions from the Policy and Resource Committee minutes that are not covered elsewhere on the agenda.
      5. Urgent Matters
         To consider any matter on the agenda which the Chair agrees should be considered as a matter of urgency to due special circumstances.
      6. Public Participation
         To hear questions or comments from members of the public present at the meeting.
      7. Need for Part II Exclusion of Press and Public
         The Committee is asked to consider whether, in respect of Appendix 3 of Agenda Item 17 the public, including the press, should be excluded from the meeting on the basis that it is likely, in view of the nature of the business to be transacted or the nature of the proceedings, that if a member of the public were present during the items there would be disclosure to them of exempt information within paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972, being information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person including the Authority and that in all the circumstances of the case, the public interest in maintaining the exempt information outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information. It is proposed on the basis that whilst there is a public interest in the transparency of Authority proceedings, it is felt that on balance this is outweighed by the requirement of the National Park Authority to be able to consider matters in relation to its business and fully consider the implications of its actions or proposed actions particularly in relation to decisions which may have implications on the effective day-to-day running of the Authority without the disclosure of information that could adversely impact the day-to-day running of the Authority and its ability to deliver its services.
      8. Chair Update
         To receive a verbal update from the Chair of the Policy and Resources Committee.

         AUDIT

      9. Update on Internal Audit Progress and Implementation of Actions
         To consider a report from the Internal Auditor (PR25/26-26)
         Agenda Item 9
         
      10. Internal Audit Annual Report and Opinion
          To consider a report from the Internal Auditor (PR25/26-27)
          Agenda Item 10
          
      11. External Audit Plan
          To consider a report from the External Auditor (PR25/26-28)
          Agenda Item 11
          

          STRATEGIES AND POLICIES

      12. Changing Chalk Project Update
          To receive a verbal report from the National Trust Changing Chalk Project Manager
          
      13. Annual Review of Planning Performance: Financial Year 2025/26
          To consider a report from the Director of Placemaking (PR25/26-29)
          Agenda Item 13
          
      14. Q4 Corporate Performance Report 2025/26
          To consider a report from the Director of Landscape and Operations (PR25/26-30)
          Agenda Item 14
      15. Defra Capital Grant 2025/26 – end of year review
          To consider a report from the Head of Finance and Corporate Services (PR25/26-31)
          Agenda Item 15
      16. Q4 Seven Sisters Country Park Performance Report 2025/26
          To consider a report from the Commercial and Strategic Manager (PR25/26-32)
          Agenda Item 16
          

          GOVERNANCE

      17. Corporate Risk Register
          To consider a report from the Head of Governance and Monitoring Officer (PR25/26-33)
          Agenda Item 17
          
      18. Annual Governance Statement and Update Local Code of Corporate Governance
          To consider a report from the Head of Governance and Monitoring Officer (PR25/26-34)
          Agenda Item 18