Lead members scheme

The Authority has for some time been considering ways to achieve increased member involvement in the work of the Authority and through this, promote closer working with and support for officers in their areas of work.

Following a process whereby members were canvassed regarding their participation in a Lead Member project and their interest areas, together with several informal meetings to discuss the role, the Authority agreed to approve the principle of appointing Lead Members for a trial period of one year in accordance with a scheme which aligns Lead Member areas to sections in the NPA’s Management Plan (a practice followed by other NPA’s who have established Lead Members). The areas concerned together with the names of members who have indicated their interest in the project and relevant Lead Officers are set out below. The Authority has agreed a  job description (64 KB) for the role of Lead Member and the parameters under which the project will operate.

The purpose of the scheme is to allow members who have skills or an interest in a specific subject area to represent and raise the prominence and standing of that area and to work with the relevant Lead Officer in promoting the subject area.