Cllr Alexis McEvoy: Statement from the New Forest NPA
PUBLISHED ON: 17 MARCH 2023STATEMENT FROM THE NEW FOREST NATIONAL PARK AUTHORITY
17 March 2023
Councillor Alexis McEvoy
We are aware of significant media attention and complaints about online content posted by Alexis McEvoy, who at the time was a Hampshire County Council appointed member of the New Forest National Park Authority Board. We can confirm that Cllr Alexis McEvoy is no longer a New Forest NPA Board member.
Today we received written confirmation that Cllr McEvoy has resigned from the Conservative Group at the County Council, from all her County Council committee appointments and from all her appointments to outside bodies.
On Wednesday 15 March we stated that Cllr McEvoy’s comments, ‘while not made in her capacity as a National Park Authority member, in no way reflect the views of the Authority. Creating an inclusive National Park is a key part of our work. We expect that everyone involved in the National Park plays a full part in championing this and our values’.
We continue to take forward and build on our work promoting equality and diversity in our National Park, which our partner authorities have signed up to within our shared Partnership Plan.
This week has shown that we need to review with appointing authorities how NPA members are recruited and what action can be taken in circumstances such as these. We will also look at our own processes for complaints and social media use, with a view to a clarification and tightening of our own policies.
Prof Gavin Parker
Chair, New Forest National Park Authority
