Who are the Members?
The Authority has 19 Members. Five appointed by Devon County Council. Five appointed by the district councils
This includes:
- Two from West Devon Borough Council
- Two from Teignbridge District Council
- One from South Hams District Council
The remaining nine Members are appointed by the Government.
- Four are appointed to represent parish council interests – they are nominated by Dartmoor parish councils and approved by the Secretary of State (Defra).
- Five are directly appointed by the Secretary of State (Defra) to represent the national interest and are usually local people who have a particular interest in the National Park.
What do Members do?
Members provide leadership and direction for the Authority, and ensure that we are efficient, effective and accountable.
Members work with the Chair, the Chief Executive (National Park Officer) to discharge the functions of the Authority, and to steer our strategic direction so that we deliver benefits to local communities and to the nation. Read the full members’ role description below.
Register of Members’ Interests
Members must register any interests they have which may cause conflict with their role.
An interest is any matter – such as ownership of land or company, or membership of a group or club – which may influence their judgment. We keep a Register of Interests for all Members and co-opted members.
Declaration of Interest is a standing item on every meeting agenda. At this point Members must declare any relevant interest they have in any item of business on the agenda.
View the Register of Members’ Interests below
Members’ Allowances
Members are unpaid for their work.
They receive a small monthly allowance and can claim back travel and other expenses incurred on Authority business.
- Read the Dartmoor Members’ Allowance Scheme which governs how allowances are paid.
- Member Allowances Rates from 1 April 2025
Member Code of Conduct
The Code of Conduct aims to:
- ensure that Members register and declare any personal or pecuniary interests they have in business of the Authority
- promote high standards of ethical behaviour
- prevent maladministration.
Becoming a Member
When a vacancy occurs for a Member appointed by the Secretary of State (Defra) these are publicly advertised alongside our job vacancies
Other positions are filled by people who are already elected Members for local authorities and parish councils in Devon.
Independent Persons
Independent Persons are people appointed to promote and encourage high standards of conduct by Members and to oversee the Member Code of Conduct. Independent Persons are invited to attend all meetings of the Authority to observe proceedings.
The Authority has appointed Catherine Shewan and Corinne Farrell as Independent Persons to provide an impartial voice to issues relating to complaints about a Member of the Authority. Specifically the views of the Independent Person must be sought, and taken into account, by the Authority before it makes a decision or takes any action relating to Member conduct.
Members
Mr Will Dracup
Chair of the Authority
Appointed By:Secretary of State for the Environment
Lives: Widecombe-in-the-Moor, Newton Abbot, Devon
Email: will.dracup@dartmoor.gov.uk
Committees and Panels:
National Park Authority; Development Management Committee; Audit & Governance Committee; Standards Sub-Committee; Park Management Working Panel; Planning and Sustainable Development Working Panel; Chair’s Advisory Group; Chief Executive Performance Review Group; Campaign for National Parks; Dartmoor Commoners Council; Dartmoor Rural Crime Initiative; Dartmoor Steering Group; National Parks England; National Parks Partnerships Limited; Team Devon Joint Committee; Dartmoor Partnership Plan Board
Biographical Details:
Will was born and raised in Dartmoor National Park, attending Widecombe Primary School and South Dartmoor Community College before studying Agriculture at Bicton College. Will now works on his family’s beef and sheep hill farm, which has been a focus farm for the Rural Development Fund’s Healthy Livestock Initiative as well as an AHDB demonstration farm. Will also manages the farm for The Shallowford Trust, welcoming visitors predominantly from London and providing an experience of life and work on a moorland farm. He sits on the Dartmoor Hill Farm Project Steering Group and is a Director of Widecombe Fair. Will has been strongly involved with the Devon Federation of Young Farmers Clubs and is currently Chairman of Moretonhampstead and Chagford branch of the National Farmers Union.
Attendance Record
Expected attendances (1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026) – 21
Present as expected – 20
Apologies received – 1
Absent (inc. apologies) – 1