The Ramblers’ Sussex AreaAppendix 1

East Sussex Area Footpath Secretary

Role Description

  1. Introduction

This description is an overview of the key activities for the volunteer role of Rambler’s East Sussex Area Footpath Secretary (AFPS). A further more detailed description is available for anyone interested in this challenging, enjoyable and rewarding position.

  1. Area Council

The position is a member of Rambler’s Sussex Area Council(AC) and attends4 quarterly Area Councilmeetings(Saturday mornings - Hassocks), and 4 quarterly Area Executive Council(AEC) meetings held about 10 days before AC, normally by telephone conference call.There is an Area AGM in late January.

Quarterly reports are produced for AC, followed by quarterly newsletters to the Local Footpath Secretary’s (LFPS’s), which is a revised version of AC report. An annual report is produced for the AGM and short report to the annual LFPS meeting.

  1. Co-ordinate the role of the Local Footpath Secretaries.

Recruiting LFPS volunteers and supporting them in their work is an integral part of the job.

  1. Path order recipient (modification to rights-of-way).

The AFPS receives copies of all Public Path and Definitive Map orders for East Sussex. These come from the Highway Authorities,County & Unitary councils, District and Borough councils.

Copies are received either via Ramblers Central Office (CO)asa statutory consultee, or directly.

Upon receipt they are acted on with either a site visit or by delegation to a LFPS to inspect. Ramblers’ views are then communicated to the authorities.

The average number of path orders received is 15 per year.

If an order leads to an Inquiry, then support is given to the LFPS, or representation by the position. Preparation for a PI (writing Statement of Case, etc.) is normally done by the position, with help from CO if necessary. In an important case, CO will provide representation, either in-house or pay for outside help.

  1. Planning Applications review.

LFPS’s scan the District Councils’weekly planning lists for planning applications that may affect RoW. Some of the DC’s also send prior warning of such applications. These will be inspect(all documents available online) and if a path is threatened then the relevant LFPS or the positionwill write to object.

  1. Public Inquiries

Most Inquiries of interest relate to disputed Public Path or Definitive Map Orders. The AFPS is usually involved as it is often their decision whether to object or not. Central Office will always provide some level of support. The average is one PI per year and usually last 1 day, but a few go on longer.

  1. External activities, campaigns, etc. e.g.
  • Making site visits to diversion sites, planning applications, etc. either in support of the LFPS or in their absence.
  • Meeting with LFPS’s, to interview new ones or for general support.
  • Attending Rambler’s national General Council.
  • Sitting on related Committee’s, e.g. Local Access Forum’s, Ramblers Sounding Boards.
  • Ramblers’ staff training
  1. Administrative & Filing

There is a certain amount of administrative and filing work that accompanies the role.

  • Confirmation paperwork and other permanent documents (e.g. path licences, landowner statements) for each parish and borough.
  • Definitive maps for the East Sussex Area
  • Area Council reports and minutes.
  • LFPS current lists, contact details and relevant documentation.
  • Path order records.
  • Historical data
  1. Definitive maps

Copies of the Definitive Map for the entire East Sussex. These are stored in the cardboard tubes. Also copies of the accompanying Statements for North Wealden, South Wealden and Lewes districts, in A4 binders. B&H have never provided a copy of their DM or Statement.

Page 1

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