The Dartmoor Land Use Management Group and its Chair are accountable to the Defra Minister for Food Security and Rural Affairs.
While independent from the Dartmoor National Park Authority the Group will always have regard for current and planned environment, climate and agricultural investment in the National Park, to support the delivery of public goods.
Membership of the Group is at the invitation of the Chair, ratified by Defra ministers.
Although members are not formal public appointments, all members are expected to adhere to the Seven Principles of Public Life set out in the Nolan Committee of Standards in Public Life. These are : selflessness, integrity, objectivity, accountability, openness, honesty and leadership. Members should also adhere to the Code of Conduct for Board Members of Public Bodies.
Under the Levelling Up and Regeneration Act 2023, the group is required to further the statutory purposes of Protected Landscapes. For the Dartmoor National Park, these are to:
The Chair and all members of the group must not misuse information gained from their membership of the group for personal gain, commercial value or political purpose.
They must not disclose any information which is confidential in nature or which is provided in confidence, without authority from the Chair, who will consult Defra as necessary.
This condition continues to apply after their memberships have ended. They are required to exercise care in the use of information that they acquire in the course of their membership and to protect the information that is held in confidence.