Dartmoor National Park Authority

Dartmoor Steering Group and Working Party

Dartmoor Steering Group Overview

The Dartmoor Steering Group was established in 1978 on the instructions of the Secretaries of State for Defence and Environment following the recommendation of Baroness Sharp's non statutory public inquiry into the Military use of Dartmoor in 1975. It brings together the Ministry of Defence plus the key statuory and landowning bodies that have an interest in the management of Dartmoor Training Area to keep under review the best possible reconciliation of the requirements of military training, conservation and public access.

Its members include representatives of Commander 43 Wessex Brigade and Commandant Commando Training Centre Royal Marines, Defence Estates, Dartmoor National Park Authority, Dartmoor Commoners Council, Duchy of Cornwall, English Heritage, Government Office of the South West and Natural England.

The Dartmoor Steering Group is supported by the Dartmoor Working Party. Its purpose is to research issues as directed by the Chairmen, to resolve matters passed to them and to carry out day to day management of the Group’s responsibilities. The alternating chairmen of the Dartmoor Working Party (and also joint secretaries of the Dartmoor Steering Group, are Commander Defence Training Estate South West and the Dartmoor National Park Authority’s Chief Executive. Members include the Commandant Dartmoor Training Area, the Defence Estate’s Senior Land Agent South West, the Duchy of Cornwall, the Dartmoor Commoners Council (2), Natural England (2) and English Heritage.

Meeting minutes

The Dartmoor Steering Group meets annually and since 2007 has published minutes of its meetings and the annual report to the Secretaries of State for Defence, Environment and Food and Rural Affairs:

Dartmoor Steering Group minures of the 49th Meeting 08 October 2009 (PDF help 26kb)
Dartmoor Steering Group minutes of the 48th Meeting 08 October 2008 (PDF help 72kb)
Dartmoor Steering Group minutes of the 47th Meeting 16 January 2008 (PDF help 77kb)
Dartmoor Steering Group minutes of the 46th Meeting 17 January 2007 (PDF help 42kb)

Publication scheme Under Freedom of Information Act 2000

The Dartmoor Steering Group and Working Party seeks to reconcile the interests of military training in the Dartmoor National Park with conservation and public access, and to review progress in considering the recommendations of the Sharp Report of 1976

Dartmoor Steering Group and Working Party Publication Scheme under Freedom of Information Act 2000    (PDF help 80kb)

Annual Reports

Dartmoor Steering Group 20th Annual Report - September 2008 (opens new window) (PDF help 149kb)
Dartmoor Steering Group19th Annual Report - June 2007 (opens new window) (PDF help 212kb)

Page updated 19 January 2010