Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006

1. Introduction

2. Summary

3. Background

4. The Act

   1. Part 1: Natural England and the Commission for Rural Communities

   2. Part 2: Nature conservation in the UK

   3. Part 3: Wildlife etc.

   4. Part 4: Sites of special scientific interest

   5. Part 5: National Parks and the Broads

   6. Part 6: Rights of way

   7. Part 7: Inland waterways

   8. Part 8: Flexible administrative arrangements

   9. Part 9: Miscellaneous

   10. Part 10: Final provisions

5. Territorial Extent

6. Commentary on Sections

   1. Part 1: Natural England and the Commission for Rural Communities

      1. Chapter 1: Natural England

         1. Constitution and general purpose

            1. Section 1: Constitution

            2. Section 2: General purpose

         2. Advisory functions

            1. Section 3: Review and research

            2. Section 4: Advice

         3. General implementation powers

            1. Section 5: Carrying out proposals etc.

            2. Section 7: Management agreements

            3. Section 8: Experimental schemes

         4. Other functions

            1. Sections 9 and 10: Information, consultancy and training services etc.

            2. Section 11: Power to charge for services and licences

            3. Section 12: Power to bring criminal proceedings

            4. Section 13: Incidental powers

         5. Powers of Secretary of State

            1. Section 15: Guidance

            2. Section 16: Directions

      2. Chapter 2: Commission for Rural Communities

         1. The Commission and its general purpose

            1. Section 17: Commission for Rural Communities

            2. Section 18: Commission’s general purpose

         2. Functions

            1. Section 19: Representation, advice and monitoring

            2. Section 20: Research

            3. Section 21: Information services etc.

            4. Section 22: Power to charge for services

            5. Section 23: Incidental powers

         3. Powers of Secretary of State

            1. Section 24: Grants

            2. Section 25: Directions

      3. Chapter 3: Supplementary

         1. Transfer schemes etc.

            1. Section 26: Transfers on dissolution of English Nature and Countryside Agency

            2. Section 27: Continuing powers to make transfer schemes

            3. Section 29: Interim arrangements

   2. Part 2: Nature Conservation in the UK

      1. Joint Nature Conservation Committee etc.

         1. Section 31: Joint Nature Conservation Committee

         2. Section 32: UK conservation bodies

         3. Section 33: Purpose of functions under this Part

      2. Coordinated functions

         1. Section 34: Functions of national or international significance

         2. Section 35: Advice from joint committee to UK conservation body

         3. Section 36: GB functions with respect to wildlife

      3. Directions

         1. Section 38: Directions

   3. Part 3: Wildlife etc.

      1. Biodiversity

         1. Section 40: Duty to conserve biodiversity

         2. Section 41: Biodiversity lists and action (England)

         3. Section 42: Biodiversity lists and action (Wales)

      2. Pesticides harmful to wildlife

         1. Section 43: Possession of pesticides harmful to wildlife

         2. Section 44: Enforcement powers in connection with pesticides

         3. Section 45 Codes of Practice

         4. Section 46: Interpretation

      3. Protection of birds

         1. Section 47: Protection of nests of certain birds which re-use their nests

         2. Section 48: Birds released into the wild as part of a re-population programme

         3. Section 49: Registration etc. of certain captive birds

      4. Invasive non-native species

         1. Section 50: Sale etc. of invasive non-native species

         2. Section 51: Codes of practice in connection with invasive non-native species

      5. Enforcement etc of provisions relating to wildlife

         1. Section 52: Enforcement powers in connection with wildlife

   4. Part 1 of Schedule 5 - Amendments of the 1981 Act

      1. Police powers enhanced

      2. Wildlife inspector powers enhanced

   5. Part 2 of Schedule 5 – Enforcement of four other Acts

   6. Part 3 of Schedule 5 – Codes of Practice

   7. Part 4 of Schedule 5 – Constable’s search warrant power extended to certain other Acts

      1. Section 53: Wildlife offences: time limit for proceedings

      2. Section 54: Application of Part 1 of the 1981 Act to Crown

   8. Part 4: Sites of special scientific interest (SSSIs)

      1. Section 55: Offences in connection with SSSIs

      2. Section 56: Denotification

      3. Section 57: Effect of failure to serve certain notices

      4. Section 58: Notices and signs relating to SSSIs

   9. Part 5: National Parks and the Broads

      1. Section 59: Criteria for designating National Parks

      2. Section 60: Procedure for orders designating National Parks

      3. Section 61: Members of National Park authorities

      4. Section 62: Expenditure by National Park authorities

      5. Section 63: Notification of agricultural operations on moor and heath in National Parks

      6. Section 64: Functions of Broads Authority and others in relation to the Broads

      7. Section 65: Emergency financial assistance

   10. Part 6: Rights of way

       1. Section 66: Restriction on creation of new public rights of way

       2. Section 67: Ending of certain existing unrecorded public rights of way

       3. Section 66: Presumed dedication of restricted byways and use by pedal cycles etc.

       4. Section 67: Presumed dedication and applications under section 53(5) of the 1981 Act

       5. Section 70: Supplementary

       6. Section 71: Interpretation

       7. Section 72: Traffic regulation on byways etc. in National Parks in England and Wales

   11. Part 7: Inland Waterways

       1. Section 73: Inland Waterways Advisory Council

       2. Section 74: Constitution of Council

       3. Section 75: Term of office, procedure etc.

       4. Section 76:  Functions of Council: England and Wales

       5. Section 77: Functions of Council: Scotland

   12. Part 8: Flexible administrative arrangements

       1. Chapter 1: Agreements with designated bodies

          1. Powers to enter into agreements

             1. Section 78: Agreement between Secretary of State and designated body

             2. Section 79: Agreement between designated bodies

             3. Section 80: Designated bodies

             4. Section 81: Reserved functions

             5. Section 82: Maximum duration of agreement

             6. Section 83: Particular powers

             7. Section 84: Agreements with local authorities

             8. Section 85: Supplementary provisions with respect to agreements

       2. Chapter 2: Powers to reform agricultural etc. bodies

          1. Power to create boards

             1. Section 87: Power to establish boards

             2. Section 88: Permissible purposes of boards

             3. Section 89: Permissible function of boards

             4. Section 90: Ancillary provisions

          2. Power to dissolve existing levy bodies and boards

             1. Section 91: Power to dissolve existing levy bodies

             2. Section 92: Power to dissolve board

             3. Section 93: Dissolution: supplementary

          3. Powers of appropriate authority

             1. Section 94: Grants

             2. Section 95: Directions

       3. Chapter 3 Financial assistance

          1. Section 98: Financial assistance

   13. Part 9: Miscellaneous

       1. Section 99: Natural beauty in the countryside

       2. Section 100: Byelaws relating to land drainage

       3. Section 101: Abolition of certain agricultural etc. committees

   14. Part 10: Final Provisions

       1. Section 102: Crown land

       2. Section 103: Wales

       3. Section 104: Power to make further provision

       4. Section 105: Minor and consequential amendments etc.

       5. Section 108: Extent

7. Territorial Application: Wales

8. Commencement Date

9. Hansard References