The Local Access Forums (England) Regulations 2007

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

Section 94 of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 requires local highway authorities and National Park authorities to establish advisory bodies known as local access forums. The forums are required to advise certain bodies about certain public access issues.

These Regulations, which apply in relation to England only, revoke and re-enact with modifications the Local Access Forum (England) Regulations 2002. In addition to minor and drafting amendments, they make the following changes of substance.

Regulations 14 and 16 to 18 provide for: (i) changes to local access forum arrangements; (ii) changes to the area for which a forum is established; (iii) the merger of forums; and (iv) the withdrawal of one or more appointing authorities from a joint local access forum. Regulation 4(4)(c) provides for an appointing authority to terminate the appointment of any member of a forum or forums in the circumstances described in (ii), (iii) and (iv). Regulation 5 provides for re-appointment in such circumstances (as well as generally), and regulation 3(8) disapplies advertising and consultation requirements on such re-appointment.

Regulation 7(7) provides for meetings of local access forums to be closed to the public in certain circumstances. Regulation 19 requires appointing authorities to provide certain information to Natural England. Regulation 21 prescribes additional bodies for local access forums to advise. Regulation 22 prescribes an additional matter in respect of which it is the function of local access forums to advise. Regulation 23 revokes the Local Access Forums (England) Regulations 2002.

A full regulatory impact assessment has not been prepared for this instrument as no impact on the private or voluntary sectors is foreseen.