The Forum formally meets four times a year. Working group meetings may also be held to ensure Cornwall Council and the Countryside Agency receive timely advice. The advice is then used to inform mapping and restriction management procedures. In March 2004 Cornwall published its open country and registered common land provisional maps.
Public meetings are usually held at County Hall, Truro. This may vary from time to time with some occasional working group meetings or site visits also being held.
Cornwall Council provides a Forum secretary. Who’s role it is to arrange meetings, agree agendas with the Chairman and circulate papers. Assisting the Chairman to run the Forum. (according to the Local Access Forums (England) Regulations 2007). Produce minutes and facilitate the provision of information to the public. They are the link between the Forum, Cornwall Council, Natural England, DEFRA. As well as linking with other local access forums.
The Secretary will report, as appropriate, the views of the Forum to the relevant officers and committees of Cornwall Council. They will report back to the Forum on any responses or action taken following its advice.
The Forum is required to produce a short Annual Report for Natural England.
Allowances
The Chairman, Vice Chairman and Members are appointed on a voluntary basis. They are able to claim for reasonable travel expenses for meetings. As well as approved training events and visits. In line with the Cornwall Council’s Members’ Allowances Scheme.
Regulations
Regulations require a balance of Members representing the two main interest groups. Users of the rights of access and rights of way, and owners or occupiers of access land or land crossed by rights of way.
Regulations encourage representation of other interests especially those relevant to the local area. Such as tourism, sport and recreation, health, outdoor education and local business interests.
Member appointment is for a mixture of one, two and three years. This has allowed for the staggered replacement of Members over time, so, providing continuity to the Forum. Regulations dictate that appointments can only be between one and three years. With Members being eligible for reappointment. New appointments would be made for three years to provide some continuity. But, where vacancies arise appointments may be made for either one or two years to maintain balance.
The lower and upper limits to the size of the Forum (10 and 22) are set out in the Regulations. To maintain 20 Members, Cornwall Council looks to balance an effective size with a broad representation of interests.
Regulations restrict the number of Members of a council or national park authority. With three members of Cornwall Council appointed to the Forum.
The Chairman and Vice Chairman of the Forum are elected at each Annual Meeting to serve for one year. There is no restriction upon the number of years these offices are held, providing the Member remains appointed to the Forum.
Members will be sought who can bring a wide range of experience, including that of:
- general recreational use. E.g. walking, riding, cycling, limited mobility access;
- land management. E.g. farming, forestry, common land management;
- land ownership. E.g. landowners, occupiers and tenants; and
- wildlife conversation, cultural heritage conservation. Tourism, sport and active recreational pursuits (such as climbing, fishing). Health, outdoor education, the military and local business interests
Defra encourage authorities to account for the needs of:
- young people,
- women,
- people on low incomes, and
- people with disabilities
Applications from individuals from under represented areas and with appropriate experience are welcome.
Secretarial support is provided by Cornwall Council through electronic communications to Members. Members would find it useful to have access to email and the internet, although this is not a requirement.
Resources
Cornwall Countryside Access Strategy
Environmental Guidance for Local Councils
Neighbourhood Planning in a Climate Emergency
Carbon Neutral Cornwall Ideas Bank
Cornwall Council, Carbon Neutral
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Read the Carbon Neutral Cornwall Call to Action
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