The Brendon Commons, in the Devon part of the Exmoor National Park, are to have the first-ever commons council under the Commons Act 2006. The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has decreed that the Brendon Commons Council will come into being on 1 April 2014.
The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs ran a consultation during October to gauge the level of support for such a council. The result was that 89 per cent of the 53 respondents supported the proposal for a council. The council is to be established by a parliamentary order and the Secretary of State can only make such an order if there is substantial support for it.
He was satisfied that substantial support has been shown, and the order will be laid before parliament for 21 days and will then come into force on 1 January 2014.
We welcome the new council. It will provide a new democratic management structure for these commons, enabling the commoners and others with legal interest in the commons to manage the agricultural activities and vegetation, make binding rules and negotiate and enter into agreements for the effective management of common land.
We congratulate all who were involved in achieving the Brendon Commons Council.
Link to consultation responses and government response here.
