| 1.
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Introduction
The Local Access Forum for Essex (The Forum) has been established
under and in accordance with the Countryside and Rights of Way Act
2000. It is a statutory advisory Forum with the primary purpose
of providing strategic advice to the County Council as Appointing
Authority and other relevant bodies on how to make the countryside
more accessible and enjoyable for open-air recreation, in ways that
address social, economic and environmental interests, issues of
particular local relevance and as to such other matters as may be
prescribed. |
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| 2.
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General
Terms |
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| 2.1
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- In
carrying out its functions The Forum shall have regard to:
the needs of land management
- the
desirability of conserving the natural beauty of the area for
which it is established, including the flora, fauna and geological
and physiographical features of the area and
- the
guidance given from time to time by the Secretary of State
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| 2.2
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The
membership of the Forum must be balanced between different interests
in the countryside so that it can provide well-argued unbiased advice
and guidance. |
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| 2.3
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The
Forum does not have decision making powers, nor is it a statutory
body for consultation on matters such as public path orders for
which separate statutory procedures already exist. |
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| 2.4
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The
Highway Authority must consult the Forum prior to making byelaws
relating to access land, appointing wardens for access land and
when developing the rights of way improvement plan. |
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| 3.
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The
Purpose of the Forum (or the Key Objective and aims of the Forum) |
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The
key objective of the Forum is to provide guidance and contribute
towards improving opportunities to enjoy the Essex countryside and
to improve it's management.In order to achieve this objective the
Forum aims to:
- Respond
to the Draft and Provisional Maps of Open Access Land for Essex
and to perform a statutory duty to advise on the improvement
of public access to land in the area for the purposes of open-air
recreation and the enjoyment of the area, as described in the
Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000.
- Contribute
in an advisory capacity to the development of the Rights of
Way Improvement Plan(s) for Essex.
- Promote
the appropriate use of opportunities to enjoy the countryside,
and to foster better understanding of the varying needs of the
different types of users.
- Advise
upon the appropriate management and maintenance of access, balancing
the provision of access against the needs of biodiversity, wildlife
management and of land - owners and managers
- Advise
on developing additional opportunities for everyone to enjoy
the rights of way and access network, in particular for those
with disabilities
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