Regional Advisory Committee

 

Regional Advisory Committees (RACs) are appointed by the Forestry Commissioners under the Forestry Act 1967. Their main function is to:

• advise the Commission on the implementation at regional level of national forest strategies and associated policies, together with any expressions of these in regional forestry frameworks;

• advise on a small number of specific topics and issues which Commissioners will select, focusing on regional issues or implications;

• conciliate in all disputed applications for grant aid, felling licences or approval of plans of operations under a closed grant scheme where there is a sustained objection by a statutory body; and advise the Commission on other applications when asked to do so by the Conservator; and

• inform the Commission of matters of regional or local concern on which the RAC considers it necessary to comment.

There are 9 RACs in England, which advise us on a range of issues, including the implementation of policy in the regions.  In recent years the RACs have played a particularly important role in advising the Commission on the preparation of Regional Forestry Frameworks which provide the primary policy drivers for the Commission’s work in each region.  The Frameworks were prepared through an inclusive, Government led, regional process which the Forestry Commission frequently facilitated.  The Commission is not the ‘owner’ of the Frameworks but has a major role to play in their delivery. 

RACs now have a crucial role to play in advising the Forestry Commission on its delivery priorities as part of the Framework action plan process, as well as acting as high profile leaders to encourage the wider Framework partnerships to ensure delivery of regional priorities. In this work RACs will increasingly forge links with Regional Assemblies and Development Agencies, thereby broadening their influence.

Although the RACs are primarily focussed on regional matters, through their Chairs they collectively also advise the Commission on issues that are of national or cross-cutting significance.

The members of the North West England Committee (1 December 2006 to 30th November 2009) are;

• Eunice Simmons (chair)
• Martin D Clark
• Martin Harker
• Francis Hesketh
• Richard Denyer
• Elizabeth Newton
• Peter Bullard
• David Hunter
• Ray Kessler

They represent a range of interests and geographical areas within the region