The Regional Advisory Committees (RACs) are appointed by the Forestry Commissioners under the Forestry Act 1967. The main function (Remit) of the England RACs is to:
- 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;
- 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; and
- inform the Commission of matters of regional or local concern on which the RAC considers it necessary to comment.
In some cases, this advice will be offered directly to the relevant National Committee, however, in many cases, the appropriate recipient will be the relevant Conservator.
The Commissioners would normally seek the RACs views on proposed changes to the RACs structure, composition or remit, or to Commission's grant schemes and felling licence procedures and the associated consultation arrangements.