Securing the commons: The UK Commons Act 2006
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John Powell POLICY SEMINAR The Future of the Commons Co-organized by IFPRI, the International Association for the Study of the Commons (IASC), and the CGIAR Research Program on Policies, Institutions, and Markets (PIM)
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Securing the commons: The UK Commons Act 2006
- 1. Securing the commons: The UK Commons Act 2006 John Powell, President International Association for the Study of Commons (IASC) International Association for the Study of Commons IFPRI Policy Seminar: The Future of the Commons International Food Policy Research Institute Washington DC 4th October, 2018
- 2. The need for new commons legislation in 2006… • Weak legislation • Inadequate ecological protection • Valued agricultural asset but… • …inability to make management rules • Insecurity of rights • Severance of rights from land
- 3. • Common land • 4% England • 7% Wales • > 8,000 commons • (80% privately owned) • Upland commons • Commercially important • Lowland commons • High landscape and recreational value • High ecological value Background context: physical
- 4. 1965-2010 Commons Commissioners Background context: Legal 1955 - 58 Royal Commission on common land 2000 CRoW Act Access rights 1965 Commons Registration Act Land and rights registers • Statute of Merton • Statute of Westminster • Manorial courts • No clear title to common rights 16th – 19th Cent. Enclosure • First Laws to protect commons • Decline of Manorial courts Earliest laws Pre-20th Century Late 19th Century 2006 Commons Act Rule making powers 1965 Act Repealed
- 5. Background context: Political • Window of opportunity o 50 years of waiting • Meeting EU obligations o Ecological targets • Legislative time available • No opposition permitted
- 6. Commons Act 2006 – Securing the future 3 Objectives: • Protect security of rights through registration • Enable effective management • Enhance environmental protection Landowner Rights holders General public Ecological value Other interests (horseriding, water, utilities, off-road vehicles; shooting) The common The central problem… Balancing rights to enable the use of state power to enforce rules
- 7. • Stakeholder support essential • Every common unique • 40 years of previous attempts • Stakeholder workshops to agree objectives • Working with lawyers • Parliamentary process A participatory process
- 8. Implementation: securing rights Registration • Obligations on local authorities: o Maintain a register of rights o Record events (create and/or vary rights of common) o Apportion/attach/ sever/transfer/ extinguish rights of common
- 9. Commons Councils • Standard constitutions • Government creates through establishment orders o Brendon Commons Council 2014 o Cumbria – a multi- commons Council Autumn 2018 Implementation: securing management powers
- 11. Resources • Registration o https://www.gov.uk/guidance/commons- registration-authorities-process-new-event- applications • Commons Councils o Standard constitutions available https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukdsi/2010/978 0111492567/contents o Brendon commons Council 2014 http://www.exmoor-nationalpark.gov.uk/living- and-working/brendon-common-council o Federation of Cumbria Commoners leading development of a multi-commons council (possible Establishment Order Autumn 2018) http://www.cumbriacommoners.org.uk/categor y/cumbria-commons-council-consultation
- 12. Solving the central problem – practical reality Commons Council Landowner Other interests Rights holders (graziers) Constitution Central Government Judicial Court Rule-breaker Commons management Power to enforce rules (Bye-laws) Balance of interests Agree rules Operational rules Constitutional rules Creates the framework