The current Official
Verderer is about to finish his term of office after 6 years and we are looking
for a suitable replacement. The Verderers of the New Forest oversee commoning
and regulate development on the Open Forest, with a statutory obligation to
protect the grazing, landscape, fauna and flora, and the Official Verderer is
responsible for leading their work. The Official Verderer is the Chairman of
the Court and is appointed by the King.
Applicants for this unpaid
position will have a track record of successful leadership backed up by
knowledge of the countryside and the New Forest in particular. You'll be
familiar with the practice of common rights and ideally have some experience of
environmental and recreation issues. Excellent representational, communication
and organisational skills, including experience of chairing public meetings are
essential.
For more information on the work of the
Verderers, please visit: http://www.verderers.org.uk
Background
The Verderers of the New
Forest are a statutory organisation, constituted by the New Forest Act 1877
The New Forest Act 1949
determines the composition of the Court of Verderers, which is five members
elected from the commoning community; four members appointed by other statutory
organisations (currently Defra, Forestry Commission, Natural England and New
Forest National Park Authority), and the Official Verderer, who chairs the
Court.
The role and responsibilities of the Verderers
The Verderers
responsibilities extend to the commonable lands of the New Forest - that is
land which is either now or will be at some time in the future, subject to
common rights. Within that area the Verderers main task is to ensure that the
owners of the animals turned out on the forest exercise their rights in a
responsible and proper manner, and in keeping with the highest standards of
animal welfare.
In addition to
administration of Common rights, the Verderers have powers to determine certain
activities that may take place on the commonable lands. Typically these
activities will include requests from the Forestry Commission which involve
interference with the common grazing, for example, utility connections to
private households, major works on the Open Forest or certain recreation
activities.
The Verderers employ five
Agisters who assist in the day to day management of the Commoners' stock. They
also employ a Clerk and Assistant Clerk to administer the Verderers business.
Since March 2010, the
Verderers have formed a partnership with the New Forest National Park Authority
and the Forestry Commission to manage a Higher Level Stewardship Scheme for the
unenclosed Crown Lands of the New Forest.
How the Verderers work
The Verderers Court meets
in public at the Verderers Hall in Lyndhurst and subsequently in Committee, to
which the public are not admitted. Meetings currently start at 9.30am on the
third Wednesday of each month except August.
Training
The current Official Verderer has indicated his
willingness to pass on his knowledge. In addition we hope to complete the
appointment in sufficient time to allow the incoming Official Verderer to
shadow the meeting of the Verderers Court.