Agriculture Act 1967

45 Rural Development Boards.

(1) With a view to applying the provisions of this Part of this Act for meeting the special problems of the development as rural areas of hills and uplands, and the special needs of such areas, the appropriate Minister may, in accordance with this Part of this Act, establish a Board, to be known as a Rural Development Board, for any area appearing to be one where those problems or needs exist.

(2) Those special problems and needs include the special difficulties in the formation of commercial units of agricultural land in such areas, the need for an overall programme for guidance in making decisions as to the use of land in such areas for agriculture and forestry, so that those two uses are complementary, the need for improved public services in such areas in step with their development for agricultural and forestry purposes, and the need for preserving and taking full advantage of the amenities and scenery in those areas in the course of their development for those purposes.

(3) The overall programme referred to in the preceding subsection is one having regard, among other things, to the special economic considerations and the long-term nature of forestry.

(4) The amenities to which consideration is to be given under subsection (2) above shall include any feature of scientific or historic interest in those areas, and in particular, but without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing, their flora and fauna and physiographical features, and any buildings of special interest.

(5) Schedule 5 to this Act shall have effect as respects the procedure for establishing a Rural Development Board, and its constitution.

(6) On the establishment of a Rural Development Board a notice referring to the provisions of this Part of this Act controlling sales of land and controlling afforestation shall be registered in the register of local land charges by the proper officer of every local authority (not being a county council) in the area of which any part of the Board's area lies, and shall be so registered in the prescribed manner.

(7) In relation to any land in the area of the Board the provisions of section 15(1) of the [1925 c. 22.] Land Charges Act 1925 (which make an unregistered charge void in certain circumstances) shall apply as if the said provisions of this Part of this Act were a charge required to be registered under that subsection, and the other provisions of that Act, including in particular section 17(3) (which relates to the conclusive effect of a certificate of search) shall have effect accordingly.

(8) It shall be the duty of the appropriate Minister to give to the local authority's officer the information necessary to enable him to comply with subsection (6) of this section.

(9) The provisions of subsections (6), (7) and (8) of this section shall not apply to Scotland, and on the establishment of a Rural Development Board in Scotland, the Secretary of State shall cause a notice referring to the provisions of this Part of this Act controlling sales of land and controlling afforestation to be lodged at the principal office of the county council of every county in the area of which any part of the Board's area lies, and the notice shall be available for inspection free of charge at all reasonable hours.

(10) In the foregoing provisions of this section and the said Schedule 5 " the appropriate Minister " means, in relation to Wales, the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and the Secretary of State for Wales acting jointly.

(11) The appropriate Minister shall to such extent as may be approved by the Treasury pay out of money provided by Parliament any expenditure incurred, or to be incurred, by a Board in the performance of their functions.