(This note is not part of the Order)
Section 18 of the Agriculture Act 1986 (“the 1986 Act”) gives the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (“the Minister”) the power to designate an area in England as an environmentally sensitive area where it appears to him particularly desirable to conserve, protect or enhance environmental features in that area by the maintenance or adoption of particular agricultural methods.
This Order, which is made pursuant to Council Regulation (EEC) No. 2078/92 (OJ No. L215, 30.7.92, p. 85, as last amended by Commission Regulation (EC) No. 2772/95 (OJ No. L288, 1.12.95, p. 35)) and implements in part a zonal programme approved thereunder, designates an area in the Broads as an environmentally sensitive area (article 3). The previous designation of an environmentally sensitive area in the Broads is, in so far as it is made under section 18 of the 1986 Act, revoked, with saving provisions (article 6 and Schedule 10). The provisions of the previous designation Order so revoked are all those which do not derive from S.I. 1996/3104; those which derive from S.I. 1996/3104 are revoked, with a saving, by the Environmentally Sensitive Areas (England) Designation Orders (Revocation of Specified Provisions) Regulations 1997. The newly designated area is defined by reference to maps which are available for inspection during normal office hours at the offices of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food at Nobel House, 17 Smith Square, London SW1P 3JR.
Section 18(3) of the 1986 Act enables the Minister to enter into a management agreement with any person having an interest in agricultural land in a designated area if the Minister considers that conservation of environmental features in that area may thereby be facilitated. The Order specifies requirements as to agricultural practices, methods and operations and the installation or use of equipment which must be included in such an agreement (article 4(1) and Schedule 1), and provisions in relation to additional matters which may be included (article 4(2) and Schedules 2 to 8). The rates of payment which may be made under an agreement in respect of those requirements are set out (article 5 and Schedule 9).
Management agreements covered by this Order are also subject to Commission Regulation (EC) No. 746/96 (OJ No. L102, 25.4.96, p. 19) laying down detailed rules for the application of the Council Regulation 2078/92, which Commission Regulation has been amended by Commission Regulation (EC) No. 435/97 (OJ No. L67, 7.3.97, p. 2).
No compliance cost assessment has been prepared in relation to this Order.