Source: http://www.legislation.gov.uk/asp/2018/8/notes/division/2
Timestamp: 2020-01-21 10:54:24
Document Index: 796560915

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 4', 'art 4', 'art 4', 'art 4', 'art 4', 'art 5', 'art 6']

3.The Act confers on the Scottish Ministers forestry and land management functions. It removes functions from the Forestry Commissioners in so far as they relate to Scotland, in preparation for integration of forestry policy, support, development and regulation into the Scottish Government.
4.Specifically, the Act:
Confers on the Scottish Ministers forestry functions, including a duty to promote sustainable forest management (SFM), and a duty to prepare, publish and have regard to a forestry strategy. A duty to promote SFM in exercising any of their functions is conferred on Scottish public authorities.
Transfers to the Scottish Ministers from Forestry Commissioners tree health and silvicultural material testing functions, in so far as they apply to Scotland.
Confers on the Scottish Ministers functions in relation to management of land, including forested land; enables the Scottish Ministers to enter into arrangements with other persons to manage those persons’ land on their behalf, and/or provide advice and assistance on management of land; and provides powers for the Scottish Ministers to acquire and dispose of land, including land that is part of the National Forest Estate.
Introduces a regulatory regime for felling trees and restocking, which replaces the regime provided for by the Forestry Act 1967. Unless an exemption applies, or the Scottish Ministers require felling to be carried out via a direction or a notice, felling must be carried out in accordance with permission granted by the Scottish Ministers.
Provides powers for the Scottish Ministers to support compliance with the regulatory regime for felling and restocking including powers of entry, a step-in power (which allows the Scottish Ministers to rectify a failure to comply with the regulatory regime where they have given a person notice to rectify the failing and the person has not done so) and an ability to recover expenses associated with use of the step-in power.
Provides general powers for the Scottish Ministers to use in carrying out their functions under the Act, including the ability to conduct research and inquiries, provide education and training and collect and publish data and statistics relating to their forestry and land management functions; to provide financial assistance; to establish corporate bodies; and to impose charges for the purposes of carrying out functions under the Act. In addition there is a duty to appoint a chief forester for the purposes of advising and assisting the Scottish Ministers in the carrying out of their functions under the Act.
Sets out requirements for the Scottish Ministers in making administrative arrangements for carrying out forestry and land management functions under the Act. These include a requirement to establish a single agency or two agencies; to report to Parliament before 1 April 2019 on the administrative arrangements they intend to make; and to report to Parliament on the operation of the administrative arrangements.
The Act is part of a larger programme of work to complete devolution of forestry that includes establishing new cross-border arrangements with the UK and Welsh Governments as well as the Forestry Commissioners and Natural Resources Wales for the exercise of forestry functions currently delivered on a GB basis; and the creation – by administrative means – of new organisational structures for forestry and land management in Scotland.
Part 4 - Felling
38.Part 4 comprises 9 chapters. An overview of the Part is provided at section 21 and a list of key terms is at section 22.
Sections 25 – 33 - Felling permission
41.Chapter 3 of Part 4 makes provision for regulation of felling through felling permissions issued by the Scottish Ministers.
42.Section 25(1) and (2) provides for an owner or - with the written permission of an owner - an occupier of the land on which a tree is located to apply to the Scottish Ministers for permission to fell a tree. Section 25(3) enables the Scottish Ministers, by regulations, to make further provision about applications for felling permission. Regulations may include provision about the way in which applications are to be made and the information to be provided in applications. Section 76(1)(b) provides that regulations under section 25(3) are subject to negative procedure.
43.Section 26 creates an offence, punishable upon summary conviction by a fine of up to level 5 on the standard scale, of knowingly or recklessly providing false or misleading information in an application for felling permission.
44.Section 27 makes provision about decisions on applications. The Scottish Ministers may grant an application (with or without conditions) or refuse an application, and must have regard to their duty (under section 2) to promote SFM in making a decision. Subsections (4), (5), (6) and (7) respectively make provision about (a) the type of conditions that can be included in a felling permission, which can include conditions setting out any steps to be taken after the felling is carried out (“continuing conditions”), (b) the ability of the Scottish Ministers to require, as a continuing condition on a felling permission, information to be provided to them, (c) specify circumstances in which conditions cannot be imposed, and (d) enable conditions to be varied or revoked. Section 27(8) provides that the Scottish Ministers can, by regulations, make further provision about decisions on applications for felling permissions. Regulations may, in particular, include provision about matters set out in subsection (9). Section 76(1)(c) provides that regulations under section 27(7) are subject to negative procedure.
45.If the Scottish Ministers refuse an application they must give reasons for the refusal (section 27(3)). Under section 32(1), a person who suffers loss as a result of the Scottish Ministers’ refusal of a felling permission is entitled to compensation in accordance with provisions made in regulations by the Scottish Ministers. Section 32(2) provides that regulations may include provision about the persons entitled to compensation, the procedure for applying, information to be provided in applications, the way in which the amount of compensation is to be determined, the way in which any disputes about compensation are to be determined, and appeals about decisions relating to compensation. Section 76(1)(d) provides that regulations under section 32(1) are subject to negative procedure.
46.Section 28 creates an offence, punishable upon summary conviction by a fine of up to level 5 on the standard scale, of failure, without reasonable excuse, to comply with a continuing condition on a felling permission granted to a person.
47.Section 29 provides for the Scottish Ministers to be able to, in certain circumstances, vary a felling permission by way of a notice. Those circumstances are detailed in subsection (1) and subsection (3) sets out matters that the notice must set out or specify.
48.Section 30 provides for the Scottish Ministers to be able to, in certain circumstances, suspend a felling permission by way of a notice. Those circumstances are detailed in subsections (2) and (3) and subsection (5) sets out matters that the notice must set out or specify.
49.Section 31 provides for the Scottish Ministers to be able to, in certain circumstances, revoke a felling permission by way of a notice. Those circumstances are detailed in subsection (1) and subsection (3) sets out matters that the notice must set out and specify
50.Section 33 makes provision about the interaction between regulation of felling under the Act and tree preservation orders (TPOs) made or having effect as if made under section 160 of the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997 (which is consequentially amended by paragraph 2 of schedule 1 of the Act). Section 33(1) enables the Scottish Ministers to refer an application to fell in respect of a tree which is covered by a TPO which requires consent for felling to the planning authority that made the TPO, or to make a decision on the application themselves. If the Scottish Ministers wish to exercise the power to decide on the application themselves they must comply with the consultation requirements at subsection (2).
51.Subsection (3) provides that where an application is referred to a planning authority, the application is to be treated as an application to the planning authority for consent to fell the tree under the TPO and the provisions of the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997 apply. The offence of felling without permission is disapplied in circumstances where an application has been referred to a planning authority under section 33(1)(b), the authority has consented to the felling, and the felling has been carried out in accordance with that consent (subsection (4)).
52.Where a felling permission, a felling or restocking direction, a registered notice to comply, a remedial notice or a registered remedial notice exists in relation to a tree covered by a tree preservation order, felling carried out in accordance with it will not breach a TPO (subsections (5) and (6)).
Sections 45 to 67 - Compliance
70.Section 45 provides for the Scottish Ministers to give “Temporary Stop Notices” (TSNs) where they have reason to believe that unauthorised felling is being carried out. Subsection (3) sets out matters that a TSN must contain and subsection (4) allows for TSNs to impose conditions. Subsection (5) allows for TSNs to be varied or revoked. Subsection (6) and (7) detail how TSNs are served. Subsections (8) and (9) detail when TSNs have effect, including limiting them to a maximum of 28 days. Subsection (10) provides that a person may stop any activity specified in the TSN despite any provision in any agreement relating to the trees or the land to which the notice relates. Subsection (11) provides the Scottish Ministers with the power to enter land to which the TSN relates in order to monitor compliance and subsection (12) ensures that felling permissions or felling or restocking direction cannot be given while a TSN is in place.
71.Section 46 creates an offence, punishable upon summary conviction by a fine of up to level 5 on the standard scale, of failure, without reasonable excuse, to comply with a TSN.
72.Under section 47, a person who suffers loss as a result of a TSN served where felling was, in fact, authorised is entitled to compensation in accordance with provisions made in regulations by the Scottish Ministers. Section 47(3) provides that regulations may include provision about the procedure for applying, information to be provided in applications, the way in which the amount of compensation is to be determined, the way in which any disputes about compensation are to be determined, and appeals about decisions relating to compensation. Section 76(1)(g) provides that regulations under section 47(3) are subject to negative procedure.
73.Section 48 provides powers for the Scottish Ministers to request information about compliance with felling permission conditions, felling and restocking directions (including any associated conditions), registered notices to comply, remedial notices (including any associated conditions) or registered remedial notices for the purpose of monitoring compliance with those. The persons from whom the Scottish Ministers may request the information are set out in subsection (3).
74.Section 49 creates an offence, punishable upon summary conviction by a fine of up to level 5 on the standard scale, of knowingly or recklessly providing false or misleading information in response to a request for information under section 48.
Site visits with the consent of the owner or occupier
75.Section 50(1) enables the Scottish Ministers to enter land mentioned in subsection (2) to monitor compliance with felling permission conditions, a felling or restocking direction (including any associated conditions), a registered notice to comply, remedial notice (including any associated conditions) or a registered remedial notice. The power is only exercisable with the consent of an owner or occupier of the land mentioned in subsection (2). If consent is given, the Scottish Ministers may exercise the powers in section 62.
76.Sections 51 to 53 provide the Scottish Ministers with powers of entry to land for the purposes of—
determining whether unauthorised felling has taken place or is taking place;
determining whether they need to give a felling or restocking direction; or
determining whether a person has failed or is failing to comply with a condition on a felling permission, a felling or restocking direction (including any associated conditions), a registered notice to comply, a remedial notice or a registered remedial notice.
81.Section 58 makes provision for how notices or other documents are to be given to an owner or occupier of land for the purposes of Part 4 of the Act where the person’s name or address cannot be ascertained after reasonable enquiry.
85.Section 61 creates two offences, each punishable upon summary conviction by a fine of up to level 5 on the standard scale. The offences are of intentionally obstructing the Scottish Ministers in exercising their powers under sections 45, 51, 52 or 53 (powers of entry) or section 59 (step-in power).
86.Section 62 makes further provision for the purpose of the exercise by the Scottish Ministers of the powers in sections 45, 50, 51, 52, 53 and 59. As set out in subsection (2) of that section, this includes powers for the Scottish Ministers to take onto the land other persons, materials and equipment as may be reasonably be required; to take samples; to mark things for identification purposes; to require access to, inspect or take copies of information (including information kept in a computer) and to gather evidence. However, these powers may be exercised only at a reasonable time and do not authorise entry to a dwelling (subsections (3) and (4)). Moreover, a person exercising the power must on request produce written evidence of that person’s entitlement to do so (subsection (5)). If the Scottish Ministers cause damage in exercising the powers listed in subsection (1) they must take reasonable steps to remedy the damage or, if it is not possible to do so, must pay compensation (subsection (6)). If the Scottish Ministers enter unoccupied land in exercising the powers listed in subsection (1) they must leave the land as effectively secured against unauthorised entry as they found it and, if they cause loss or damage by failing to comply with that requirement, they must pay compensation (subsections (7) and (8)).
87.Subsection (9) provides that references to the Scottish Ministers in the sections listed from (a) to (g) include persons authorised (in writing) by the Scottish Ministers. This enables the Scottish Ministers to authorise persons to perform the specified functions on their behalf.
88.Section 63 makes provision enabling the Scottish Ministers to recover from the person who has failed to comply with a remedial notice (including any associated conditions) or registered remedial notice expenses in connection with the exercise of the Scottish Ministers’ section 59 step-in power. The expenses which may be recovered are set out in subsection (2), and include administrative expenses and interest.
89.Section 64 provides powers for the Scottish Ministers to apply to register a notice of liability for expenses specifying the matters set out in that section. This is for the purposes of enabling them to recover the expenses including (in accordance with section 65) from any new owner of the land to which the notice relates unless the liability was discharged prior to the acquisition of the land by the new owner (see section 66).
90.Section 65 makes provision to enable the recovery of expenses from a new owner of land, who will become severally liable for those expenses along with the former owner of the land, where a notice of liability for expenses is registered in relation to the land at least 14 days before the date on which the new owner acquired a right to the land (subsections (1) and (2)). However, subsection (3) provides that the former owner of the land does not cease to be liable for expenses and interest under section 63 by virtue only of ceasing to be the owner of the land. Moreover, subsections (4) and (5) provide the new owner with a right to recover from the previous owner any amount paid by the new owner in satisfaction of the liability for the expenses and interest due under section 63, including in the case where the new owner ceases to own the land.
91.Section 66 introduces a requirement for the Scottish Ministers to apply to register a notice of discharge of liability of expenses where liability for expenses and interest to which a registered notice of liability for expenses has been discharged. The Scottish Ministers must specify the matters in subsection (2) in the notice.
92.Section 67 makes provision about the time limit for prosecution of offences under sections 23, 26, 28, 35, 37, 39, 46, 49, 55 or 57. It states that proceedings must be commenced within three years of the commission of the offence (or in the case of a continuous contravention, after the last date on which the offence was committed) and within six months of the date on which evidence that the prosecutor believes sufficient to justify proceedings comes to the prosecutor’s knowledge. It defines the date on which proceeding shall be deemed to be commenced by reference to the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995, section 136(3).
Section 68 - Appeals
93.Section 68(1) creates a right of appeal against certain decisions by the Scottish Ministers under Part 4 as specified under that subsection. Subsection (2) provides that the Scottish Ministers, by regulations, may make further provision about appeals under subsection (1). The matters which may in particular be provided for in regulations are set out in subsection (3). Section 76(1)(i) provides that regulations under section 68(2) are subject to the negative procedure and may modify any enactment (including the Forestry and Land Management (Scotland) Act 2018) (subsection (4)).
Part 5 - General powers
94.Sections 69 to 72 provide general powers to support the Scottish Ministers in connection with carrying out their functions under the Act. Section 69 enables the Scottish Ministers to conduct research and inquiries, collect data and publish statistics or other information, provide education and training and encourage or assist other person to do these things. Section 70 enables the Scottish Ministers to form companies in connection with carrying out their functions under the Act. Section 71 enables the Scottish Ministers to provide financial assistance including grants, loans, guarantees and indemnities and attach conditions in respect of any financial assistance provided. Section 72 provides that the Scottish Ministers may impose charges as they consider appropriate. This will enable the existing charging arrangements in place for activities on the national forest estate to be carried forward when management transfers to the Scottish Ministers. Section 6(f) provides that when exercising those general powers for the purpose of or in connection with the carrying out of other functions as specified in section 6, the Scottish Ministers must have regard to the forestry strategy (as prepared under section 3).
95.Section 73 requires the Scottish Ministers to appoint an officer to be known as chief forester and to prescribe, in regulations, qualifications to be held by the person appointed.
96.Section 74 requires the Scottish Ministers to establish a single agency or two agencies when making administrative arrangements to carry out the forestry and land management functions under the Act (defined at subsection (2)).
97.Section 75 introduces a reporting requirement on the operation of the administrative arrangements made for carrying out relevant functions under the Act. Subsection (1) requires the Scottish Ministers, as soon as practicable after the end of the 5 year period, to lay before the Scottish Parliament a report on the operation of the administrative arrangements. Subsection (2) defines “relevant functions” and the “5 year period”. Subsections (3) and (4) make provision about matters that must be included in the report.
Part 6 - General and final provisions
98.Section 76 makes provision for the exercise and scope of regulation-making powers under the Act including the applicable procedures. Section 77 allows the Scottish Ministers to make ancillary provision by regulations to give full effect to the Act or any provision made under it (including a power to modify any enactment). Section 78 makes provision about interpretation. Section 79 introduces schedules 1 and 2 (which, respectively, modify and repeal the enactments to the extent specified in those schedules). (See paragraphs 33 and 51 for a further explanation of the effect of the amendments made to the enactments mentioned in schedule 1.) Section 80 makes provision to save existing forestry dedication agreements under the Forestry Act 1967 (see paragraph 35 for a further explanation as regards the scope of those agreements). Section 81 provides that the Forestry Commissioners’ functions are no longer exercisable in or as regards Scotland and, in consequence, schedule 2 repeals enactments so far as relating to the functions of the Forestry Commissioners in relation to Scotland.
99.Section 83 makes provision about Crown application and exempts the Crown (but not those in the service of the Crown) from criminal liability in relation to the Act. Section 84 makes provision about access to Crown land and has the effect that powers of entry are exercisable in relation to Crown land only with the consent of the appropriate authority. Subsection (2) lists types of Crown land and the appropriate authority in relation to each type of that land.
100.Section 85 deals with commencement of the provisions in the Act. Subsection (4) provides that Scottish Ministers must lay before the Scottish Parliament, no later than 1 April 2019, a report setting out the administrative arrangements they intend to make in carrying out the functions under the Act. Subsection (5) specifies matters that must be included in the report required by subsection (4), and subsection (6) introduces consultation and notification requirements to be fulfilled by the Scottish Ministers before making any significant changes to the arrangements set out in the report.
101.Section 86 provides that the short title of the Act is the Forestry and Land Management (Scotland) Act 2018.