Clause 30
Commons Bill [Lords]
12:00 pm
Roger Williams (Shadow Minister (Rural Affairs), Environment, Food & Rural Affairs; Brecon and Radnorshire, Liberal Democrat)
I thank the hon. Gentleman for reminding me how the association would be constituted. Again, those people who actively manage the common should have a majority on the association, and I know that hon. Members will also be considering ways in which people can be elected. For generations, people have contributed to producing commons that are in good heart and under sound management. I hope that the amendment will give confidence to such people so that they can continue that work and so that their vision will drive it forward in the future.
I hope that amendment No. 73 will appeal to the hon. Member for Sherwood, as it would require that meetings of commons associations should be held in public. They might want to transact some business such as financial matters, particularly financial matters involving members of the association, in closed session, but, if the amendment were accepted, the general presumption would be that the meetings would be held in public, which is best practice for public bodies transacting their business.