Broads Authority


The Broads Authority is the agency which has statutory responsibility for the Broads in England. Originally, the Nature Conservancy Council, pressed for a special authority to manage the Broads which had been neglected for a long time. In 1978, the forerunner to the present-day Broads Authority was established by the Countryside Commission. Ten years later, it had become clear that a statutory body was needed, and a special Act of Parliament, The Norfolk and Suffolk Broads Act 1988 made the Broads Authority into a special statutory authority which gave it parity yet establishing key differences with national park authorities.

Responsibilities

The Broads Authority has to:
In 2006 the Broads Authority promoted a second act, the primary purpose of which was to introduce greater safety controls on the broads and rivers. The Broads Authority Act 2009 received Royal Assent in July 2009.

Members

The Broads Authority is not democratically elected. Members are either co-opted from local authorities or appointed by the Secretary of State for the Environment. The Broads Authority was formerly represented by one member on the East of England Regional Assembly, now defunct.