MOVES are afoot to give Northumberland’s common land graziers a new and stronger voice.

Following the success of a commons council in Cumbria, the plan now is to extend its remit into the county next door.

Charles Raine, of Hexham-based estate agents Youngs RPS, is already a member of the Federation of Cumbria Commoners, representing Northumberland’s commoners. “Common land is an integral part of the hill farming economy, landscape and agricultural industry in the North,” he said.

“Currently commoners collaboratively manage agricultural activity on common land. This includes livestock husbandry tasks, gathering of animals and disease control, and delivering agri-environment schemes.

“They work together through local commoners’ associations – voluntary bodies, with a constitution and appointed officers.

“For the most part they work well, but when things go wrong they have no real powers of enforcement to ensure compliance.”

The 2006 Commons Act recognised the need for stronger governance on commons and made provision for establishing statutory commons councils.

They are recognised by law, and can impose legally binding rules to assist those with an interest in the management of common land.

The council members – among them farmers, landowners and other legally recognised stakeholders – are elected by the commoners themselves.

Defra helped establish the Federation of Cumbria Commoners, giving it a working shape that would ensure it was both a useful and effective body. The original concept was developed in 2013, but the Brexit result has given the movement extra impetus.

Charles said: “The development of these councils is firmly back on the agenda, and not just in Cumbria.

“We are now working with the FCC to see if we can establish a council that covers commons in Northumberland, as well as Cumbria. We believe a commons council is now more necessary than ever if commoning is to remain viable in the post-Brexit world.”

Farmers needed to have a say in the design of any new agricultural policy and systems of payment, he said, and a commons council would ensure their voices were heard.