The Forest Keepers sit within accountability arrangements that ultimately feed into the Court of Common Council of the City of London Corporation. The responsibility for the Forest is vested in the Epping Forest and Commons Committee comprising twelve City members and four Verderers. The Verderers are elected every seven years by the Forest’s Commoners. The policies and directives of the Committee are carried out by the Superintendent of Epping Forest. The Epping Forest Committee is a statutory committee that is constituted under Section 31 of the Epping Forest Act 1878.