Agenda and minutes

Minutes of the meeting held on 22 June 2017, attached.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 22 June 2017 be signed as a correct record.

Items which in the opinion of the Chairman should be considered at the meeting as matters of urgency.

There was no matter raised as a matter of urgency.

Report of the County Treasurer (CT/17/78) on the County Farms Estate Revenue Monitoring Statement (Month 5) 2017/18, attached.

The Committee received the Report of the County Treasurer (CT/17/78) on the County Farms Estate Month 5 Revenue Monitoring Statement for 2017/18, noting the target surplus of £382,000 and detailing income and expenditure to date.

Members noted the importance of early planning for the maintenance programme especially as most works were weather dependent and the Chairman requested that any concerns on the maintenance programme be raised at the next meeting.

Report of the County Treasurer (CT/17/77) on the County Farms Estate Capital Monitoring (Month 5) 2017/18, attached.

The Committee received the Report of the County Treasurer (CT/17/77) on the County Farms Estate Month 5 Capital Monitoring Statement for 2017/18, noting that the approved capital programme for 2017/18 included schemes totalling £600,000 and with scheme slippage of £1,483,554 resulted in a capital programme for 2017/18 of £2,083,554.

It was reported that surveys had been completed on the Estate’s 28 farmhouses and it was anticipated that all works would be carried out within year as forecast.

Report of the Head of Digital Transformation and Business Support (BSS/17/07) on the proposed update to the County Farms Estate Standard Form of Farm Business Tenancy Agreement, attached.

The Committee considered the Report of the Head of Digital Transformation and Business Support (BSS/17/07) on the proposed updates to the standard form of Farm Business Tenancy.

It was MOVED by Councillor Brook, SECONDED by Councillor Yabsley and

RESOLVED that the proposed updates to the standard form of Farm Business Tenancy Agreements be adopted with immediate effect save for where heads of terms had already been agreed with existing tenants for tenancy renewals that had not yet commenced.

Report of the Head of Digital Transformation and Business Support (BSS/17/08) on County Farms Estate Management and Restructuring issues, attached.

The Committee considered the Report of the Head of Digital Transformation and Business Support (BSS/17/08) on County Farms Estate Management and Restructuring issues.

It was MOVED by Councillor Brook, SECONDED by Councillor Yabsley and

RESOLVED

(a)   Ten Oaks Farm, Roborough

       (i)  that the acceptance of the tenant’s surrender of Ten Oaks Farm, Roborough, effective at 25 March 2019, be endorsed;

       (ii)  that the reletting of the farmhouse, buildings and 92.90 acres or thereabouts of land at Ten Oaks Farm, Roborough as an equipped residential starter dairy farm on the open market to new entrants and on a Farm Business Tenancy commencing 25 March 2019 and expiring 25 March 2026, subject to terms being agreed, be approved;

(b)   North Ground Farm, Milton Abbot

       (i)  that the acceptance of the tenant’s early surrender of North Ground Farm, Milton Abbot, effective at 25 March 2018, be endorsed;

       (ii)  that the reletting of the farmhouse, buildings and 113.38 acres or thereabouts of land at North Ground Farm, Milton Abbot as an equipped residential starter mixed holding on the open market to new entrants and on a Farm Business Tenancy commencing 25 March 2018 and expiring 25 March 2025, subject to terms being agreed, be approved;

(c)   Whitson Farm, Bickleigh

that the current tenant, Mr JL, continue to be offered first refusal of further consecutive 12 month Farm Business Tenancies of the 36.26 acres or thereabouts of land at Whitson Farm, Bickleigh commencing 25 March 2017, subject to terms being agreed each year, and until such times as the potential development value of the land can be realised;

(d)   Thorne Farm, Ottery St Mary

that the current tenant, Mr CP, continue to be offered first refusal of further consecutive 12 month Farm Business Tenancies of the 25.41 acres or thereabouts of land at Thorne Farm, Ottery St Mary commencing 25 March 2017, subject to terms being agreed each year and until such times as the potential development value of the land can be realised;

(e)   Land at Port Road, Dawlish

that a notice to quit be served bringing the current annual periodic tenancy to an end at 25 March 2019 and that the current tenant, Mr KP, be offered first refusal of a further 3 year Farm Business Tenancy of the 1.13 acres or thereabouts of land at Duckaller Farm, Dawlish commencing 25 March 2019, subject to terms being agreed;

(f)    Land at Glebe Farm, West Putford

that the 27.85 hectares (68.88 acres) or thereabouts of bare land at Glebe Farm, West Putford be advertised to let in internal competition between the tenants of Merrifield Farm, Holsworthy; North Hele Farm, Buckland Brewer and Lower Alminstone Farm, Woolsery on a 5 year Farm Business Tenancy commencing 25 March 2019, subject to terms being agreed;

(g)   Part Glebe Farm, Rattery

that the Parish Council’s expression of interest in acquiring or leasing part Glebe Farm, Rattery, more particularly known as part OS 2854 and Part OS 2244 be noted and that should  ...  view the full minutes text for item 13.

Recommendation: that the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business under Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraphs 1, 2 and 3 of Schedule 12A of the Act, namely information relating to, and which is likely to reveal the identity of, tenants and information relating to the financial or business affairs of tenants and the County Council and, in accordance with Section 36 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000, by virtue of the fact that the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.

RESOLVED that the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business under Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraphs 1, 2 and 3 of Schedule 12A of the Act, namely information relating to, and which was likely to reveal the identity of, tenants and information relating to the financial or business affairs of tenants and the County Council and, in accordance with Section 36 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000, by virtue of the fact that the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighed the public interest in disclosing the information.

(An item to be considered by the Committee in accordance with the Cabinet Procedure Rules and Regulation 5 of the Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements) (Meetings and Access to Information) (England) Regulations 2012, no representations having been received to such consideration taking place under Regulation 5(5) thereof.

(a) Report of the Head of Digital Transformation and Business Support (BSS/17/09) on the monitoring of Tenants on an initial Farm Business Tenancy, attached.

(b) Report of the Head of Digital Transformation and Business Support (BSS/17/10) on requests for Landlord’s consent to proposed Tenant’s improvements, attached.

(An item taken under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 during which the press and public were excluded, no representations having been received to such consideration under Regulation 5(5) of the Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements) (Meetings and Access to Information) (England) Regulations 2012.)

(a)   The Committee considered the Report of the Head of Business Strategy and Support (BSS/17/09) on the monitoring of tenants on an initial Farm Business Tenancy.

It was MOVED by Councillor Brook, SECONDED by Councillor Yabsley and

RESOLVED that the tenants of Coppa Dolla Farm, Denbury and New Gulliford Farm, Dawlish be notified of the current and satisfactory level of competency attained to date.

(b)   The Committee considered the Report of the Head of Business Strategy and Support (BSS/17/10) on request for Landlord’s consent to proposed tenant’s improvements.

It was MOVED by Councillor Brook, SECONDED by Councillor Yabsley and

RESOLVED that Landlord’s consent be granted for a 60’x30’ and 14’ to eaves galvanised steel portal framed general purpose building at Thorndon Farm, Broadwoodwidger, subject to the improvements being written down in value to £100 on a straight line basis over a life expectancy of 25 years.