Agenda and minutes

Minutes of the meeting held on 11 December 2017 (previously circulated).

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 11 December 2018 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 item raised as a matter of urgency.

Verbal report of the Head of Digital Transformation and Business Support on the change of the Estate Tenants’ representative on the Committee.

The Chair welcomed Mrs L Warner to the Committee as the new Tenants’ representative in place of Mr C Latham.  The Chair also extended her thanks to Mr Latham for his involvement and contribution to the Committee.

Report of the County Treasurer (CT/18/14) on the County Farms Estate Revenue Monitoring Statement (Month 9) 2017/18, attached.

The Committee received the Report of the County Treasurer (CT/18/14) on the County Farms Estate Month 9 Revenue Monitoring Statement for 2017/18, noting the target surplus of £382,000 and detailing income and expenditure to date. 

Members raised concern at the limited amount of actual expenditure at month 9 and asked if the planned expenditure would actually be delivered by year end. The Director of Estate and Asset Management at NPS explained that he was being assured that although not an ideal position to be in, the substantial programme of maintenance work committed and being committed would be spent by year end and thus the target surplus of £382,000 was deliverable.

The Property Maintenance and Compliance Manager for the County Council stated that the County Farms Estate were in a similar position to the Corporate Estate in that, whilst it would be preferable to spread the programme of work over the full year, avoiding the peak times for contractors to be working on other larger Council maintenance programmes of work, could generate better value for money for the Corporate and Farms Estates.

The Director of Estates and Asset Management at NPS added that some of the 2018/19 programmed maintenance works, such as the external decorations programme, had already been commissioned so that the works could be specified and tendered in advance of the peak summer school holiday season when the majority of Council contractors would be working on other Council work programmes.

Report of the County Treasurer (CT/18/13) on the County Farms Estate Capital Monitoring (Month 9) 2017/18, attached.

The Committee received the Report of the County Treasurer (CT/18/13) on the County Farms Estate Month 9 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.

The budgeted programme for Enhancements and Improvements stood at £1,050,209 and was forecast to come in at £585,629, resulting in £374,258 slippage and £90,322 costs savings.

The Committee were happy to note the cost savings of £90,322, but raised concern at the amount of slippage, which the Director of Estate and Asset Management at NPS explained was because of the works to be carried out being dependent upon suitable timing (as mentioned above) and weather conditions.

Report of the Head of Digital Transformation and Business Support (BSS/18/01) on County Farms Estate Management and Restructuring Issues, attached.

The Committee received the Report of the Head of Digital Transformation and Business Support (BSS/18/01) on County Farms Estate Management and Restructuring issues.

(a)   Churchlands Farm, Ermington

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

RESOLVED that the reletting of the farmhouse, buildings and 37.19 acres or thereabouts of land at Churchlands Farm, Ermington as an equipped residential mixed livestock holding on the open market to new entrants on a Farm Business Tenancy commencing 25 March 2019 and expiring 25 March 2026, be approved, subject to terms being agreed.

(b)   The Rose Ash and Knowestone Estate

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

RESOLVED

(i)    that the acceptance of the tenant’s early surrender of East Catkill Farm, Rose Ash effective at 29 September 2018 be endorsed; and

(ii)   that the reletting of the house, buildings and 188.08 acres or thereabouts of land at East Catkill Farm, Rose Ash as an equipped residential dairy holding on the open market to new entrants and on a Farm Business Tenancy commencing 29 September 2018 and expiring 25 March 2026, be approved, subject to terms being agreed.

(c)   The High Bickington Estate

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

RESOLVED that advertising locally the 0.27 acres of land to let on a series of fixed term licences until further notice, be approved, subject to terms being agreed.