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Agenda and minutes

Venue: Committee Suite - County Hall

Contact: Wendy Simpson, 01392 384383  Email: wendy.simpson@devon.gov.uk

Items
Note No. Item

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66.

Minutes

Minutes of the meetings held on 3 September 2018, 19 November 2018 and 20 November 2018 (previously circulated).

Minutes:

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meetings held on 3 September 2018, 19 November 2018 and 20 November 2018 be signed as correct records.

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67.

Items Requiring Urgent Attention

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

Minutes:

There was no item raised as a matter of urgency.

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68.

Revenue Monitoring (Month 7) 2018/19 pdf icon PDF 74 KB

Report of the County Treasurer (CT/18/100) on the County Farms Estate Revenue Monitoring Statement (Month 7) 2018/19, attached.

Minutes:

The Committee received the Report of the County Treasurer (CT/18/100) on the County Farms Estate Revenue Monitoring (Month 7) 2018/19, noting the target surplus of £414,000 and providing a summary of the annual budget and detailing income and expenditure to date.

 

The County Treasurer clarified that at paragraph 1.3 of the Report it should read that ‘£526,000 of the predicted £1,102,000 income has been invoiced of which £390,000 was collected...’. 

 

It was highlighted that advertising costs would be higher by year end due to the larger than normal volume of farms being advertised to let, however, such costs would be partly mitigated by the use of social media.

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69.

Capital Monitoring (Month 7) 2018/19 pdf icon PDF 62 KB

Report of the County Treasurer (CT/18/101) on the County Farms Estate Capital Monitoring (Month 7) 2018/19, attached.

Minutes:

The Committee received the Report of the County Treasurer (CT/18/101) on the County Farms Estate Month 7 Capital Monitoring Statement for 2018/19, noting that the approved capital programme for 2018/19 included schemes totalling £600,.000 and with scheme slippage of £1,068,360 and the unallocated savings of £236,595 resulted in a capital programme for 2018/19 of £1,904,955.

 

It was noted that save for £484,876 of Nitrate Vulnerable Zone budget slippage the budget was forecast to be spent by year end.

 

 

 

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70.

Management and Restructuring Issues pdf icon PDF 106 KB

Report of the Head of Digital Transformation and Business Support (BSS/18/12) on County Farms Estate Management and Restructuring issues, attached.

Minutes:

The Committee considered the Report of the Head of Digital Transformation and Business Support (BSS/18/12) on County Farms Estate Management and Restructuring issues. 

 

The Report at paragraph 1.0 referred in the heading to Part East Week Farm II, South Tawton whereas it should have referred to Part East Week Farm I, South Tawton.

 

The Committee requested that details be included in the County Farms Estate Annual Report 2018/19 of the letting of land to Airband Community Internet Ltd at less than market value (the Council was a stakeholder in the Connecting Devon and Somerset Broadband Programme) as referred to in (d) and (e) below. 

 

The Committee wished to put on record that, in making the resolutions at (f) and (g) below, the Estate was providing valuable land enabling a vital educational infrastructure improvement, without the need for site purchase, and delivering substantial capital receipts.  At the same time however, the overall size of the Estate was being further reduced and Members felt that some of the capital receipts generated should be reinvested in replacement land or farms to ensure the long-term viability of the Estate.

 

(a)        Part East Week Farm I, South Tawton

 

It was MOVED by Councillor Brook SECONDED by Councillor Berry and

 

RESOLVED that the 11.83 acres or thereabouts of land at part East Week Farm II, South Tawton and more particularly known as OS 8375, 8300 and 9300 be advertised to let in internal competition between the tenants of Lower East Week Farm, South Tawton; Smithscross Farm, Drewsteignton; Higher Fingle Farm, Drewsteignton; and East Fingle Farm, Drewsteignton on a three-year Farm Business Tenancy commencing 25 March 2020 and expiring 25 March 2023, subject to terms being agreed.

 

(b)        Part Greenhills Farm, West Anstey

 

It was MOVED by Councillor Yabsley, SECONDED by Councillor Dewhirst,

 

RESOLVED that the current tenant be offered a further short-term Farm Business Tenancy Agreement of the 19.87 acres or thereabouts of land forming part Greenhills Farm, West Anstey and more particularly described as OS 2327, 3226, 4623 and 3009 for a term commencing 25 March 2020 and expiring 25 March 2023, subject to terms being agreed.

 

(c)        Southacott Farm, Mariansleigh

 

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

 

RESOLVED

 

(i)     that vacant possession of Southacott Farm, Mariansleigh be secured on 25 March 2020; and

 

(ii)    that the reletting of the farmhouse, buildings and 216.67 acres or thereabouts of land at Southacott Farm, Mariansleigh as an equipped residential progression dairy farm in internal competion between existing tenants of the Estate and on a Farm Business Tenancy commencing 25 March 2020 and expiring 25 March 2035, subject to terms being agreed, be endorsed.

 

(d)        Higher Bradaford Farm, Virginstow

 

It was MOVED by Councillor Brook, SECONDED by Councillor Dewhirst,

 

RESOLVED

 

       (i)     that vacant possession of Higher Bradaford Farm, Virginstow be secured on 25 March 2020;

 

       (ii)    that the reletting of the farmhouse, buildings and 137.04 acres or thereabouts of land at Higher Bradaford Farm, Virginstow as an equipped residential  ...  view the full minutes text for item 70.

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71.

The Agriculture Bill and Policy Statement pdf icon PDF 98 KB

Report of the Head of Digital Transformation and Business Support (BSS/18/13) on the Agriculture Bill and Policy Statement, attached.

Minutes:

The Committee noted the Report of the Head of Digital Transformation and Business Support (BSS/18/13) on the Agriculture Bill and Policy Statement, which clearly recognised and valued the importance of encouraging and supporting new entrants into the farming sector. 

 

Members welcomed the help proposed by DEFRA in the Policy Statement for Local Authorities who wanted to invest in their Council Farms.

 

 

 

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72.

DEFRA Clean Air Strategy 2018 pdf icon PDF 84 KB

Report of the Head of Digital Transformation and Business Support (BSS/18/11) on DEFRA’s Clean Air Strategy 2018, attached.

Minutes:

The Committee noted the Report of the Head of Digital Transformation and Business Support (BSS/18/11) on the DEFRA Clean Air Strategy 2018.

 

The draft Clean Air Strategy outlined ambitions relating to reducing air pollution, making air healthier to breathe, protecting nature and boosting the economy, and set out a clear direction for future air quality policies and goals.

 

DEFRA consulted on the policy earlier this year and feedback therefrom would help inform the final UK Clean Air Strategy and detailed National Air Pollution Control Programme to be published by March 2019. 

 

Members requested that the land agents ensure tenants are signposted to the specific guidance, advice, training and funding referred to in paragraphs 2.6 and 2.7 of the Report.

 

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73.

Exclusion of the Press and Public

Minutes:

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

 

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.

 

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74.

Capital Monitoring and Management and Restructuring

Minutes:

(An item taken under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 during which the press and public were excluded.)

 

The Committee discussed and received updates from Officers on Procurement of Contracts; Capital Programme Scheme slippage; and end of tenancy matters relating to two of the farms considered under Minute *70 above.

 


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