Agenda and minutes

Minutes of the meetings held on 15 September 2016 and 9 November 2016 (previously circulated).

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meetings held on 15 September 2016 and 9 November 2016 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.

Report of the County Treasurer (CT/16/107) on the County Farms Estate Revenue Budget monitoring statement 2016/17 (Month 7), attached.

The Committee received the Report of the County Treasurer (CT/16/107) on the County Farms Estate Month 7 Revenue Monitoring Statement 2016/17, noting the target surplus of £362,000 and detailing income and expenditure to date.

Report of the County Treasurer (CT/16/108) on the County Farms Estate Capital Monitoring 2016/17 (Month 7), attached.

The Committee received the Report of the County Treasurer (CT/16/108) on the County Farms Estate Month 7 Capital Monitoring Statement 2016/17, noting that:

·         the approved Capital Programme for 2016/17 included schemes totalling £1,671,000, which included £271,000 and £900,000 respectively for existing and additional Nitrate Vulnerable Zone compliance schemes, with the remaining £500,000 relating to additional scheme priorities for Decent Homes standards, Energy Act and other associated infrastructure projects;

·         scheme slippage of £771,000 together with land acquisition costs of £150,000 resulted in a capital programme of £2,592,000 for 2016/17;

·         expenditure and commitments to date was £1,099,000 with a forecast year-end spend of £1,704,000.

Report of the Head of Business Strategy and Support (BSS/16/18) on the County Farms Estate Management and Restructuring Issues, attached.

(Mr Latham (Tenants Representative) declared a personal interest in this matter in relation to (b) below).

The Committee considered the Report of the Head of Business Strategy and Support (BSS/16/18) on the County Farms Estate management and restructuring issues.

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

RESOLVED

(a)  Part Lower Parks Farm, Crediton

that 1.78 acres or thereabouts of land comprising part OS 1600 at Lower Parks Farm, Crediton be declared permanently surplus to the operational requirements of the Estate and sold on the open market;

(b)  Part Middle Winsham, Braunton

(i) that Minutes *FE/100(a) (i) and (ii)/19 February 2016 be rescinded;

(ii) that, subject to the tenant of the 46.02 acres of land forming part Middle Winsham Farm, Braunton surrendering his tenancy of the holding at 25 March 2017, consideration of amalgamating the 77.30 acres and the 46.02 acres or thereabouts of bare land forming part Middle Winsham Farm with the principal holding (Middle Winsham), subject to terms being agreed, be deferred pending the submission by the tenant of Middle Winsham Farm of a business plan (supported by cashflows and budgets) for the land involved and the tenant being interviewed by the Committee at its next meeting on 22 February 2017.

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.)

Report of the Head of Business Strategy and Support (BSS/16/19) on monitoring of tenants on an initial Farm Business Tenancy, attached GOLD paper.

(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.)

The Committee considered the Report of the Head of Business Strategy and Support (BSS/16/19) on the monitoring of tenants on an initial Farm Business Tenancy.

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

RESOLVED that the tenant of Thorndon Farm be notified of the current and satisfactory level of competency attained to date.