Agenda, decisions and minutes

Members of the Council will declare any interests they may have in any item to be considered at this meeting, prior to any discussion taking place on that item.

The other registrable interests of Councillors of Devon County Council, arising from membership of City, Town or Parish Councils and other Local Authorities will automatically be recorded in the minutes: A list of county councillors who are also district, borough, city, parish or town councillors.

The Chair reminded Members they should declare any interests they may have in any item to be considered, prior to any discussion taking place on that item. A list of county councillors who are also district, borough, city, parish or town councillors.

Minutes of the meetings held on 13 May, 12 June and 8 August 2024 (previously circulated).

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 13 May be signed as a correct record and that the signing of the minutes for the 12 June and 8 August 2024 be deferred to the next meeting.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 13 May be signed as a correct record and that the signing of the minutes for the 12 June and 8 August 2024 be deferred to the next meeting.

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 Director of Finance and Public Value (DFP/24/84) on the County Farms Estate Revenue Monitoring Statement (Month 4) 2024/25, attached.

The Committee received the Report of the Director of Finance and Public Value (DFP/24/84) on the County Farms Estate Revenue Monitoring (Month 4) 2024/25, noting the target surplus of £534,000 for 2024/25 and detailing income and expenditure to date.

Report of the Director of Finance and Public Value (DFP/24/85) on the County Farms Estate Capital Monitoring (Month 4) 2024/25, attached.

The Committee received the Report of the Director of Finance & Public Value (DFP/24/85) on the County Farms Estate Capital Monitoring (Month 4) 2024/25, noting that the approved capital programme for 2024/25 included schemes totalling £900,000.

An underspend of £199,068 in 2023/24 together with an available £39,426 to carry out improvements to increase the capital value of acquired land amounted to a balance of capital available to spend in 2024/25 of £1,138,494.

Report of the Director of Transformation and Business Services (TBS/24/8) on Management and Restructuring issues, attached.

(a)  Land at Knowstone

RESOLVED that:

          (i)    the tenant’s proposed early surrender of his tenancy of the land at Knowstone be accepted; and

          (ii)   the 17.82 acres or thereabouts of land at Knowstone be amalgamated with the tenancy of East Catkill Farm, Rose Ash, subject to terms being agreed.

(b)  Higher Fingle Farm, Drewsteignton

RESOLVED that:

          (i)    the tenant of Higher Fingle Farm, Drewteignton be allowed to occupy the holding for a further fixed and final 12 month term expiring 25 March 2026, subject to terms being agreed.

          (ii)   the farmhouse, buildings and 22.83 hectares (56.41 acres) or thereabouts of land at Higher Fingle Farm, Drewsteignton be advertised to let on the open market as a new entrant opportunity and on a Farm Business Tenancy for a term of seven years commencing 25 March 2026 and terminating 25 March 2033, subject to terms being agreed.

(c)     Land at Moorhouse Farm, and Mixing Barn Farm, Bovey Tracey

RESOLVED that:

     (i)    the tenant of Moorhouse Farm be invited to surrender NG part 7257 from his Farm Business Tenancy at 29 September 2024;

     (ii)   the tenant of Mixing Barn Farm be invited to surrender NG part 3916 from his Farm Business Tenancy at 29 September 2024; and

     (iii)  NG part 9109, part 0497 and part 7257 at Moorhouse Farm, and NG part 3916 at Mixing Barn Farm be appropriated from the County Farms Estate to the County Council’s Highways Department for a term of 31 years from 29 September 2024 for the exclusive use of delivering statutory Biodiversity Net Gain requirements associated with the A382 road scheme improvements.

The Committee considered the report of the Director of Transformation and Business Support (TS/24/8) on the County Farms Estate Management and Restructuring Issues.

(a)  Land at Knowstone

It was MOVED by Councillor Gent SECONDED by Councillor Whitton and

RESOLVED that:

        (i)   the tenant’s proposed early surrender of his tenancy of the land at Knowstone be accepted; and

        (ii)  the 17.82 acres or thereabouts of land at Knowstone be amalgamated with the tenancy of East Catkill Farm, Rose Ash, subject to terms being agreed.

(b)  Higher Fingle Farm, Drewsteignton

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

RESOLVED that:

        (i)   the tenant of Higher Fingle Farm, Drewteignton be allowed to occupy the holding for a further fixed and final 12 month term expiring 25 March 2026, subject to terms being agreed.

        (ii)  the farmhouse, buildings and 22.83 hectares (56.41 acres) or thereabouts of land at Higher Fingle Farm, Drewsteignton be advertised to let on the open market as a new entrant opportunity and on a Farm Business Tenancy for a term of seven years commencing 25 March 2026 and terminating 25 March 2033, subject to terms being agreed.

(c)    Land at Moorhouse Farm, and Mixing Barn Farm, Bovey Tracey

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

RESOLVED that:

    (i)   the tenant of Moorhouse Farm be invited to surrender NG part 7257 from his Farm Business Tenancy at 29 September 2024;

    (ii)   the tenant of Mixing Barn Farm be invited to surrender NG part 3916 from his Farm Business Tenancy at 29 September 2024; and

    (iii)  NG part 9109, part 0497 and part 7257 at Moorhouse Farm, and NG part 3916 at Mixing Barn Farm be appropriated from the County Farms Estate to the County Council’s Highways Department for a term of 31 years from 29 September 2024 for the exclusive use of delivering statutory Biodiversity Net Gain requirements associated with the A382 road scheme improvements.