Agenda, decisions and minutes

Minutes of the meetings held on 29 November, 13 December, 14 December and 15 December 2021 (previously circulated).

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meetings held on 29 November, 13 December, 14 December and 15 December 2021 be signed as correct records.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meetings held on 29 November, 13 December, 14 December and 15 December 2021 be signed as correct records.

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 (DF/22/14) on the County Farms Estate Revenue Monitoring Statement (Month 9) 2021/22, attached.

The Committee received the Report of the Director of Finance (DF/22/14) on the County Farms Estate Revenue Monitoring (Month 9) 2021/22, noting the target surplus of £464,000 and providing a summary of the annual budget and detailing income and expenditure to date.

Members’ questions and Officer discussion included:

-       clarification that the carbon footprint work was unlikely to be completed this year and therefore a budgetary provision would need to be made next year.  This would be in addition to the £70,000 additional revenue surplus target.  Members noted that additional grant funding and alternative avenues were being explored.    

-       over half of farmhouse improvements had been completed and that additional funding had been secured for the next five years to progress the programme further. 

-       concern at the additional £70,000 target revenue surplus for 2022/23 and the hope that this would be managed through additional income generation, rather than cuts to expenditure.

Report of the Director of Finance (DF/22/15) on the County Farms Estate Capital Monitoring (Month 9) 2021/22, attached.

The Committee received the Report of the Director of Finance (DF/22/15) on the County Farms Estate Capital Monitoring (Month 9) 2021/22, noting that the approved capital programme for 2021/22 was £1,215,019.

There remained minimal expenditure to report but the programmed works expected to be completed by 31 March 2022 would see the majority, if not all, of the budget spent.

It was noted that the land acquisition referred to in the Report had now completed.

Discussion followed around the delays in gaining access to the four farmhouses in the renovation programme. It was clarified that access had not been refused unreasonably and that for three out of the four schemes, design work was in hand to ensure the work was programmed to start early in the new financial year.

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.

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 Digital Transformation and Business Support (BSS/22/02) on County Farms Estate Management and Restructuring Issues, 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)

RESOLVED that the Committee carry out a fact-finding visit to meet the tenant of Duckaller Farm, Dawlish before formally considering the tenant’s proposals at a future Committee meeting. 

(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 Digital Transformation and Business Support (BSS/22/02) on management and restructuring issues.

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

RESOLVED that the Committee carry out a fact-finding visit to meet the tenant of Duckaller Farm, Dawlish before formally considering the tenant’s proposals at a future Committee meeting.