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 meeting held on 18 November and 16 December 2024 (previously circulated).

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meetings held on 18 November and 16 December 2024 be signed as correct records.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meetings held on 18 November and 16 December 2024 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 and Public Value (DFP/24/17) on the County Farms Estate Revenue Monitoring Statement (Month 9) 2024/25, attached.

RESOLVED that a trend analysis be included in future finance reporting relating to the maintenance programme.

The Committee endorsed the Report of the Director of Finance and Public Value (DFP/25/17) on the County Farms Estate Revenue Monitoring (Month 9) 2024/25, noting the target surplus of £534,000 for 2024/25 and detailing income and expenditure to date.

Of particular note was paragraph 3.3 of the report which stated that rent arrears had increased by £97,474.37 since the last report, due to the inclusion of the Michaelmas 2024 rent that was now in arrears.

In response to Members’ concerns at the level of rent arrears, Members were reassured the rent arears were being managed but asked for reports to be presented under Part II of future meetings providing more granular detail of the arrears and how they were being managed. Further Members’ questions regarding the rent arrears were dealt with under Part II of this meeting due to reasons of confidentiality.

Members requested that future reports, even if required to be under Part II of the meeting, provide more information on the programme maintenance works and costs.

The Intension Agri-innovation pilot project on the Estate was welcomed, which supported a small number of tenants seeking assistance to maximise their farms productivity through innovative practices.

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

RESOLVED that a trend analysis be included in future finance reporting relating to the maintenance programme.

Report of the Director of Finance and Public Value (DFP/25/16) on the County Farms Estate Capital Monitoring (Month 9) 202425, attached.

The Committee endorsed the Report of the Director of Finance and Public Value (DFP/25/16) on the County Farms Estate Capital Monitoring (Month 9) 2024/25, noting that the approved capital programme for 2024/25 included schemes totalling £900,000, but when the previous year’s underspend of £199,068 is carried forward, the available budget was increased to £1,138,494.

The report forecast a total spend at year end of £806,232 creating a shortfall of £332,262 against a budget of £1,138.494, which was proposed be carried forward to the next financial year subject to formal approval.

Members asked questions around the three points below, which would be addressed under Part II of the meeting, for reasons of confidentiality:

·         the £11,596 spend on the methane harvesting feasibility project;

·         concerns around factors potentially affecting the farmhouse improvements programme; and

·         land acquisitions.

The Land Agent clarified that paragraph 2.1 of the report was in line with the Council’s 2010 Farms Estate Strategic Review.

Report of the Director of Transformation and Business Services (TB/25/2) on management and restructuring issues, attached.

Part East Fingle Farm, Drewsteignton

RESOLVED that

(i)     PartEastFingleFarm,  Drewsteigntoncomprisingthelistedfarmhouse, buildingsand  9.95acres orthereaboutsof land(moreparticularlyreferenced as NG3232,  3436,  2740,  2940,  3443,  Pt4241,  Pt 3658,  andPt4657),  be declaredpermanentlysurplusto theoperationalrequirementsoftheEstate and  soldontheopen  market  withvacantpossessionas soonas possible after25March2027.

(ii)     The remaining55.90  acres or thereaboutsof landformingEastFingleFarm to beamalgamatedandletwithHigherFingleFarmona FarmBusiness Tenancyforatermofsixyearscommencing25 March2027  andterminating 25 March2033,  subjectto termsbeingagreed.

New Gulliford Farm, Dawlish

RESOLVED that

(i)        The tenants proposed surrender of New Gulliford Farm, Dawlish on 29 September

2025 be accepted.

(ii)     That the farmhouse, buildings and 36.46  hectares (90.10 acres) or thereabouts of land at New Gulliford Farm,  Dawlish be advertised to let on the open  market  as a

new entrant opportunity and on a Farm Business Tenancy for a term of six and a half years commencing 29 September 2025 and terminating 25 March 2032,  subject to  ...  view the full decision text for item 169.

The Committee considered the Report of the Director of Transformation and Business Services (TBS/25/2) on management and restructuring issues on the County Farms Estate.

Part East Fingle Farm, Drewsteignton

The Land Agent tabled a plan for identification purposes.

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

RESOLVED that

(i)     PartEastFingleFarm,  Drewsteigntoncomprisingthelistedfarmhouse, buildingsand  9.95acres orthereaboutsof land(moreparticularlyreferenced as NG3232,  3436,  2740,  2940,  3443,  Pt4241,  Pt 3658,  andPt4657),  be declaredpermanentlysurplusto theoperationalrequirementsoftheEstate and  soldontheopen  market  withvacantpossessionas soonas possible after25March2027.

(ii)     The remaining55.90  acres or thereaboutsof landformingEastFingleFarm to beamalgamatedandletwithHigherFingleFarmona FarmBusiness Tenancyforatermofsixyearscommencing25 March2027  andterminating 25 March2033,  subjectto termsbeingagreed.

New Gulliford Farm, Dawlish

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

RESOLVED that

(i)        The tenants proposed surrender of New Gulliford Farm, Dawlish on 29 September

2025 be accepted.

(ii)     That the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 169.

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.)

Management and Restructuring Issues

(a)  Report of the Director of Transformation and Business Services (TBS/25/3) on Management and Restructuring issues, attached.

(b)  Report of the Director of Transformation and Business Services (TBS/25/4) on Requests for Extensions of Tenancy, attached.

Land at Cofton Cross, Dawlish

RESOLVED that the 7.64 acres or thereabouts of land at Cofton Cross, Dawlish be declared permanently surplus to the requirements of the Estate and will be transferred to Children’s Services to be used for a Care Facility.

Requests for Extensions of Tenancy

RESOLVED that

(a) the tenant of Higher Artiscombe Farm, Gulworthy be invited to surrender his interest in the holding at 25 March 2025 so that he can be granted a new Farm Business Tenancy of the same holding for a longer term of 17 years expiring 25 March 2042, subject to terms being agreed. Such terms to include reconciling and regularising the existing tenants’ improvements made on the holding to date with a formal landlords consent letter, strictly in accordance with the Estate policy.

(b) given the size of the holding and transparent nature of the original open market letting, it is considered there exists scope within current policy to consider the holding a progression farm and allow the tenant to grow and expand his business on the Estate without the need to move holdings. A reasonable extension of tenancy should afford the tenant the opportunity and confidence to continue the significant and rapid rate of capital investment, expansion and growth, and give his bank the confidence and assurance required to provide the requisite further capital loan.

RESOLVED that

(a)  the tenant of Thorndon Farm, Broadwoodwidger be invited to surrender his interest in the holding at 25 March 2025 so that he can be granted a new Farm Business Tenancy of the same holding for a longer term of 11 years expiring 25 March 2036, subject to terms being agreed.

(b) the length of tenancy being in keeping with current policy for starter holdings which allows a tenant to stay on a starter farm for a maximum term of 14 years and the tenancy extension being granted early to afford the tenant the security of tenure required to invest more capital into the next phase of the business development and expansion plans.

(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 confidential questions raised by members under Part I of the meeting were addressed by the Land Agent.

Management and Restructuring Issues

The Committee considered the Report of the Director of Transformation and Business Services (TBS/25/3).

Land at Cofton Cross, Dawlish

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

RESOLVED that the 7.64 acres or thereabouts of land at Cofton Cross, Dawlish be declared permanently surplus to the requirements of the Estate and will be transferred to Children’s Services to be used for a Care Facility.

Requests for Extensions of Tenancy

The Committee considered the Report of the Director of Transformation and Business Services (TBS/25/4) on requests for an extension of tenancy.

1.  The tenant of Higher Artiscombe Farm, Gulworthy attended the meeting and gave a brief presentation in support of the application.

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

RESOLVED that

(a) the tenant of Higher Artiscombe Farm, Gulworthy be invited to surrender his interest in the holding at 25 March 2025 so that he can be granted a new Farm Business Tenancy of the same holding for a longer term of 17 years expiring 25 March 2042, subject to terms being agreed. Such terms to include reconciling and regularising the existing tenants’ improvements made on the holding to date with a formal landlords consent letter, strictly in accordance with the Estate policy.

(b) given the size of the holding and transparent nature of the original open market letting, it is considered there exists scope within current policy to consider the holding a progression farm and allow the tenant to grow and expand his business on the Estate without the need to move holdings. A reasonable extension of tenancy should afford the tenant the opportunity and confidence to continue the significant and rapid rate of capital investment, expansion and growth, and give his bank the confidence and assurance required to provide the requisite further capital loan.

2.  The tenant of Thorndon Farm, Broadwoodwidger attended the meeting and gave a brief presentation in support of the application.

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

RESOLVED that

(a)  the tenant of Thorndon Farm, Broadwoodwidger be invited to surrender his interest in the holding at 25 March 2025 so that he can be granted a new Farm Business Tenancy of the same holding for a longer term of 11 years expiring 25 March 2036, subject to terms being agreed.

(b) the length of tenancy being in keeping with current policy for starter holdings which allows a tenant to stay on a starter farm for a maximum term of 14 years and the tenancy extension being granted early to afford the tenant the security of tenure  ...  view the full minutes text for item 171.