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.

For details of District and/or Town and Parish Twin Hatters, please see here:   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. The details of District and or Town and Parish Twin Hatters is on the attached list: A list of county councillors who are also district, borough, city, parish or town councillors.

There was no matter raised as a matter of urgency.

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.)

To interview shortlisted applicants for the above vacant holding(s) (timetable and supporting documents circulated separately).

RESOLVED that:

(i)     the tenancy of Furze Barton Farm, Ashreigney be offered to Mr DF and Ms SH on the subject to contract terms and conditions proposed;

(ii)    the tenant of Ten Oaks Farm, Roborough be required to surrender his tenancy of the holding and the County Council accept the short notice of surrender;

(iii)   Ten Oaks Farm, Roborough be advertised to let on the open market to new entrants as a starter farm for a term of seven years commencing 25 March 2025 and terminating 25 March 2032, subject to terms being agreed; and

(iv)  Landlord’s consent be granted for the new tenant of Furze Barton Farm, Ashreigney to cover over an open silage clamp and adjacent feed yard, such consent to be subject to the net of grant cost to the tenant being written down in value to £100 on a straight-line basis over a life expectancy of 25 years for a galvanised iron building or 20 years for a painted steel building.

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(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 Director of Transformation and Business Services reported on the circumstances of this reletting.

The Committee then considered the rent for the holdings and interviewed prospective tenants.

It was noted that an applicant had put the South West Norse Director of Estates & Valuation down as a referee for this tenancy application. It was confirmed that the referee had not given consent to be named as a referee and could not and would not be providing a reference for any applicant applying for a tenancy of a County Council farm. The Council’s agent could and would only provide references for existing tenants when applying for tenancies outside of the estate.

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

RESOLVED that:

(i)     the tenancy of Furze Barton Farm, Ashreigney be offered to Mr DF and Ms SH on the subject to contract terms and conditions proposed;

(ii)    the tenant of Ten Oaks Farm, Roborough be required to surrender his tenancy of the holding and the County Council accept the short notice of surrender;

(iii)   Ten Oaks Farm, Roborough be advertised to let on the open market to new entrants as a starter farm for a term of seven years commencing 25 March 2025 and terminating 25 March 2032, subject to terms being agreed; and

(iv)  Landlord’s consent be granted for the new tenant of Furze Barton Farm, Ashreigney to cover over an open silage clamp and adjacent feed yard, such consent to be subject to the net of grant cost to the tenant being written down in value to £100 on a straight-line basis over a life expectancy of 25 years for a galvanised iron building or 20 years for a painted steel building.

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