Agenda item

Report of the Head of Digital Transformation and Business Support (BSS/18/06) on County Farms Estate Management and Restructuring issues, attached.

The Committee considered the Report of the Head of Digital Transformation and Business Support (BSS/18/06) on County Farm Estate Management and Restructuring issues.

(a)   East Week Farm 1, South Tawton

The Head of Digital Transformation and Business Support stated that an amendment should be made to the Report at paragraph 1.0 by the addition of the words ‘and part OS 6500’ in the first line of the paragraph so that it read ‘It is recommended that the house, buildings and OS 5600 and part OS 6500 forming part East…’.

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

RESOLVED that the house, buildings and OS 5600 and part OS 6500 forming part East Week Farm 1, South Tawton and extending to 2.74 hectares (6.76 acres) or thereabouts be declared permanently surplus to the operational requirements of the Estate at 25 March 2019 and sold on the open market.

(b)   Part Firsdon Farm, Ashreigney

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

RESOLVED

       (i)     that the 30.56 hectares (75.60 acres) or thereabouts of land formerly part Firsdon Farm, Ashreigney be let to the tenant of Furze Barton Farm, Ashreigney for a further six month term commencing 29 September 2018 and terminating 25 March 2019 (co-terminating with the lease of Furze Cottages Farm, Ashreigney), subject to terms being agreed;

       (ii)    the 30.56 hectares (75.60 acres) or thereabouts of land formerly part Firsdon Farm, Ashreigney be advertised to let as an optional lot of land with Furze Cottages Farm, Ashreigney on a seven year Farm Business Tenancy commencing 25 March 2019 and terminating 25 March 2026, subject to terms being agreed; and

       (iii)   the tenant of Furze Barton Farm, Ashreigney be given the option of tendering for the 30.56 hectares (75.60 acres) or thereabouts of land formerly part Firsdon Farm, Ashreigney on a seven year Farm Business Tenancy commencing 25 March 2019 and terminating 25 March 2026, subject to terms being agreed, when advertised to let with Furze Cottages Farm, Ashreigney.

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

RESOLVED that the press and public be excluded from the meeting during further discussion of this item 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 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 Head of Digital Transformation and Business Support then shared with the Committee personal information of the respective tenants in relation to paragraphs (b) and (c) of this item.

It was MOVED by Councillor Edgell SECONDED by Councillor Brook and

RESOLVED that the press and public be now readmitted to the meeting.

(c)   Part Little Stone Farm, South Molton

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

RESOLVED

       (i)     that the tenant’s surrender notice of Little Stone Cottage, South Molton be accepted; and

       (ii)    that Little Stone Cottage be amalgamated with Little Stone Farm, South Molton for a term commencing 29 September 2018 and expiring 25 March 2023, subject to terms being agreed.