To agree the smallholdings policy framework.

The Cabinet Member Corporate Customer Services and Human Resources, Councillor JP French presented the report and drew Cabinet’s attention to the key headline issues contained in the document which acknowledged the valued contribution to the local economy of the Council’s smallholdings estate and the opportunities available to people to both enter into farming and progress to larger farms.  It was clarified that the policy recommendations would pertain to the Council’s smallholdings estate, with the exception of those managed on behalf of the Buchanan Trust.  Members are asked to consider and agree; a Smallholdings Policy Framework and accompanying action plan, the creation of a £25,000 allocation (from existing rental income) to create a match funded enterprise development fund, and for Cabinet to receive an annual update on progress in delivering the action plan.  Cabinet was reminded that a revised action plan had been circulated prior to the meeting which superseded that which had been included in the original agenda pack.

The Cabinet Member Corporate Customer Services and Human Resources advised Members that as part of the 2009/10 budget setting process, an additional £1.5million of capital expenditure had been made available at a rate of £500,000 per annum for improvements to the estate.  As a result it would be important to demonstrate value for money on such a significant investment.  Currently the average rate of rental income remained static at £420,000 per annum with the Council averaging an outlay of £240,000 per annum on the day-to-day management, repair and maintenance of the estate.  An additional capital spend of £200,000 had been made to cover the costs of upgrading electrical wiring on the estate.  A further £900,000 of required maintenance had been identified via a five year rolling programme of conditions surveys, this included works required to meet the relevant Decent Homes standard.

The Cabinet Member advised Members that the requirement for a capital receipts target of £10million within 10 years (from April 2005), as included in the former smallholdings estate policy had been removed.  Members were also informed that the current omission within corporate documentation of the positive contribution of the smallholdings estate to meeting council priorities would be rectified.  The contribution of the Strategic Monitoring Committee Members and their comments which helped inform the review were acknowledged as were the meetings with tenants, Herefordshire Young Farmers and a visit to Staffordshire County Council.

Members were advised of the outline of the policy framework which had, at is core, a clear aim to assist people seeking a career in farming and to allow progression.  Particular attention was drawn to the fact that the Council would only consider requests from tenants to sublet in exceptional circumstances and that consideration would be given to further six year renewals of tenancies subject to the meeting of a defined criteria.  In relation to the rents of smallholdings, the levels would be reviewed regularly and compared solely against similar smallholding properties.  The Cabinet was additionally advised that the policy framework outlined the necessity to consider surplus farm  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4