Councils warned against farm sell-offs
COUNCILS are being warned not to sell off farm estates as a "quick fix" to raise funds as they face increasing strain on their budgets.
A report by the South West branch of the National Farmers' Union aims to highlight how farms are not only vital to the farming industry but have wider benefits for rural communities in the Westcountry.
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It has been released in response to fears council-owned farmland could be sold to boost the finances of local authorities.
Ten case studies of farms, from Cornwall to Gloucestershire, have been used to illustrate the importance of council-owned land for tenant farmers and their businesses.
Sir Don Curry, former chairman of the government's Sustainable Farming and Food Delivery Group, has identified farming as one of the most difficult industries for newcomers and has stressed the numerous benefits of council farms within the report.
Sir Don said: "Council farms play an important role, not only within the farming industry, they also benefit the rural economy, the wider community, tourism, the environment and provide opportunities to address the problems of climate change.
"Local authorities should make a greater effort to develop the wider benefits that their land holding could offer."
A 2009 Defra report to Parliament found Cornwall had the highest number of council farms in the South West, with 112 holdings and more than 4,500 hectares of smallholdings.
Somerset followed with 100 holdings and more than 3,500 smallholdings, while Devon had 91 holdings and more than 4,000 smallholdings.
Barny and Marie Butterfield, from Sandford Orchards, near Crediton, produce cider and apple juice and care for livestock on a 70-acre county farm.
Mr Butterfield said: "Without the county farm scheme, Sandford Orchards wouldn't have happened. The council needs to realise the employment prospects are important and not a short-term cash pay off for them."
3 Comments
by Leanne, Devon
Monday, November 23 2009, 12:31PM
“At a time when food security is moving up the political agenda and is increasingly an area of concern for the UK, it is ludicrous for councils to even consider selling farms as a course of action.
It is diffcult enough to encourage the young to take up farming as a career choice, without creating further barriers to entry.
Although, sadly not entirely surprising.”
by Ginny, Tas, AU, in exile
Sunday, November 22 2009, 10:53PM
“Agree, Will...
I think it is very important that there is always a supply of land in Independent hands, that is never going to be under pressure to be sold off to the highest & not necessarily, most appropriate bidder. This land is held in perpetuity not only for the benefit of those wanting to be farmers AND farm, (but can't afford to anti up the enormous initial & ongoing financial burdens) but also for the numerous benefits to the local community from having a productive farm unit in their area - the money stays locally, farms are at least a visual enhancement and buffer against urban sprawl, providing safe havens for local wildlife while preserving the micro ecosystems needed to support them, but vitally, (as we ALL will always need food) it means there will be forever a core of local farmers farming locally for the benefit of locals...
I find it worrying that Councils are so desperate for cash they are thinking of selling off their prize assets, instead of scrutinizing Councils' overall efficiency, reviewing precisely where all the tax revenues are actually spent and accounting to ratepayers what proportion goes on Administrating/administrators & how much actually goes to providing the essential services taxpayers believe they are paying for... As I've said so many times before regarding Government, less IS more! - & it should start from the TOP!
Unfortunately, once this land is sold it's not coming back, which can't be said for all various admin staff in our County Halls. With all the new & improved technologies of the last few decades, surely there should have been a huge REDUCTION in administrative staff & associated costs (as has happened in most businesses) not the massive INCREASE we've seen over those decades. Business could not survive if they were run like Government top-heavy with administrators! Ratepayers are made to believe that all their hard-earned monies are spent wisely on their behalf by Councils to provide the essential services they expect. I suspect Councils have a real problem in saying 'No! - we actually don't need you, or this Dept to deliver the fundamental services our ratepayers require,' thereby basically firing themselves. Cutting their cloth according to their means, shouldn't mean cutting essential front-line workers like binmen, closing public loos or selling off assets to balance the budget at the expense of continuing to pay their salaries... Although I also suspect local councils are at the mercy of reduced financial support from Big Government who really do know how to spend like there's no tomorrow...”
by Will, Midc Devon
Sunday, November 22 2009, 5:44PM
“Selling off council farms would be disastrous. As things are, a council tenancy is about the only way a young person without a family farm to take over can get into farming.
With the average age of farmers increasing year-by-year, and more and more small farms being bought up by the bigger boys - often to to the detriment of the countryside and the remaining smaller farmers - selling off these farms can only increase this trend.
This is one of the most stupid ideas I have heard of for a long time.
Please, councils, don't do it!!”