Lydney Park, Lydney, Gloucestershire GL15 6BU
Thursday 19 April 2012 - 2pm –5.30pm
Cost: £15 CLA members; £25 non-members
Sponsored by Smiths Gore
The Lydney Park Estate was acquired by Benjamin Bathurst in 1719 and has been in the Bathurst family ever since. In 1935 Charles Bathurst was created Viscount Bledisloe for his services as Governor-General of New Zealand. The Estate is now home to the 4th Viscount Bledisloe and his family.
The Estate extends to approximately 3500 acres with around 1200 acres of mixed woodland managed under FSC guidelines. Elsewhere on the Estate there is a substantial in-hand dairy farm, a high quality pheasant shoot, together with a mixed portfolio of let residential, commercial and agricultural property. The Lydney Park Spring Gardens and Roman remains are open during the period Easter to early June.
The woodland lies 2-3 miles to the south of the Forest of Dean and is planted with a mix of softwoods and hardwoods, both providing excellent quality timber. Although run commercially the Estate woodland is multi-purpose and is managed for timber production, sporting interest, amenity and conservation. 356 acres are designated as Ancient Semi Natural woodland and there is a 43 acre SSSI which is also designated as a Special Area for Conservation, as it is a nationally important site for hibernating lesser horseshoe bats.
The Estate has a thriving sawmill supplying mainly home grown timber to local contractors. Products include fencing stakes, posts, panels, sawn green oak and the sawmill also supplies local demand for firewood.
The afternoon will begin with an introduction to the Lydney Park Estate woodland from Smiths Gore’s Marc Liebrecht.
Mike Seville, the CLA’s National Forestry & Woodlands Advisor, will explain the impact of the newly published guidance by the National Tree Safety Group "Bringing Common Sense to Tree Management".
This guidance is trying to redraw the legal landscape relating to tree safety and put it firmly in the context of the real risk which trees pose to individuals and to society and to balance this against the benefits trees deliver. The CLA has been instrumental in driving this approach forward.
The Duchy of Cornwall’s forestry expert, Geraint Richards, will share his practical experience of woodland management along with his views on the current timber market and this will be followed by a tree disease update and forecast from the new South West Regional Director of the Forestry Commission, Brendan Callaghan.
The event will close with Graham Clark, CLA Regional Surveyor; explaining how members can benefit from the new Renewable Heat Incentive.
This event is not only aimed at large woodland owners and managers but also those responsible for smaller numbers of trees where members are concerned about how proactive they need to be in regards tree safety management in order to mitigate their liability to third parties.
There will be an opportunity to explore the Deer Park and Woodland Spring garden after the seminar.
To book on line www.regonline.co.uk/claswevents
Thursday, December 8, 2011
Access - A Practical Update
Holbrook House, Wincanton, Somerset BA9 8BS
Tuesday 27 March 2012 - 4pm-7pm
Cost: CLA members £17; Non-members £30
A CLA and Dyne Drewett seminar on public access to land with three of the leading specialists in the field:
• Sarah Slade – Chartered Surveyor and the CLA National Access Adviser
• Dr Karen Jones – Barrister with Tanfield Chambers and former head of the CLA legal department
• Jonathan Cheal – Solicitor and Partner with Dyne Drewett and President of the CLA Somerset branch
Public access continues to raise issues which landowners must ensure they understand and put in place appropriate measures to enable them to manage access successfully on their land.
Coastal Access, with its questions on spreading room and liability; the need for reforms to the Animals Act; controversial legislation relating to village greens and pressures to include ancient or disused Rights of Way on the Definitive Map, are all currently presenting challenges for land owners and managers. At the same time, Government proposals for improving rights of way based on the Stepping Forward report are being developed which means that the policy agenda is also changing.
Our three speakers are leading figures in the access debate and bring a wealth of knowledge, specialism and practical experience to the table. They will discuss:
• How to react when there is a threat to your land
• How best to prevent rights arising
and
• How to manage the access you have
To book on line www.regonline.co.uk/claswevents
Tuesday 27 March 2012 - 4pm-7pm
Cost: CLA members £17; Non-members £30
A CLA and Dyne Drewett seminar on public access to land with three of the leading specialists in the field:
• Sarah Slade – Chartered Surveyor and the CLA National Access Adviser
• Dr Karen Jones – Barrister with Tanfield Chambers and former head of the CLA legal department
• Jonathan Cheal – Solicitor and Partner with Dyne Drewett and President of the CLA Somerset branch
Public access continues to raise issues which landowners must ensure they understand and put in place appropriate measures to enable them to manage access successfully on their land.
Coastal Access, with its questions on spreading room and liability; the need for reforms to the Animals Act; controversial legislation relating to village greens and pressures to include ancient or disused Rights of Way on the Definitive Map, are all currently presenting challenges for land owners and managers. At the same time, Government proposals for improving rights of way based on the Stepping Forward report are being developed which means that the policy agenda is also changing.
Our three speakers are leading figures in the access debate and bring a wealth of knowledge, specialism and practical experience to the table. They will discuss:
• How to react when there is a threat to your land
• How best to prevent rights arising
and
• How to manage the access you have
To book on line www.regonline.co.uk/claswevents
Event - Making The Big House Pay
Crowcombe Court, Crowcombe, Somerset, TA4 4AD
Tuesday 20 March 2012 - 10am – 4pm
Cost: CLA members £17; Non-members £30
Sponsored by Knight Frank, Smith & Williamson & Wilsons
Whether its art or animals, weddings or weekend guests – the question of how to make money from the Manor House has been testing inventive minds of landowners and their advisers for decades.
This event will showcase the ideas, expertise, trials and tribulations of those who have secured the financial future of their family homes, complimented by professional advice on all practical aspects from planning to marketing.
The event will be chaired by the former general manager of Longleat, Tim Moore, and has attracted a top team of speakers including Lord Carnarvon of Highclere Castle – the film location of Downton Abbey – Sarah Eastel who runs a locations and film locations agency, Norman Hudson of the Historic Houses Association and author of the manual Film and Photography for Historic Houses and Garden, Caroline Lowsley-Williams, from Chavenage, who will speak about using a house as a wedding venue or conference centre
and Simon Foster who has been responsible for marketing many successful enterprises including Eastnor Castle.
The event is being held at Crowcombe Court a magnificent English Baroque style house which was built in the 1730s which is a working example of “Making the Big House Pay.” New owners David and Kate Kenyon come from marketing and event management backgrounds and, although they have only recently taken over the house, they are confident they can turn it around and make a successful business, bring money and work into the local area and create a home for their family. The couple are planning to host shooting parties, weddings, and private dinner parties. David will talk about the experiences of setting the business up and of their aspirations for the future.
To book on line www.regonline.co.uk/claswevents
Tuesday 20 March 2012 - 10am – 4pm
Cost: CLA members £17; Non-members £30
Sponsored by Knight Frank, Smith & Williamson & Wilsons
Whether its art or animals, weddings or weekend guests – the question of how to make money from the Manor House has been testing inventive minds of landowners and their advisers for decades.
This event will showcase the ideas, expertise, trials and tribulations of those who have secured the financial future of their family homes, complimented by professional advice on all practical aspects from planning to marketing.
The event will be chaired by the former general manager of Longleat, Tim Moore, and has attracted a top team of speakers including Lord Carnarvon of Highclere Castle – the film location of Downton Abbey – Sarah Eastel who runs a locations and film locations agency, Norman Hudson of the Historic Houses Association and author of the manual Film and Photography for Historic Houses and Garden, Caroline Lowsley-Williams, from Chavenage, who will speak about using a house as a wedding venue or conference centre
and Simon Foster who has been responsible for marketing many successful enterprises including Eastnor Castle.
The event is being held at Crowcombe Court a magnificent English Baroque style house which was built in the 1730s which is a working example of “Making the Big House Pay.” New owners David and Kate Kenyon come from marketing and event management backgrounds and, although they have only recently taken over the house, they are confident they can turn it around and make a successful business, bring money and work into the local area and create a home for their family. The couple are planning to host shooting parties, weddings, and private dinner parties. David will talk about the experiences of setting the business up and of their aspirations for the future.
To book on line www.regonline.co.uk/claswevents
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
Gloucestershire farmer is new CLA Deputy President
Gloucestershire landowner Henry Robinson has been elected Deputy President of the 35,000-strong Country Land and Business Association.
Mr Robinson, the Association’s former Vice-President, was elected Deputy to the CLA’s new president, Harry Cotterell, at the Association’s annual meeting in London last week.
Mr Cotterell owns and manages a 1,600-acre traditional family estate in Herefordshire. The mainly arable farming operation is all “in hand” growing wheat and oilseed rape but recently planted cider orchards produce up to 10,000 tonnes of apples a year. There is also a commercial forestry operation covering 700 acres and the farm provides one million chickens per year and 25,000lbs of mushrooms a week for a supermarket chain.
Mr Cotterell, who has been CLA Deputy President since 2009, will serve as President for two years. He said: “I am honoured to have been chosen to lead the Association and am looking forward to the challenges ahead such as CAP reform, planning reform and the Water White Paper. “
Mr Robinson says, he is committed to rural life in Gloucestershire where he has farmed since 1978. He has been chair of the county’s Rural Issues Task Force, a member of Gloucestershire First and the Rural Economic Advisory Panel; a Parish Councillor and school Governor and he remains a Deputy-Lieutenant for the County. He says he farms, manages, and generally enjoys the land, cottages, workshops and woodlands that make up the family farm near Cirencester.
He has been Chairman of the CLA’s Gloucestershire Branch, represented the South West on the CLA Council, and chaired the national Business and Rural Economy and the Environment Sub-Committees.
Mr Robinson said it was a great privilege to be asked to serve an organisation which campaigned so actively for the rural economy and which was the only organisation speaking up for property rights and land ownership.
“The challenges facing the countryside are many and various - but one of the very greatest will be the question of how to protect and enhance the landscape and environment while still producing food for a world with seven billion people in it.
“Closer to home, we are very engaged with the debate on the National Planning Policy Framework and how planning needs to change in order to encourage rural business and allow it to flourish. The CLA has been – and will continue - to campaign for high speed Broadband for all rural areas and appropriate renewable energy on farms.”
.
Ends
Mr Robinson, the Association’s former Vice-President, was elected Deputy to the CLA’s new president, Harry Cotterell, at the Association’s annual meeting in London last week.
Mr Cotterell owns and manages a 1,600-acre traditional family estate in Herefordshire. The mainly arable farming operation is all “in hand” growing wheat and oilseed rape but recently planted cider orchards produce up to 10,000 tonnes of apples a year. There is also a commercial forestry operation covering 700 acres and the farm provides one million chickens per year and 25,000lbs of mushrooms a week for a supermarket chain.
Mr Cotterell, who has been CLA Deputy President since 2009, will serve as President for two years. He said: “I am honoured to have been chosen to lead the Association and am looking forward to the challenges ahead such as CAP reform, planning reform and the Water White Paper. “
Mr Robinson says, he is committed to rural life in Gloucestershire where he has farmed since 1978. He has been chair of the county’s Rural Issues Task Force, a member of Gloucestershire First and the Rural Economic Advisory Panel; a Parish Councillor and school Governor and he remains a Deputy-Lieutenant for the County. He says he farms, manages, and generally enjoys the land, cottages, workshops and woodlands that make up the family farm near Cirencester.
He has been Chairman of the CLA’s Gloucestershire Branch, represented the South West on the CLA Council, and chaired the national Business and Rural Economy and the Environment Sub-Committees.
Mr Robinson said it was a great privilege to be asked to serve an organisation which campaigned so actively for the rural economy and which was the only organisation speaking up for property rights and land ownership.
“The challenges facing the countryside are many and various - but one of the very greatest will be the question of how to protect and enhance the landscape and environment while still producing food for a world with seven billion people in it.
“Closer to home, we are very engaged with the debate on the National Planning Policy Framework and how planning needs to change in order to encourage rural business and allow it to flourish. The CLA has been – and will continue - to campaign for high speed Broadband for all rural areas and appropriate renewable energy on farms.”
.
Ends
CLA Backs Attempt to Scrap the Cash
The theft of metal from farms and rural businesses has grown to epidemic proportions according to South West landowners who have now thrown their weight behind a Private Member’s Bill which will attempt to block the sale of stolen metal.
“Scrap metal is currently big business – and its no longer restricted to the theft of lead from the Church roof, now its overhead cables, copper of all kinds – which affect the telecommunications and electricity supply industries - and even barbed wire and other fencing has been stripped out for the value of the scrap,” said CLA South West Director, John Mortimer.
Lancashire MP, Graham Jones, will today (Tuesday 16 November) bring his “Metal Theft (Protection) Bill” before the House of Commons next week – and the CLA says it offers a solution to the problem.
Mr Jones says that the reason this type of crime is flourishing is because the regulatory framework surrounding metal recycling is so weak and that - in combination with the soaring international price of metal –effectively creates an incentive to steal.
“Farm yards and rural businesses have always been a prime target for thefts and landowners are currently suffering an epidemic of metal theft. Mr Jones’s proposed changes to the Scrap Metal Dealers Act 1964 and his other proposals are essential if this blight is to be ended quickly and effectively,” said Mr Mortimer.
Mr Jones’s Metal (Protection) Bill proposes six changes:
• Amend the Scrap Metal Dealers Act 1964 and replace the current registration scheme with a robust licensing regime, with scrap metal dealers paying a licence fee to fund the regulation of the licence.
• Allow property obtained through theft to be regarded as criminal assets; that would allow the provisions in the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 to apply.
• Grant police authorities the power to search and investigate all premises owned and operated by a scrap metal dealer, and to close scrap metal dealers where criminally obtained materials are discovered.
• Restrict the trade in scrap metals to cashless payments, and introduce a requirement that scrap metal must not be sold or processed until payments have been cleared. Photo identification and CCTV should be mandatory to identify sellers of scrap and their vehicles.
• Magistrates should have powers to add licence restrictions and prevent closed yards from re-opening.
• Amend The Theft Act and related Acts so that suspects caught should be charged and if found guilty, sentenced in such a way that is proportionate to the consequences of the crime, not the scrap metal value.
“The true cost of the theft is more than simply the value of the items taken due to lost production time, repairing damage caused, livestock straying due to gates left open or fencing taken down so we support this effort to bring about a change in the law,” said Mr Mortimer.
“Scrap metal is currently big business – and its no longer restricted to the theft of lead from the Church roof, now its overhead cables, copper of all kinds – which affect the telecommunications and electricity supply industries - and even barbed wire and other fencing has been stripped out for the value of the scrap,” said CLA South West Director, John Mortimer.
Lancashire MP, Graham Jones, will today (Tuesday 16 November) bring his “Metal Theft (Protection) Bill” before the House of Commons next week – and the CLA says it offers a solution to the problem.
Mr Jones says that the reason this type of crime is flourishing is because the regulatory framework surrounding metal recycling is so weak and that - in combination with the soaring international price of metal –effectively creates an incentive to steal.
“Farm yards and rural businesses have always been a prime target for thefts and landowners are currently suffering an epidemic of metal theft. Mr Jones’s proposed changes to the Scrap Metal Dealers Act 1964 and his other proposals are essential if this blight is to be ended quickly and effectively,” said Mr Mortimer.
Mr Jones’s Metal (Protection) Bill proposes six changes:
• Amend the Scrap Metal Dealers Act 1964 and replace the current registration scheme with a robust licensing regime, with scrap metal dealers paying a licence fee to fund the regulation of the licence.
• Allow property obtained through theft to be regarded as criminal assets; that would allow the provisions in the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 to apply.
• Grant police authorities the power to search and investigate all premises owned and operated by a scrap metal dealer, and to close scrap metal dealers where criminally obtained materials are discovered.
• Restrict the trade in scrap metals to cashless payments, and introduce a requirement that scrap metal must not be sold or processed until payments have been cleared. Photo identification and CCTV should be mandatory to identify sellers of scrap and their vehicles.
• Magistrates should have powers to add licence restrictions and prevent closed yards from re-opening.
• Amend The Theft Act and related Acts so that suspects caught should be charged and if found guilty, sentenced in such a way that is proportionate to the consequences of the crime, not the scrap metal value.
“The true cost of the theft is more than simply the value of the items taken due to lost production time, repairing damage caused, livestock straying due to gates left open or fencing taken down so we support this effort to bring about a change in the law,” said Mr Mortimer.
Thursday, October 27, 2011
Downton Star Joins CLA “Can’t Get Online” Campaign
Rural Champions, the CLA, have launched a campaign designed to highlight the problems of rural areas still struggling to access broadband.
The campaign is a counter balance to the Government’s week-long promotion encouraging people to get online, and is timed to coincide with it - the CLA’s: ‘Can’t Get Online’ week runs from 30 October to 6 November. The Association’s aim is to ensure that every rural business and household can access a broadband connection of at least five megabits per second.
The problem, according to CLA experts, is that a fifth of rural England still cannot access even modest broadband speeds.
The campaign has already won the backing of Downton Abbey star, Hugh Bonneville, who plays the Earl of Grantham in ITV1’s popular period drama. Hugh lives in a village just 40 miles outside London but he says the broadband connection is “pretty pathetic” and wants infrastructure companies to give the countryside a chance.
He said: “I'd love to run aspects of my work from home; I'd love to sign up for services that stream content but the connection's just too unreliable. Some days I can't even send an email and there doesn’t seem to be much I can do about it.”
The week-long ‘Can’t Get Online’ roadshow, which is sponsored by the CLA, will see IT and social media expert, John Popham, touring rural communities across England to highlight the difficulties they face in getting online. He will be encouraging people with inadequate or non-existent broadband to find a friend with a broadband connection and sign the CLA petition calling for a minimum universal service commitment of 5 megabytes.
CLA South West director, John Mortimer, said: “In today’s world it is just not acceptable that broadband providers can choose to ignore rural areas. The Government wants us to fill in tax returns online because it’s more cost-effective and schools expect children to do homework online. This is only possible if homes and businesses have access to superfast broadband - internet service providers must be persuaded to bring broadband ‘not-spots’ up to speed rather than making the already fast even faster.”
People can sign the CLA petition at http://www.cla.org.uk/Policy_Work/Petitions/
Anybody who cannot access the petition can call the CLA regional office and leave their details to be added to the petition. The CLA in the South West can be contacted on
01249 700200.
Notes:
• Up to 20 percent of rural areas are still unable to receive an effective and affordable broadband connection.
• Up to 35 percent have no access to superfast broadband.
• Over 100,000 rural businesses do not have a broadband connection, leading to a clear rural-urban digital divide.
• Average broadband speeds in the UK are 6.2Mbps. But rural areas are lucky if they can receive 500kbps.
For further information on this news release contact:
Paul Millard CLA SW Communications Manager on 01380 830179
For further information on the CLA go to: www.cla.org.uk
The campaign is a counter balance to the Government’s week-long promotion encouraging people to get online, and is timed to coincide with it - the CLA’s: ‘Can’t Get Online’ week runs from 30 October to 6 November. The Association’s aim is to ensure that every rural business and household can access a broadband connection of at least five megabits per second.
The problem, according to CLA experts, is that a fifth of rural England still cannot access even modest broadband speeds.
The campaign has already won the backing of Downton Abbey star, Hugh Bonneville, who plays the Earl of Grantham in ITV1’s popular period drama. Hugh lives in a village just 40 miles outside London but he says the broadband connection is “pretty pathetic” and wants infrastructure companies to give the countryside a chance.
He said: “I'd love to run aspects of my work from home; I'd love to sign up for services that stream content but the connection's just too unreliable. Some days I can't even send an email and there doesn’t seem to be much I can do about it.”
The week-long ‘Can’t Get Online’ roadshow, which is sponsored by the CLA, will see IT and social media expert, John Popham, touring rural communities across England to highlight the difficulties they face in getting online. He will be encouraging people with inadequate or non-existent broadband to find a friend with a broadband connection and sign the CLA petition calling for a minimum universal service commitment of 5 megabytes.
CLA South West director, John Mortimer, said: “In today’s world it is just not acceptable that broadband providers can choose to ignore rural areas. The Government wants us to fill in tax returns online because it’s more cost-effective and schools expect children to do homework online. This is only possible if homes and businesses have access to superfast broadband - internet service providers must be persuaded to bring broadband ‘not-spots’ up to speed rather than making the already fast even faster.”
People can sign the CLA petition at http://www.cla.org.uk/Policy_Work/Petitions/
Anybody who cannot access the petition can call the CLA regional office and leave their details to be added to the petition. The CLA in the South West can be contacted on
01249 700200.
Notes:
• Up to 20 percent of rural areas are still unable to receive an effective and affordable broadband connection.
• Up to 35 percent have no access to superfast broadband.
• Over 100,000 rural businesses do not have a broadband connection, leading to a clear rural-urban digital divide.
• Average broadband speeds in the UK are 6.2Mbps. But rural areas are lucky if they can receive 500kbps.
For further information on this news release contact:
Paul Millard CLA SW Communications Manager on 01380 830179
For further information on the CLA go to: www.cla.org.uk
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Planning Policy has Undervalued the Countryside
National planning policy has undervalued the countryside and failed to meet the needs of rural areas for years – according to the CLA, the Country Land and Business Association.
The CLA has now thrown its weights behind the Government’s attempt to rebalance sustainable development in its consultation response to the draft National Planning Policy Framework. The Association warns that if the preservationist lobby gets its way, there is a risk that the 90 percent of countryside currently not built on will simply close down due a lack of inward investment.
CLA South West Director, John Mortimer, said: “Rural businesses and communities have the same needs for jobs, homes and services that urban areas have - but rural England has suffered from urban-centric policies for decades, leading to a countryside that is less sustainable and less self-sufficient.”
The CLA, he said, strongly supported the Government’s attempt to rebalance the economic, social and environmental pillars of sustainable development. The draft NPPF proposes that each pillar should be given equal weight in all planning decisions.
What is needed is a clearly-worded planning policy that encourages a living and working countryside. Management of the landscape and biodiversity so cherished by the public will only happen if it is underpinned by a profitable, sustainable and broader rural economy.”
NOTES TO EDITORS:
1. Read the CLA’s full response to the National Planning Policy Framework consultation
2. The CLA is one of the founding members of the Rural Coalition. The Coalition was brought together by the now defunct Commission for Rural Communities to implement the recommendations made in the Taylor Report “Living Working Countryside”. The group produced its own report entitled “Rural Challenge” in 2010 which set out to show what rural communities need in order to survive. Please visit the CLA website for more information.
3. For more information about the CLA, visit: www.cla.org.uk or follow us on Twitter http://twitter.com/CLAtweets
4. For Further information on this press release, please contact Paul Millard CLA SW Communications Manager on 01380 830179.
The CLA has now thrown its weights behind the Government’s attempt to rebalance sustainable development in its consultation response to the draft National Planning Policy Framework. The Association warns that if the preservationist lobby gets its way, there is a risk that the 90 percent of countryside currently not built on will simply close down due a lack of inward investment.
CLA South West Director, John Mortimer, said: “Rural businesses and communities have the same needs for jobs, homes and services that urban areas have - but rural England has suffered from urban-centric policies for decades, leading to a countryside that is less sustainable and less self-sufficient.”
The CLA, he said, strongly supported the Government’s attempt to rebalance the economic, social and environmental pillars of sustainable development. The draft NPPF proposes that each pillar should be given equal weight in all planning decisions.
What is needed is a clearly-worded planning policy that encourages a living and working countryside. Management of the landscape and biodiversity so cherished by the public will only happen if it is underpinned by a profitable, sustainable and broader rural economy.”
NOTES TO EDITORS:
1. Read the CLA’s full response to the National Planning Policy Framework consultation
2. The CLA is one of the founding members of the Rural Coalition. The Coalition was brought together by the now defunct Commission for Rural Communities to implement the recommendations made in the Taylor Report “Living Working Countryside”. The group produced its own report entitled “Rural Challenge” in 2010 which set out to show what rural communities need in order to survive. Please visit the CLA website for more information.
3. For more information about the CLA, visit: www.cla.org.uk or follow us on Twitter http://twitter.com/CLAtweets
4. For Further information on this press release, please contact Paul Millard CLA SW Communications Manager on 01380 830179.
Friday, September 23, 2011
Tax Planning & Asset Preservation - Opportunities & Challenges for the Rural Sector
9.30am registration - 10am presentations – 1pm lunch – 2.00pm tours
Cost £15 CLA members; £25 non-members
At Ugbrooke there is an additional charge payable at the venue for the afternoon tour of £5.00 pp
Wednesday 12 October – Ugbrooke Park, Chudleigh, Devon TQ13 0AD
Tuesday 18 October – Chavenage House, Tetbury, Gloucestershire GL8 8XP
Wednesday 19 October – Hamptworth Estate, Salisbury, Wiltshire SP5 2DR
We are continuing the tradition of holding our annual finance events at some wonderful settings in the West Country. This autumn you can join us for a morning of essential financial advice followed by a two course lunch of local produce and an exclusive guided tour of the venue with our hosts.
The seminars will look at the following topics:
• The latest ideas on minimising Inheritance Tax
• Planning for succession – what to consider
• Agricultural and Property Reliefs – an update
• How to hedge the single farm payment
• Tax efficient trading structures
• Effective management of pensions and investments
Following each seminar there will be a Q&A session with a panel of experts including representatives from CLA Tax Management Services, Roger Halle from CLA Independent Financial Planners, Tom Barclay from CLA Foreign Exchange Services and Will Richards from CLA Fine Art. In addition we will also hear from Jeremy Mitchell from CLA Insurance Services who will talk specifically about insuring estates, farms and diversified businesses.
Ugbrooke House
Ugbrooke House has been the home of the Cliffords since 1564 and is the present Clifford family’s private home. The nation’s history has sported Clifford names in war, politics and religion. The present house was re-modelled in the 1760’s by Robert Adam, the Chapel and Library Wing (where we will hold our seminar) are authentic and characteristic of Adam’s castle style.
Ugbrooke Park is a good example of the work of Capability Brown. The gardens include a box parterre planted over two hundred years ago, a secluded Spanish garden, unusual semi-tropical trees and shrubs and a lakeside walk to the waterslash.
The house contains fine furniture, paintings, beautiful needlework, porcelain and an extremely rare family military collection. Ugbrooke has appeared in television programmes such as David Starkey’s ‘Monachy’. The house has been beautifully restored by Lady Clifford and featured in many leading ‘interiors’ magazines.
Chavenage House
Originally built in 1383, there have been additions and renovations to the property over the centuries. Since Tudor times, only two families have owned Chavenage, the current owner David Lowsley-Williams having inherited the House from his uncle.
Chavenage has been used as a film/TV location on many occasions – an episode of Poirot was shot there, the comedy series ‘Grace & Favour’, an episode of the BBC medical drama Casualty, and recently the house doubled as Sir Timothy Midwinter’s Manor House in ‘Lark Rise to Candleford’. It was seen in the BBC series Bone Kickers and Tess of the D’Urbervilles and featured in BBC3’s ‘For the Love of Barbara’.
We will tour this wonderful Elizabethan home and learn of the two families that have occupied the house since the reign of Elizabeth I together with the legends and stories including the ghosts!
Hamptworth Estate
Situated on the northern edge of the New Forest National Park, half way between Southampton and Salisbury on the Wiltshire/Hampshire border is the beautiful Hamptworth Estate. We will be hosted by Donald Anderson, whose family home it has been for just over 200 years. Hamptworth dates back many centuries and it is thought that the first house was built on the current site of Hamptworth Lodge in around 1620 AD.
The house underwent extensive alteration during the late Georgian and Victorian period and when the present owner's grandfather, Harold Moffatt inherited the estate in 1910, he pulled the house down and rebuilt it as he thought it might well have been in its original form.
The brickwork designs are particularly fine and a feature was made of drain pipes and guttering. Some of the leaded windows have diamond cut inscriptions. Internally, Moffat made much of the furniture himself and these pieces are an accurate copy of the Jacobean Style.
The Estate itself is made up of 3,000 acres of glorious parkland, gardens and woodland and it is forestry that supports the Estate today.
To book your place go to www.regonline.co.uk/claswevents or call 01249 700200.
Cost £15 CLA members; £25 non-members
At Ugbrooke there is an additional charge payable at the venue for the afternoon tour of £5.00 pp
Wednesday 12 October – Ugbrooke Park, Chudleigh, Devon TQ13 0AD
Tuesday 18 October – Chavenage House, Tetbury, Gloucestershire GL8 8XP
Wednesday 19 October – Hamptworth Estate, Salisbury, Wiltshire SP5 2DR
We are continuing the tradition of holding our annual finance events at some wonderful settings in the West Country. This autumn you can join us for a morning of essential financial advice followed by a two course lunch of local produce and an exclusive guided tour of the venue with our hosts.
The seminars will look at the following topics:
• The latest ideas on minimising Inheritance Tax
• Planning for succession – what to consider
• Agricultural and Property Reliefs – an update
• How to hedge the single farm payment
• Tax efficient trading structures
• Effective management of pensions and investments
Following each seminar there will be a Q&A session with a panel of experts including representatives from CLA Tax Management Services, Roger Halle from CLA Independent Financial Planners, Tom Barclay from CLA Foreign Exchange Services and Will Richards from CLA Fine Art. In addition we will also hear from Jeremy Mitchell from CLA Insurance Services who will talk specifically about insuring estates, farms and diversified businesses.
Ugbrooke House
Ugbrooke House has been the home of the Cliffords since 1564 and is the present Clifford family’s private home. The nation’s history has sported Clifford names in war, politics and religion. The present house was re-modelled in the 1760’s by Robert Adam, the Chapel and Library Wing (where we will hold our seminar) are authentic and characteristic of Adam’s castle style.
Ugbrooke Park is a good example of the work of Capability Brown. The gardens include a box parterre planted over two hundred years ago, a secluded Spanish garden, unusual semi-tropical trees and shrubs and a lakeside walk to the waterslash.
The house contains fine furniture, paintings, beautiful needlework, porcelain and an extremely rare family military collection. Ugbrooke has appeared in television programmes such as David Starkey’s ‘Monachy’. The house has been beautifully restored by Lady Clifford and featured in many leading ‘interiors’ magazines.
Chavenage House
Originally built in 1383, there have been additions and renovations to the property over the centuries. Since Tudor times, only two families have owned Chavenage, the current owner David Lowsley-Williams having inherited the House from his uncle.
Chavenage has been used as a film/TV location on many occasions – an episode of Poirot was shot there, the comedy series ‘Grace & Favour’, an episode of the BBC medical drama Casualty, and recently the house doubled as Sir Timothy Midwinter’s Manor House in ‘Lark Rise to Candleford’. It was seen in the BBC series Bone Kickers and Tess of the D’Urbervilles and featured in BBC3’s ‘For the Love of Barbara’.
We will tour this wonderful Elizabethan home and learn of the two families that have occupied the house since the reign of Elizabeth I together with the legends and stories including the ghosts!
Hamptworth Estate
Situated on the northern edge of the New Forest National Park, half way between Southampton and Salisbury on the Wiltshire/Hampshire border is the beautiful Hamptworth Estate. We will be hosted by Donald Anderson, whose family home it has been for just over 200 years. Hamptworth dates back many centuries and it is thought that the first house was built on the current site of Hamptworth Lodge in around 1620 AD.
The house underwent extensive alteration during the late Georgian and Victorian period and when the present owner's grandfather, Harold Moffatt inherited the estate in 1910, he pulled the house down and rebuilt it as he thought it might well have been in its original form.
The brickwork designs are particularly fine and a feature was made of drain pipes and guttering. Some of the leaded windows have diamond cut inscriptions. Internally, Moffat made much of the furniture himself and these pieces are an accurate copy of the Jacobean Style.
The Estate itself is made up of 3,000 acres of glorious parkland, gardens and woodland and it is forestry that supports the Estate today.
To book your place go to www.regonline.co.uk/claswevents or call 01249 700200.
Thursday, September 22, 2011
Pillars of Strength - CAP Reform Going Forward (Sponsored by Strutt & Parker)
Cost £10
The European Commission will announce its final proposals for a new direct payment, rural development and financing regulations in early October opening a consultation process likely to last until 2012.
The CLA has been one of only a few organisations fighting for a sufficiently well funded CAP – and the Agriculture Commissioner has listened to our argument that the CAP must be maintained on the grounds of food and environmental security. But a flurry of leaked documents has raised speculation about mandatory greening in pillar one, capping and the definitions of an active farmer.
There are further concerns over the issue of new entitlements and the specifics of mandatory greening.
All this is set against a backdrop of an EU budget which has already been drawn up – but the share of the CAP within the budget and how the CAP resources are to be redistributed between the Member States and between the two Pillars are areas of uncertainty which could have important implications for the UK.
But the fight on the CAP budget is not over yet and the negotiations that follow the publication of these proposals will be crucial. These proposals have now to be agreed with the European Council and the European Parliament and the questions of exactly what the CLA should be arguing for on behalf of our farmers and land managers needs to be resolved.
This is your chance to take part in that process and to hear Emeritus Professor Allan Buckwell, the CLA’s expert on CAP, speak on the subject together with Simon Butcher, a farm business consultant from Strutt and Parker, at a series of events the CLA is organising across the South West region.
Registration & refreshments from 10.00am & 3.00pm
Wednesday 23 November 2011 10.30am – 12.30pm
Tunnell House Inn, Tarlton Road, Nr Cirencester, Gloucestershire GL7 6PW
Wednesday 23 November 2011 3.30pm – 5.30pm
Salisbury and South Wilts Golf Club, Netherhampton Road, Netherhampton
Salisbury, Wiltshire SP2 8PR
Thursday 24 November 2011 10.30am – 12.30pm
The Monks Yard, Horton Cross Farm, Horton Cross, Ilminster, Somerset
TA19 9PT
Thursday 24 November 2011 3.30pm – 5.30pm
The Arundell Arms, Lifton, PL16 0AA
To book go to www.regonline.co.uk/claswevents or telephone 01249 700200.
The European Commission will announce its final proposals for a new direct payment, rural development and financing regulations in early October opening a consultation process likely to last until 2012.
The CLA has been one of only a few organisations fighting for a sufficiently well funded CAP – and the Agriculture Commissioner has listened to our argument that the CAP must be maintained on the grounds of food and environmental security. But a flurry of leaked documents has raised speculation about mandatory greening in pillar one, capping and the definitions of an active farmer.
There are further concerns over the issue of new entitlements and the specifics of mandatory greening.
All this is set against a backdrop of an EU budget which has already been drawn up – but the share of the CAP within the budget and how the CAP resources are to be redistributed between the Member States and between the two Pillars are areas of uncertainty which could have important implications for the UK.
But the fight on the CAP budget is not over yet and the negotiations that follow the publication of these proposals will be crucial. These proposals have now to be agreed with the European Council and the European Parliament and the questions of exactly what the CLA should be arguing for on behalf of our farmers and land managers needs to be resolved.
This is your chance to take part in that process and to hear Emeritus Professor Allan Buckwell, the CLA’s expert on CAP, speak on the subject together with Simon Butcher, a farm business consultant from Strutt and Parker, at a series of events the CLA is organising across the South West region.
Registration & refreshments from 10.00am & 3.00pm
Wednesday 23 November 2011 10.30am – 12.30pm
Tunnell House Inn, Tarlton Road, Nr Cirencester, Gloucestershire GL7 6PW
Wednesday 23 November 2011 3.30pm – 5.30pm
Salisbury and South Wilts Golf Club, Netherhampton Road, Netherhampton
Salisbury, Wiltshire SP2 8PR
Thursday 24 November 2011 10.30am – 12.30pm
The Monks Yard, Horton Cross Farm, Horton Cross, Ilminster, Somerset
TA19 9PT
Thursday 24 November 2011 3.30pm – 5.30pm
The Arundell Arms, Lifton, PL16 0AA
To book go to www.regonline.co.uk/claswevents or telephone 01249 700200.
Bringing Common Sense to Tree Management
Stock Gaylard Estate, Stock Gaylard, Sturminster Newton, DT10 2BG
Tuesday 15 November – 2pm – 5.30pm
Cost £15 CLA members; £25 non-members
The venue is CLA member Andrew Langmead’s Stock Gaylard Estate, a small traditional country estate situated between Sturminster Newton and Sherborne in Dorset. The estate is approximately 1700 acres with around 300 acres of predominantly oak woodland (Quercus robur) and ash (Fraxinus Excelsior).
Stock Gaylard has a small timber yard supplying mainly home grown timbers off the estate and other locally sourced timbers. They have worked hard to understand the importance of trying to develop a sustainable timber industry within the UK and on the estate. They pride themselves in understanding the importance of cutting the timber the right way for the purpose it is intended for. They have a timber kiln for finishing off the drying process and a fully equipped wood workshop. Stock Gaylard’s timber has many uses including woodchip for their boiler, furniture, shingles and it is also used in the manufacture of their traditional Yurts.
The afternoon will kick off with a welcome and introduction to Stock Gaylard Estate and its various enterprises by owner Andrew Langmead.
Mike Seville, CLA National Forestry & Woodlands Advisor will then explain the benefits and the impact of the newly published guidance by the National Tree Safety Group "Bringing Common Sense to Tree Management".
This guidance on trees and public safety in the UK for owners, managers and advisers has been quite brave and is trying to redraw the legal landscape relating to tree safety and put it firmly in the context of real risk, other risks to which society is exposed and the benefits of trees. The CLA has been instrumental in driving this approach forward.
Garraint Richards, Duchy of Cornwall Woodlands will share his practical experience of woodland management along with his view on the current timber market. Followed by a tree disease update and forecast from the Forestry Commission. Closing with Graham Clark, CLA Regional Surveyor; explaining how members can benefit from the new Renewable Heat Incentive.
This event is not only aimed at large woodland owners and managers but also those responsible for smaller numbers of trees where members are concerned about how proactive they need to be in regards tree safety management in order to mitigate their liability to third parties.
To book your place go to www.regonline.co.uk/claswevents or call 01249 700200
Tuesday 15 November – 2pm – 5.30pm
Cost £15 CLA members; £25 non-members
The venue is CLA member Andrew Langmead’s Stock Gaylard Estate, a small traditional country estate situated between Sturminster Newton and Sherborne in Dorset. The estate is approximately 1700 acres with around 300 acres of predominantly oak woodland (Quercus robur) and ash (Fraxinus Excelsior).
Stock Gaylard has a small timber yard supplying mainly home grown timbers off the estate and other locally sourced timbers. They have worked hard to understand the importance of trying to develop a sustainable timber industry within the UK and on the estate. They pride themselves in understanding the importance of cutting the timber the right way for the purpose it is intended for. They have a timber kiln for finishing off the drying process and a fully equipped wood workshop. Stock Gaylard’s timber has many uses including woodchip for their boiler, furniture, shingles and it is also used in the manufacture of their traditional Yurts.
The afternoon will kick off with a welcome and introduction to Stock Gaylard Estate and its various enterprises by owner Andrew Langmead.
Mike Seville, CLA National Forestry & Woodlands Advisor will then explain the benefits and the impact of the newly published guidance by the National Tree Safety Group "Bringing Common Sense to Tree Management".
This guidance on trees and public safety in the UK for owners, managers and advisers has been quite brave and is trying to redraw the legal landscape relating to tree safety and put it firmly in the context of real risk, other risks to which society is exposed and the benefits of trees. The CLA has been instrumental in driving this approach forward.
Garraint Richards, Duchy of Cornwall Woodlands will share his practical experience of woodland management along with his view on the current timber market. Followed by a tree disease update and forecast from the Forestry Commission. Closing with Graham Clark, CLA Regional Surveyor; explaining how members can benefit from the new Renewable Heat Incentive.
This event is not only aimed at large woodland owners and managers but also those responsible for smaller numbers of trees where members are concerned about how proactive they need to be in regards tree safety management in order to mitigate their liability to third parties.
To book your place go to www.regonline.co.uk/claswevents or call 01249 700200
Thursday, May 26, 2011
CLA to Host High Powered Debates at Royal Cornwall Show
Farms Minister, Jim Paice, will deliver a keynote speech on the challenges and opportunities facing the food and farming sector in rural Cornwall on the first day of next month’s Royal Cornwall Show, at Wadebridge.
The Minister of State for Agriculture and Food will speak at the Country Land and Business Association’s Breakfast Debate on the first morning of the show, Thursday 9 June.
The event, which is sponsored by Stephens Scown, has traditionally attracted a large audience and CLA South West Director, John Mortimer, says they will want to hear what the Government’s plans are for rural planning and housing, economic development and the management of animal disease.
“Clearly our members will want to hear the Minister’s attitude towards Bovine TB. He has been a staunch ally for the farming industry and I am sure the Cornish farming community will want to hear that the Government remains resolute in its determination to tackle this disease.
“But there are other, wider, issues relating to the food sector – such as the Food Standards Agency’s plans to shift the whole burden of inspection costs onto food producers, which would be catastrophic for small abattoirs. Then there is the whole issue of how we set about achieving security in our food supply chain without creating further environmental damage and how we are going to address the issue of food waste and the potential to create energy from it. There’s a big agenda facing land managers and we’re grateful that the Minister has accepted our invitation to come and talk about his vision of the future,” said Mr Mortimer.
On the second day of the show (Friday 10 June) The CLA will be hosting an “Any Questions” style breakfast with a top team of panellists chaired by the CLA’s national President William Worsley.
The team includes the chairman of Cornwall and Isles of Scilly LEP, Chris Pomfret; South West MEP Julia Girling; Richard Macdonald, the former Director General of the NFU who is now the man responsible for recommending red tape reforms in the farming industry, Alan Qualtrough, the Editor of the Western Morning News, Simon Gregory a partner with Foot Anstey and Brian Harvey from Winter Rule’s rural services team.
“A unitary authority, superfast broadband, new opportunities in renewable energy, the localism agenda and a brand new Local Economic Partnership for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly – all of this promises new and exciting change but it will it bring real changes to the local economy, better paid jobs and affordable houses? We shall be tasking our panel to answer questions on what the real barriers to growth are for Cornwall’s rural economy, “said Mr. Mortimer.
It was, he said, a format which had proved hugely successful over the last few years and offered show visitors a chance to join in a fast moving and intelligent discussion about the issues which concern those who live in, work in and manage rural Cornwall.
Entry to the breakfast debate is by ticket only but these can be reserved by contacting the CLA on 01249 700200.
The Minister of State for Agriculture and Food will speak at the Country Land and Business Association’s Breakfast Debate on the first morning of the show, Thursday 9 June.
The event, which is sponsored by Stephens Scown, has traditionally attracted a large audience and CLA South West Director, John Mortimer, says they will want to hear what the Government’s plans are for rural planning and housing, economic development and the management of animal disease.
“Clearly our members will want to hear the Minister’s attitude towards Bovine TB. He has been a staunch ally for the farming industry and I am sure the Cornish farming community will want to hear that the Government remains resolute in its determination to tackle this disease.
“But there are other, wider, issues relating to the food sector – such as the Food Standards Agency’s plans to shift the whole burden of inspection costs onto food producers, which would be catastrophic for small abattoirs. Then there is the whole issue of how we set about achieving security in our food supply chain without creating further environmental damage and how we are going to address the issue of food waste and the potential to create energy from it. There’s a big agenda facing land managers and we’re grateful that the Minister has accepted our invitation to come and talk about his vision of the future,” said Mr Mortimer.
On the second day of the show (Friday 10 June) The CLA will be hosting an “Any Questions” style breakfast with a top team of panellists chaired by the CLA’s national President William Worsley.
The team includes the chairman of Cornwall and Isles of Scilly LEP, Chris Pomfret; South West MEP Julia Girling; Richard Macdonald, the former Director General of the NFU who is now the man responsible for recommending red tape reforms in the farming industry, Alan Qualtrough, the Editor of the Western Morning News, Simon Gregory a partner with Foot Anstey and Brian Harvey from Winter Rule’s rural services team.
“A unitary authority, superfast broadband, new opportunities in renewable energy, the localism agenda and a brand new Local Economic Partnership for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly – all of this promises new and exciting change but it will it bring real changes to the local economy, better paid jobs and affordable houses? We shall be tasking our panel to answer questions on what the real barriers to growth are for Cornwall’s rural economy, “said Mr. Mortimer.
It was, he said, a format which had proved hugely successful over the last few years and offered show visitors a chance to join in a fast moving and intelligent discussion about the issues which concern those who live in, work in and manage rural Cornwall.
Entry to the breakfast debate is by ticket only but these can be reserved by contacting the CLA on 01249 700200.
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Defra review fails to recognise the Uplands are a Special Case
Defra’s Upland Policy Review published today (10 March) fails to recognise that the South West Uplands are unique and deserve special help – according to rural champions, the CLA.
CLA South West director, John Mortimer, said the report was fundamentally flawed in its assumption that hill farming could become economically viable in its own right.
“The Government’s ongoing support for the Uplands Entry Level Scheme is, of course, very welcome - but we do not see it as a long term solution to the economic hardship being seen in the hills.”
The Association said although it welcomed the pledge to establish a new rural Community Broadband Fund, the Government’s failure to differentiate between the Uplands and other parts of rural England was a mistake.
The CLA and the Commission for Rural Communities had called for a Defra Minister to be given direct responsibility for the Uplands to ensure policies were ‘Uplands proofed’ across Government. The CLA had also called for an independent group to monitor progress on Uplands policy delivery.
“Neither suggestion has been accepted in the review. The South West Uplands provide clean water, renewable energy, carbon capture, food and a wonderful variety of wildlife and landscapes so vital to our tourist industry but this report has failed to recognise that the Uplands are different from other rural areas and need specific and targeted support.”
I
Mr Mortimer said that Defra had also chosen to ignore the joint request from the CLA and the CRC for national parks to have an explicit economic role, and had failed to support recommendations that planning policy should be eased to allow diversification in upland areas, and that retirement homes should be allowed on Uplands farms.
“The proposed Community Broadband Fund is certainly good news for the Uplands but it is vital the £20 million allocation is used wisely.
“Our advice is that the Government should use the money where demand can be proven and establish a series of grants for rural communities. Some of the money should also be used to create an effective toolkit to fully explain to people the benefits broadband will bring to the rural economy.”
CLA South West director, John Mortimer, said the report was fundamentally flawed in its assumption that hill farming could become economically viable in its own right.
“The Government’s ongoing support for the Uplands Entry Level Scheme is, of course, very welcome - but we do not see it as a long term solution to the economic hardship being seen in the hills.”
The Association said although it welcomed the pledge to establish a new rural Community Broadband Fund, the Government’s failure to differentiate between the Uplands and other parts of rural England was a mistake.
The CLA and the Commission for Rural Communities had called for a Defra Minister to be given direct responsibility for the Uplands to ensure policies were ‘Uplands proofed’ across Government. The CLA had also called for an independent group to monitor progress on Uplands policy delivery.
“Neither suggestion has been accepted in the review. The South West Uplands provide clean water, renewable energy, carbon capture, food and a wonderful variety of wildlife and landscapes so vital to our tourist industry but this report has failed to recognise that the Uplands are different from other rural areas and need specific and targeted support.”
I
Mr Mortimer said that Defra had also chosen to ignore the joint request from the CLA and the CRC for national parks to have an explicit economic role, and had failed to support recommendations that planning policy should be eased to allow diversification in upland areas, and that retirement homes should be allowed on Uplands farms.
“The proposed Community Broadband Fund is certainly good news for the Uplands but it is vital the £20 million allocation is used wisely.
“Our advice is that the Government should use the money where demand can be proven and establish a series of grants for rural communities. Some of the money should also be used to create an effective toolkit to fully explain to people the benefits broadband will bring to the rural economy.”
Job Vacancy
The CLA is a pro-active and forward thinking membership based organisation, committed to the positive development of the rural economy.
We have an opportunity for a high calibre individual with commitment and enthusiasm to recruit and retain members to the Association in south east Devon, southern Somerset & western Dorset.
The Field Officer role allows flexible working hours, including the possibility of working part time. The package includes excellent earning opportunities, training and continuing support. Working from home, the successful candidate will have a thorough understanding of rural life and knowledge of the territory, previous relevant sales experience and ideally live within the territory. They will be computer literate including a good knowledge of Microsoft Office and have access to e-mail. Use of a car and a full valid UK driving licence is essential.
For more information or to apply please email a cover letter and CV to:- lucy.wright@cla.org.uk to arrive no later than Monday 28 March. For information about the CLA visit our website at www.cla.org.uk
We have an opportunity for a high calibre individual with commitment and enthusiasm to recruit and retain members to the Association in south east Devon, southern Somerset & western Dorset.
The Field Officer role allows flexible working hours, including the possibility of working part time. The package includes excellent earning opportunities, training and continuing support. Working from home, the successful candidate will have a thorough understanding of rural life and knowledge of the territory, previous relevant sales experience and ideally live within the territory. They will be computer literate including a good knowledge of Microsoft Office and have access to e-mail. Use of a car and a full valid UK driving licence is essential.
For more information or to apply please email a cover letter and CV to:- lucy.wright@cla.org.uk to arrive no later than Monday 28 March. For information about the CLA visit our website at www.cla.org.uk
Thursday, March 3, 2011
CLA says it’s Time to Face the Future
CLA President, William Worsley, has today (Thursday 3 March) told landowners from across England and Wales that the farming industry will need to restructure to satisfy a world that demands more food of high quality and low price.
In a wide-ranging speech which covered farming, land management and the rural economy, Mr Worsley promised that the CLA would be brave enough to:” think the unthinkable, to grasp the nettle of difficult issues and continue to provide the long-term thought-leadership the industry and the public demanded.
“There is no sense in pretending farming will remain the same, it won’t - but we must not be afraid of change, we need to think far into the future, to prepare our members for what is around the corner, to make the coming decades brighter so that rural businesses can continue to survive and thrive.
Speaking at the CLA’s spring council meeting in London, Mr Worsley said that without a Common Agricultural Policy, farming as we know it would not exist.
“It is essential that we keep the CAP but we need to do so in a way that is acceptable to Society as a whole.”
The CLA, he said had relentlessly pursued the concept of “Food and Environmental Security” so that the CAP could help maintain the capacity to produce food while at the same time protecting and sustaining the natural environment.
“That means farmers need to be paid for producing food and for helping the environment,” he said.
Agri-environment schemes were, he said, key to environmental policy in England and Wales - providing the basic tools with which land managers achieve environmental goals.
“Generations of rural land managers have taken responsibility for the stewardship of the landscapes and habitats we all want to safeguard. The huge recreation and tourism industry their land supports bears witness to its beauty and popularity. The public wants to experience lovely landscapes and vibrant wildlife, pure water and clean air, but it all comes at a price. Those who manage the countryside must be properly rewarded for all they do.”
The CLA President promised that the CLA would continue to press the Government to go ahead with the proposals for a badger cull to start to tackle the “horrendous problem” of Bovine TB and also talked about the challenges of lobbying the Coalition Government, taxation issues, forestry, the Uplands, water, the crazy cost of coastal access and the need to modernise the public rights of way network. He said that, done well, the Localism Bill could boost much-needed entrepreneurship in the countryside but added that there were aspects of the Bill which horrified him.
Mr Worsley said the emergency review of the Feed-in Tariff to encourage more farm-based Anaerobic Digestion was a welcome response to CLA lobbying - but he warned that the Government had, at the same time, damaged investment in solar PV by fast-tracking a review of proposals for installations of over 50 kilowat.
In response to a question from the CLA South West representatives Mr Worlsey said the CLA would be pushing the Government very hard to maintain the currently agreed level of Feed-in Tariffs for solar energy.
He also called for reforms to the planning system which he said, was “too complicated and too expensive” and added that it was vital that rural businesses were served by a planning system that was fully effective.
“It is in our interest, and the interest of the nation, that rural business prospers. For this, we need the right policies – policies that are well considered, sensible and avoid excessive regulation” he said.
Notes To Newsdesks
A full copy of William Worsley’s speech to the CLA Councilcan be downloaded from the CLA website at: www.cla.org.uk
In a wide-ranging speech which covered farming, land management and the rural economy, Mr Worsley promised that the CLA would be brave enough to:” think the unthinkable, to grasp the nettle of difficult issues and continue to provide the long-term thought-leadership the industry and the public demanded.
“There is no sense in pretending farming will remain the same, it won’t - but we must not be afraid of change, we need to think far into the future, to prepare our members for what is around the corner, to make the coming decades brighter so that rural businesses can continue to survive and thrive.
Speaking at the CLA’s spring council meeting in London, Mr Worsley said that without a Common Agricultural Policy, farming as we know it would not exist.
“It is essential that we keep the CAP but we need to do so in a way that is acceptable to Society as a whole.”
The CLA, he said had relentlessly pursued the concept of “Food and Environmental Security” so that the CAP could help maintain the capacity to produce food while at the same time protecting and sustaining the natural environment.
“That means farmers need to be paid for producing food and for helping the environment,” he said.
Agri-environment schemes were, he said, key to environmental policy in England and Wales - providing the basic tools with which land managers achieve environmental goals.
“Generations of rural land managers have taken responsibility for the stewardship of the landscapes and habitats we all want to safeguard. The huge recreation and tourism industry their land supports bears witness to its beauty and popularity. The public wants to experience lovely landscapes and vibrant wildlife, pure water and clean air, but it all comes at a price. Those who manage the countryside must be properly rewarded for all they do.”
The CLA President promised that the CLA would continue to press the Government to go ahead with the proposals for a badger cull to start to tackle the “horrendous problem” of Bovine TB and also talked about the challenges of lobbying the Coalition Government, taxation issues, forestry, the Uplands, water, the crazy cost of coastal access and the need to modernise the public rights of way network. He said that, done well, the Localism Bill could boost much-needed entrepreneurship in the countryside but added that there were aspects of the Bill which horrified him.
Mr Worsley said the emergency review of the Feed-in Tariff to encourage more farm-based Anaerobic Digestion was a welcome response to CLA lobbying - but he warned that the Government had, at the same time, damaged investment in solar PV by fast-tracking a review of proposals for installations of over 50 kilowat.
In response to a question from the CLA South West representatives Mr Worlsey said the CLA would be pushing the Government very hard to maintain the currently agreed level of Feed-in Tariffs for solar energy.
He also called for reforms to the planning system which he said, was “too complicated and too expensive” and added that it was vital that rural businesses were served by a planning system that was fully effective.
“It is in our interest, and the interest of the nation, that rural business prospers. For this, we need the right policies – policies that are well considered, sensible and avoid excessive regulation” he said.
Notes To Newsdesks
A full copy of William Worsley’s speech to the CLA Councilcan be downloaded from the CLA website at: www.cla.org.uk
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Business Rates on Empty Property Could be the Final Nail
The Government’s decision to charge business rates on empty properties is becoming an economic nightmare for many commercial landlords – according to the CLA, the rural economy people.
The decision means rate relief on empty business properties with a rateable value of more than £2,600 will disappear shortly and the CLA says the potential fallout is already being felt.
Now the Association is planning to take up the case with MPs and is calling for examples of people struggling to let commercial or industrial units who are likely to find themselves facing the prospect of paying rates on units they cannot let.
CLA South West Director, John Mortimer, says it’s a growing problem. Business rates have more than doubled on many properties within the last year, forcing companies out of business and leaving landlords with properties they cannot let - even at rents which are less than the cost of the business rates.
The problem is further exacerbated by the absence of decent broadband services in many rural areas making offices and industrial units located in converted farm buildings unable to compete with their urban rivals.
“It’s placing further obstacles in the path of commercial property letting and this, together with the scrapping of the rates exemption for empty premises and the small business rate relief, is going to cause serious problems for many small businesses which are working hard to trade their way out of recession.”
It will, he said, also punish the people who invest in the property which provides opportunities for small to medium-sized businesses to operate in the rural sector
“This could totally backfire and, instead of raising revenue for the Government, could force people out of business leaving a gap in the rural economic revival that the Government so clearly needs.”
The CLA in the South West is looking to gather information from anybody likely to be affected by the change in rating policy or who finds it impossible to let units because of the absence of broadband – please respond to info.southwest@cla.org.uk with the words “Business Rates” in the subject area,
“But we are also recommending that people write immediately to their constituency MPs detailing the problem – because we need to raise awareness with MPs that there are real problems facing businesses on the ground,” he said.
The decision means rate relief on empty business properties with a rateable value of more than £2,600 will disappear shortly and the CLA says the potential fallout is already being felt.
Now the Association is planning to take up the case with MPs and is calling for examples of people struggling to let commercial or industrial units who are likely to find themselves facing the prospect of paying rates on units they cannot let.
CLA South West Director, John Mortimer, says it’s a growing problem. Business rates have more than doubled on many properties within the last year, forcing companies out of business and leaving landlords with properties they cannot let - even at rents which are less than the cost of the business rates.
The problem is further exacerbated by the absence of decent broadband services in many rural areas making offices and industrial units located in converted farm buildings unable to compete with their urban rivals.
“It’s placing further obstacles in the path of commercial property letting and this, together with the scrapping of the rates exemption for empty premises and the small business rate relief, is going to cause serious problems for many small businesses which are working hard to trade their way out of recession.”
It will, he said, also punish the people who invest in the property which provides opportunities for small to medium-sized businesses to operate in the rural sector
“This could totally backfire and, instead of raising revenue for the Government, could force people out of business leaving a gap in the rural economic revival that the Government so clearly needs.”
The CLA in the South West is looking to gather information from anybody likely to be affected by the change in rating policy or who finds it impossible to let units because of the absence of broadband – please respond to info.southwest@cla.org.uk with the words “Business Rates” in the subject area,
“But we are also recommending that people write immediately to their constituency MPs detailing the problem – because we need to raise awareness with MPs that there are real problems facing businesses on the ground,” he said.
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
CLA Offers Tips on the New ‘Localised’ Planning System
1 February 2011
The Government’s Localism Bill will change the structure of the planning process and take decision making out to local communities – but there are inherent problems and steering a successful application through the new structure will require a different set of skills – according to experts at the Country Land and Business Association.
In order to explain the detail of the new regime – and to give advice to people considering planning applications – the CLA is organising a day long conference titled:” Planning to Win” at the Royal Cornwall Showground, Wadebridge, on 15 February.
The key note speaker will be CLA Planning specialist, Fenella Collins, who says the Localism Bill will give people a far greater say in what happens within their own communities – but it will also mean they are likely to be in for a tougher time winning their application.
“Ministers claim this Bill will enable growth - but there are already conflicts emerging between developers and the localism agenda. Giving more people a greater say will offer those people the chance to say no without considering the strategic importance of an application. The Government have not resolved the issues and people need real clarification on how the Government intends to push forward a presumption in favour of sustainable development.”
She warned that the bill did not just represent a culture change for planners – but for everybody who becomes involved in the process. The Government's agenda is to give local communities the ability to determine their own future, to move away from the idea of strict planning envelopes and development limits – but the concept of sustainable communities means that businesses need to be allowed to develop in order to provide the jobs, incomes and housing opportunities that rural people aspire to.
CLA South West Director, John Mortimer, said that the conference, which is sponsored by Stephens Scown & Acorus Rural Property Services Ltd, will look at the future for the planning system and how to win the hearts and minds of those who will hold the decision making powers.
“This event will look at ways of shaping the future, planning the route from where we are to where we want to be and how to win the argument – these are going to be the key issues within the planning system in the future and this seminar will explore the PR, political and sustainability issues that are likely to help people win,” he said.
The event will include presentations from lawyers, planning consultants and PR professionals and costs £20 for CLA members and £30 for non-CLA members. Places can be reserved by calling Sarah Fern on 01249 700200 or by going to www.regonline.co.uk/claswevents .
The Government’s Localism Bill will change the structure of the planning process and take decision making out to local communities – but there are inherent problems and steering a successful application through the new structure will require a different set of skills – according to experts at the Country Land and Business Association.
In order to explain the detail of the new regime – and to give advice to people considering planning applications – the CLA is organising a day long conference titled:” Planning to Win” at the Royal Cornwall Showground, Wadebridge, on 15 February.
The key note speaker will be CLA Planning specialist, Fenella Collins, who says the Localism Bill will give people a far greater say in what happens within their own communities – but it will also mean they are likely to be in for a tougher time winning their application.
“Ministers claim this Bill will enable growth - but there are already conflicts emerging between developers and the localism agenda. Giving more people a greater say will offer those people the chance to say no without considering the strategic importance of an application. The Government have not resolved the issues and people need real clarification on how the Government intends to push forward a presumption in favour of sustainable development.”
She warned that the bill did not just represent a culture change for planners – but for everybody who becomes involved in the process. The Government's agenda is to give local communities the ability to determine their own future, to move away from the idea of strict planning envelopes and development limits – but the concept of sustainable communities means that businesses need to be allowed to develop in order to provide the jobs, incomes and housing opportunities that rural people aspire to.
CLA South West Director, John Mortimer, said that the conference, which is sponsored by Stephens Scown & Acorus Rural Property Services Ltd, will look at the future for the planning system and how to win the hearts and minds of those who will hold the decision making powers.
“This event will look at ways of shaping the future, planning the route from where we are to where we want to be and how to win the argument – these are going to be the key issues within the planning system in the future and this seminar will explore the PR, political and sustainability issues that are likely to help people win,” he said.
The event will include presentations from lawyers, planning consultants and PR professionals and costs £20 for CLA members and £30 for non-CLA members. Places can be reserved by calling Sarah Fern on 01249 700200 or by going to www.regonline.co.uk/claswevents .
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Foresight Report is a Wake-Up Call to Government.
Successive British governments have underestimated the resources needed to meet the dual challenge of securing food and environmental security and the Foresight report - which asks farmers to grow more food at less cost to the environment - should serve as a wake-up call to the coalition government according to the CLA.
The Association said it agreed with the conclusion of the Foresight report on Global Food and Farming Futures - that a sustainable intensification of global agriculture will be required to meet the food and environmental challenges facing the world.
CLA South West Director John Mortimer said that the report had assembled the evidence and the leading thinking globally on the problem of food insecurity and although most of the world’s ‘food insecure’ population lived in Sub-Saharan Africa and Asia he said that Europe still had a role to play.
“For years now the debate in Europe has been about how to achieve a mix of productive and competitive farming on the most fertile land while at the same time reducing negative environmental impacts and increasing the delivery of wildlife, landscape, climate, soil and water protection – services only farmers can deliver.”
“This report must be taken seriously. We hope it will act as a wake-up call to the Government to take a more enlightened stance to helping farmers to maximise Europe’s contribution to global food security.
Mr Mortimer said there could be no dispute that the demand for food would grow and it followed that the food producing capacity of a finite land resource would have to be increased – but, at the same time, reducing the amount of food wasted should be given greater priority and we had to remain mindful of our responsibility for the environment.
“Food producers and Government have a part to play – but so do consumers and others involved in the food chain. We have to find better ways of using the food we produce and reducing the amount which is wasted.
He said that Europe’s Common Agricultural Policy had to be capable of maintaining and increasing Europe’s capacity to produce food while arranging to pay farmers for the environmental services - landscape, biodiversity, water quality, heritage and other public goods - for which the market will not pay.
“This is at the core of the debate on the reform of the CAP which is currently underway and it is the position, we believe, the Coalition Government should support.”
The Association said it agreed with the conclusion of the Foresight report on Global Food and Farming Futures - that a sustainable intensification of global agriculture will be required to meet the food and environmental challenges facing the world.
CLA South West Director John Mortimer said that the report had assembled the evidence and the leading thinking globally on the problem of food insecurity and although most of the world’s ‘food insecure’ population lived in Sub-Saharan Africa and Asia he said that Europe still had a role to play.
“For years now the debate in Europe has been about how to achieve a mix of productive and competitive farming on the most fertile land while at the same time reducing negative environmental impacts and increasing the delivery of wildlife, landscape, climate, soil and water protection – services only farmers can deliver.”
“This report must be taken seriously. We hope it will act as a wake-up call to the Government to take a more enlightened stance to helping farmers to maximise Europe’s contribution to global food security.
Mr Mortimer said there could be no dispute that the demand for food would grow and it followed that the food producing capacity of a finite land resource would have to be increased – but, at the same time, reducing the amount of food wasted should be given greater priority and we had to remain mindful of our responsibility for the environment.
“Food producers and Government have a part to play – but so do consumers and others involved in the food chain. We have to find better ways of using the food we produce and reducing the amount which is wasted.
He said that Europe’s Common Agricultural Policy had to be capable of maintaining and increasing Europe’s capacity to produce food while arranging to pay farmers for the environmental services - landscape, biodiversity, water quality, heritage and other public goods - for which the market will not pay.
“This is at the core of the debate on the reform of the CAP which is currently underway and it is the position, we believe, the Coalition Government should support.”
Localism Bill Should Support the Rural Economy
.
The Coalition Government’s proposed Localism Bill, which received its Second Reading this week, must do more to help deliver economic growth in rural communities, says the CLA.
The Association supports the Bill’s aim to give local people a greater say in decisions that affect them, but says amendments need to be made to help sustain the rural economy - otherwise the proposed reform of the planning system risks actually hindering growth.
The CLA says that for rural areas to benefit, amendments should include:
• A presumption in favour of sustainable development to help provide certainty for investors and encourage small-scale economic activity in rural areas
• An extension of the power of local authorities to grant reliefs to businesses in rural areas because scrapping the current exemption and replacing it with powers to grant relief only to charitable or not-for-profit enterprises, will put the rural economy at a considerable disadvantage.
• A clear definition of an ‘asset of community value’ – the Bill as it is currently drafted could become a means for the authority to compulsorily acquire a privately owned asset considered to be of value to the community without the checks and balances of the existing compulsory purchase process.
CLA South West Director, John Mortimer, said: "I think everyone now accepts that we need the opportunity to trade ourselves out of recession but this whole localism agenda will require people to step up and become involved in the planning process – we can no longer rely on other to do it for us.
“Rural businesses have the will, but they need confidence that their activities will be encouraged. If the Localism Bill does not enable the conditions for growth, businesses will stall or simply relocate and take the wealth and jobs they have created with them.
“Rural communities must recognise that they might have to accept - and even encourage - change in the form of appropriate development in order to secure longer term benefits.”
Notes to Newsdesks:
For further information on this press release contact: Paul Millard CLA SW Communications Manager on 01380 830179
For further information on the CLA go to: www.cla.org.uk
Read our blog at http://southwestcla.blogspot.com/
Follow us on Twitter at: http://twitter.com/clasouthwest
The Coalition Government’s proposed Localism Bill, which received its Second Reading this week, must do more to help deliver economic growth in rural communities, says the CLA.
The Association supports the Bill’s aim to give local people a greater say in decisions that affect them, but says amendments need to be made to help sustain the rural economy - otherwise the proposed reform of the planning system risks actually hindering growth.
The CLA says that for rural areas to benefit, amendments should include:
• A presumption in favour of sustainable development to help provide certainty for investors and encourage small-scale economic activity in rural areas
• An extension of the power of local authorities to grant reliefs to businesses in rural areas because scrapping the current exemption and replacing it with powers to grant relief only to charitable or not-for-profit enterprises, will put the rural economy at a considerable disadvantage.
• A clear definition of an ‘asset of community value’ – the Bill as it is currently drafted could become a means for the authority to compulsorily acquire a privately owned asset considered to be of value to the community without the checks and balances of the existing compulsory purchase process.
CLA South West Director, John Mortimer, said: "I think everyone now accepts that we need the opportunity to trade ourselves out of recession but this whole localism agenda will require people to step up and become involved in the planning process – we can no longer rely on other to do it for us.
“Rural businesses have the will, but they need confidence that their activities will be encouraged. If the Localism Bill does not enable the conditions for growth, businesses will stall or simply relocate and take the wealth and jobs they have created with them.
“Rural communities must recognise that they might have to accept - and even encourage - change in the form of appropriate development in order to secure longer term benefits.”
Notes to Newsdesks:
For further information on this press release contact: Paul Millard CLA SW Communications Manager on 01380 830179
For further information on the CLA go to: www.cla.org.uk
Read our blog at http://southwestcla.blogspot.com/
Follow us on Twitter at: http://twitter.com/clasouthwest
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Localism Bill Should Support the Rural Economy
The Coalition Government’s proposed Localism Bill, which received its Second Reading this week, must do more to help deliver economic growth in rural communities, says the CLA.
The Association supports the Bill’s aim to give local people a greater say in decisions that affect them, but says amendments need to be made to help sustain the rural economy - otherwise the proposed reform of the planning system risks actually hindering growth.
The CLA says that for rural areas to benefit, amendments should include:
· A presumption in favour of sustainable development to help provide certainty for investors and encourage small-scale economic activity in rural areas
· An extension of the power of local authorities to grant reliefs to businesses in rural areas because scrapping the current exemption and replacing it with powers to grant relief only to charitable or not-for-profit enterprises, will put the rural economy at a considerable disadvantage.
· A clear definition of an ‘asset of community value’ – the Bill as it is currently drafted could become a means for the authority to compulsorily acquire a privately owned asset considered to be of value to the community without the checks and balances of the existing compulsory purchase process.
CLA South West Director, John Mortimer, said: "I think everyone now accepts that we need the opportunity to trade ourselves out of recession but this whole localism agenda will require people to step up and become involved in the planning process – we can no longer rely on other to do it for us.
“Rural businesses have the will, but they need confidence that their activities will be encouraged. If the Localism Bill does not enable the conditions for growth, businesses will stall or simply relocate and take the wealth and jobs they have created with them.
“Rural communities must recognise that they might have to accept - and even encourage - change in the form of appropriate development in order to secure longer term benefits.”
The Association supports the Bill’s aim to give local people a greater say in decisions that affect them, but says amendments need to be made to help sustain the rural economy - otherwise the proposed reform of the planning system risks actually hindering growth.
The CLA says that for rural areas to benefit, amendments should include:
· A presumption in favour of sustainable development to help provide certainty for investors and encourage small-scale economic activity in rural areas
· An extension of the power of local authorities to grant reliefs to businesses in rural areas because scrapping the current exemption and replacing it with powers to grant relief only to charitable or not-for-profit enterprises, will put the rural economy at a considerable disadvantage.
· A clear definition of an ‘asset of community value’ – the Bill as it is currently drafted could become a means for the authority to compulsorily acquire a privately owned asset considered to be of value to the community without the checks and balances of the existing compulsory purchase process.
CLA South West Director, John Mortimer, said: "I think everyone now accepts that we need the opportunity to trade ourselves out of recession but this whole localism agenda will require people to step up and become involved in the planning process – we can no longer rely on other to do it for us.
“Rural businesses have the will, but they need confidence that their activities will be encouraged. If the Localism Bill does not enable the conditions for growth, businesses will stall or simply relocate and take the wealth and jobs they have created with them.
“Rural communities must recognise that they might have to accept - and even encourage - change in the form of appropriate development in order to secure longer term benefits.”
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Weather Forecast
Weather Commerce Ltd:
Persistent & heavy rain across Wales and SW England bringing a risk of flooding
Becoming mild or very mild however, with temperatures above average
Longer term signal is for colder weather to return beyond mid-January
Persistent & heavy rain across Wales and SW England bringing a risk of flooding
Becoming mild or very mild however, with temperatures above average
Longer term signal is for colder weather to return beyond mid-January
CLA President says CAP should reward farmers better for environmental work
Reforms to the Common Agricultural Policy should lead to an adequately funded policy which provides Food and Environmental Security - according to the President of the CLA, William Worsley.
Giving evidence to the influential House of Commons Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Efra) Committee on Tuesday (11 January), Mr Worsley and CLA Policy Director Professor Allan Buckwell set out the CLA case for reform and gave detailed answers to questions posed by the Committee.
The issues covered included the future of Single Farm Payments, competitiveness in agriculture, payment capping, sustainable food production, increased environmental requirements, food security and the mechanisms for delivering more environmental “public goods”.
Asked what the CLA would like to see from CAP reform, the CLA President told Efra: “An adequately funded, common policy on agriculture which is far better justified in the eyes of the public and taxpayer. This will be one which helps sustain the EU capacity to feed itself, contributes to global food security and makes clearer and better provision for rewarding farmers for the public goods they provide – in short a CAP for Food and Environmental Security.”
Mr Worsley said the Single Payment System would “survive until 2020 and evolve” and, although no agreement has been reached yet on how the available support would be redistributed, he argued that: “The relative importance of payments for public environmental goods is rising so any redistribution should reflect this”.
On agricultural competitiveness, Professor Buckwell said the long-term improvement of food productivity was being impeded by the EU’s attitude to the use of biotechnology in crop and livestock production.
Mr Worsley said the CLA opposed the proposal on capping payments to large farmers because it would discriminate against some of the most “productive full-time farms” and the providers of the greatest environmental and social public goods, create disincentives to improve labour productivity and cause legal battles between farmers and administrators.
He said: “A better structured CAP in which the supports are more clearly targeted to the provision of goods the market cannot supply does not require the additional complexity of payment caps.”
On competitiveness and sustainability, Mr Worsley said: “We have to talk about food and sustainability in the same breath because our food producers are also our most important environmental land managers.”
Asked about the future CAP budget, the CLA President said: “The CLA argues that we must first agree what we want the CAP to do, then estimate what a reasonable cost of achieving that is. . . we suggest this will lead to a CAP budget settlement not far from the current size.”
Giving evidence to the influential House of Commons Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Efra) Committee on Tuesday (11 January), Mr Worsley and CLA Policy Director Professor Allan Buckwell set out the CLA case for reform and gave detailed answers to questions posed by the Committee.
The issues covered included the future of Single Farm Payments, competitiveness in agriculture, payment capping, sustainable food production, increased environmental requirements, food security and the mechanisms for delivering more environmental “public goods”.
Asked what the CLA would like to see from CAP reform, the CLA President told Efra: “An adequately funded, common policy on agriculture which is far better justified in the eyes of the public and taxpayer. This will be one which helps sustain the EU capacity to feed itself, contributes to global food security and makes clearer and better provision for rewarding farmers for the public goods they provide – in short a CAP for Food and Environmental Security.”
Mr Worsley said the Single Payment System would “survive until 2020 and evolve” and, although no agreement has been reached yet on how the available support would be redistributed, he argued that: “The relative importance of payments for public environmental goods is rising so any redistribution should reflect this”.
On agricultural competitiveness, Professor Buckwell said the long-term improvement of food productivity was being impeded by the EU’s attitude to the use of biotechnology in crop and livestock production.
Mr Worsley said the CLA opposed the proposal on capping payments to large farmers because it would discriminate against some of the most “productive full-time farms” and the providers of the greatest environmental and social public goods, create disincentives to improve labour productivity and cause legal battles between farmers and administrators.
He said: “A better structured CAP in which the supports are more clearly targeted to the provision of goods the market cannot supply does not require the additional complexity of payment caps.”
On competitiveness and sustainability, Mr Worsley said: “We have to talk about food and sustainability in the same breath because our food producers are also our most important environmental land managers.”
Asked about the future CAP budget, the CLA President said: “The CLA argues that we must first agree what we want the CAP to do, then estimate what a reasonable cost of achieving that is. . . we suggest this will lead to a CAP budget settlement not far from the current size.”
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
There May Be Turmoil Ahead
The economy and the new Government’s responses to the challenges it poses are changing the rules and structures to which we have come accustomed - all of which will contribute to 2011 being something of a year of turmoil according to Rupert Best, the chairman of the Dorset branch of the CLA.
The CLA, he said, had successfully influenced the debate on CAP reform and the dual issue of food and environmental security was now firmly on the agenda - but weather damage to crops around the world - plus the influence of a weak pound - had further highlighted the need for food security and the importance of self sufficiency.
“The weather of the last two winters has not only meant a satisfactory return to past cropping patterns but also appears to be good for wildlife and the ecology. I believe that Dorset’s growing reputation for quality foods provides clear opportunities for CLA members in agricultural and food processing businesses,” he said.
Mr Best said the early wintery conditions highlighted the importance of four wheel drive vehicles and their essential role in rural areas both for livestock and people.
“Four wheel drive saved the day in many rural areas and I do think the extra tax on them is unfair and, in the light the need to cope with normal snowy and icy weather, should be ended.
On other issues Mr Best said that the Government had made a welcome start on tackling Bovine TB and, while there was no logic in continuing to give badgers the legal protection of an endangered species, DEFRA’s proposals were the best on offer.
“Natural England is determined that the route around Portland and Weymouth Bay should be in place by the Olympics, so Coastal Access will continue to be a burning issue in the County. The Branch, now with a seat on various county bodies, will continue to argue for an Olympic legacy, not least in broadband and mobile telephone coverage.
A new planning regime is to be tested in West Dorset this year and Government Offices, Regional Development Agencies and business support funding are being swept away. Will 2011 be the year of a Local Enterprise Partnership for Dorset, with business and local authorities working as equal partners to promote the local economy? It is high time that rural areas, market towns and coastal industry received the priority they deserve and the CLA has an important part to play in ensuring that this is delivered,” he said.
The CLA, he said, had successfully influenced the debate on CAP reform and the dual issue of food and environmental security was now firmly on the agenda - but weather damage to crops around the world - plus the influence of a weak pound - had further highlighted the need for food security and the importance of self sufficiency.
“The weather of the last two winters has not only meant a satisfactory return to past cropping patterns but also appears to be good for wildlife and the ecology. I believe that Dorset’s growing reputation for quality foods provides clear opportunities for CLA members in agricultural and food processing businesses,” he said.
Mr Best said the early wintery conditions highlighted the importance of four wheel drive vehicles and their essential role in rural areas both for livestock and people.
“Four wheel drive saved the day in many rural areas and I do think the extra tax on them is unfair and, in the light the need to cope with normal snowy and icy weather, should be ended.
On other issues Mr Best said that the Government had made a welcome start on tackling Bovine TB and, while there was no logic in continuing to give badgers the legal protection of an endangered species, DEFRA’s proposals were the best on offer.
“Natural England is determined that the route around Portland and Weymouth Bay should be in place by the Olympics, so Coastal Access will continue to be a burning issue in the County. The Branch, now with a seat on various county bodies, will continue to argue for an Olympic legacy, not least in broadband and mobile telephone coverage.
A new planning regime is to be tested in West Dorset this year and Government Offices, Regional Development Agencies and business support funding are being swept away. Will 2011 be the year of a Local Enterprise Partnership for Dorset, with business and local authorities working as equal partners to promote the local economy? It is high time that rural areas, market towns and coastal industry received the priority they deserve and the CLA has an important part to play in ensuring that this is delivered,” he said.
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