Holiday Lettings
Wednesday 29 November 2017: 2pm – 4pm
The Monks Yard, Horton Cross Farm, Horton Cross, Ilminster TA19 9PT
Price: £30 inc VAT CLA members (additional family members FOC); non-members £40; Students & YFC members £5
Supported by: Classic Cottages, Ernst and Young and Clarke Willmott

The UK is the 8th largest international tourism destination ranked by visitor numbers and is therefore a vital sector in the UK economy that is underpinned by the availability of accommodation. Much of this can attributed to hotels, but a significant proportion relies on holiday lets being provided by private individuals. Stretching from the sandy beaches in Cornwall, to the dramatic Jurassic coast in Dorset, private self-catering accommodation is required to meet the demands of the tourism industry.

However, there are a number of factors that prospective entrants or even current providers in the industry, may have overlooked, such as rating implications, tax pitfalls and planning considerations. This seminar will inform members on the process of entering the holiday letting market with its opportunities and potential hazards that will inevitably occur.

This seminar will cover:
• What makes a successful holiday let
• Planning considerations (Conversion/New Build/Listed building)
• Tax and Rating Implications
• Marketing
• Legal Requirements

Key Speakers will be:
• Elsa Littlewood – Ernst and Young,  Accountants
• Simon Tregoning – Classic Cottages
• Tim Hayden and Caroline Waller, Clarke Willmott

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One Day All This Will Be.... Well, Whose Exactly?  DEVON
Alternatives to Conventional Succession Planning
Tuesday 21 November 2017: 4pm – 7pm followed by hot fork supper
Exeter Court Hotel, Kennford, Exeter, Devon EX6 7UX
followed by hot fork supper
Price: £30 inc VAT CLA members (additional family members FOC); non-members £40; Students & YFC members £5

Supported by: PKF Francis Clark, Carter Jonas and Foot Anstey

Discussions on the need for family succession planning have been well rehearsed in recent years - it is a move which is essential to the protection of your assets, your business, your family and, more broadly, the future viability of the farming industry – but what if there is no natural successor?

It has been reported in recent years, that many family farms and estates are faced with the prospect that none of the children are interested in physically farming or do not have the skills, knowledge or desire to farm in today’s agricultural sector.  In those circumstances, farming families should start to explore ways to ensure the farm business continues after the current generation officially retires, rather than simply selling off the asset.  This option would keep the farm in ownership as a going concern, either as a secure investment, or in case a future generation wishes to farm.

This event sets out to provide a guide on the options available to develop a future plan that will drive forward both the farm business and the family’s objectives in a positive and profitable way.
The session is aimed at those without any family succession planning who are looking for alternative ways for business continuity or for those that wish to return to the family business, but may not have the experience or desire to do so right now.

We have the cream of the crop of industry professionals at these events who will endeavour to offer a leap of confidence in tackling this core continuity challenge to any family farming business.

This seminar will examine:

• Recognising the family and business objectives
• The challenges of planning for the future
• Options for transition or continuation of the business
• Career progression and training for family members
• Legal and tax considerations
• Our speakers will also talk through case studies of rural businesses and families who have taken a different approach with no conventional family succession

Speakers will include:
• David Hebditch - Carter Jonas
• Jonathan Hayes and Heather Britton – Francis Clark
• Joel Woolf – Foot Anstey
• Ian Bell - Addington Fund
• Richard Soffe – Duchy Rural Business School
• Professor Matt Lobley – University of Exeter
• Alison Ricketts – Fresh Start Land Enterprise

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Riparian & Fisheries Law and Water Pollution
Thursday 16 November 2017: 9.30am – 1pm
Manor Farm, Frampton Court Estate, Frampton on Severn, Gloucester GL2 7EP
Price: £30 inc VAT CLA members (additional family members FOC); non-members £40; Students & YFC members £5
Supported by: Harrison Clark Rickerbys

Are there rivers, lakes or fishing interests on your or your neighbour’s land? Are you familiar with the law surrounding riparian ownership and fishing rights? If you own such assets, what should you do if they are affected by pollution? What if your activities have inadvertently polluted someone else’s river or fishery? What about poaching and trespass issues and what can be done to enhance river habitat for fisheries?

These and other issues will be covered by this seminar. Speakers from a leading law firm with expertise in this area will cover key aspects of the legal issues. We will also hear from Dane Broomfield of the Environment Agency about minimising pollution risk, regulatory enforcement and the various licenses and consents needed when work is carried out in or near rivers. In addition Harriet Alvis from Bristol Avon Rivers Trust will review what steps can be taken to enhance or restore river habitat for the benefit of freshwater fish.

Topics covered will include:

• Legalities of ownership of river band and bed
• Ownership of fish and the right to fish
• Navigation rights
• Common causes of pollution and liability
• The process of investigation
• Representation for the alleged polluter or affected owner
• Evidence, defences
• EA approach to enforcement
• Trespass and poaching and theft
• Review of licenses, permits and consents for work in rivers
• River habitat management and enhancement for fish species

Speakers include:

• Mary Wathen, Partner, Harrison Clark Rickerbys
• Esther Stirling, Partner, Harrison Clark Rickerbys
• Aled Owen, Partner, Harrison Clark Rickerbys
• Dane Broomfield - Land and Water Team Leader, Environment Agency
• Harriet Alvis – Project Officer, Bristol Avon Rivers Trust

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Rural Tax – Know the ABC
Monday 6 November 2017: 4pm – 7pm followed by hot fork supper
Wessex Royale Hotel, Dorchester DT1 1UP
Price: £30 inc VAT CLA members (additional family members FOC); non-members £40; Students & YFC members £5
Supported by: Humphries Kirk and Saffery Champness

Although taxation is a necessary evil there are things you can do to minimise your tax bill. We have an excellent line up of speakers who are experts in their field and will do their best to sweeten the taxation pill for you. How is agriculture viewed by HMRC? What are the tax pros and cons of different business structures? What are capital allowances and how can they help my business? What are the key considerations and reliefs available when passing assets on to the next generation? How do you minimise capital gains tax on development land and VAT on construction work? What is the general tax outlook and how does CLA influence it? If you want to make the right tax decisions and avoid expensive mistakes, this is the seminar for you.

This seminar will cover:

• Tax Policy Outlook, Louise Speke, CLA Chief Taxation Adviser

• Tax Policy ‘direction of travel’ looking forward; CLA’s role in influencing policy and advising members on tax issues

• A is for ‘Agriculture’ Louise Speke, CLA Chief Taxation Adviser

• Explanation of the definition of agriculture for tax purposes and the general tax treatment of agricultural businesses by HMRC

• B is for ‘Business’, David Chismon, Saffery Champness

• A review of the tax considerations of different Business structures (Sole Trader,Partnership, Ltd Company, Contract Farming, Share Farming)

• C is for ‘Continuity’, Simon Cross, Humphries Kirk

• Inheritance Tax Planning, Agricultural and Business Property Reliefs, HMRC treatment of ‘Farmhouses’ and of ‘trading’ vs. ‘investment’ activities, relevance of key cases such as the ‘Balfour’. Wills, Trusts and Power of Attorney

• D is for ‘Diversification and Development’ David Chismon, Saffery Champness

• Tax mitigation opportunities for development land 
• Louise Speke, CLA Chief Taxation Adviser – Stamp Duty Land Tax on buying farms – the future of the ‘mixed use’ category. VAT and construction work – the impact of certain planning conditions.

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Is your Farm Business Survival Kit Fit for the Future?
Wednesday 25 October 2017: 4 – 7pm
The Monks Yard, Horton Cross Farm, Ilminster, Somerset TA19 9PT
Price: £30 inc VAT CLA members (additional family members FOC); non-members £40; Students & YFC members £5 followed by hot fork supper
Supported by: Rural Solutions, Milsted Langdon, Parnalls and HSBC

There is real concern across the industry that too many farmers and land managers do not have a clear financial understanding of their farm business enterprises – and they need to act now to make sure their survival plan is going to work.

Understanding how to create and sustain a business-fit farming regime to ensure a profitable business moving forward should be at the top of every farmer and landowner’s current agenda.
Having an awareness of the potential risk to agricultural payments and knowing what that might do to an individual farm’s profit and loss account, will be a vital element to the future proofing of many farm-based businesses. Writing a meaningful and achievable business plan and the consideration of other investment opportunities will be a critical part of this.

With the unpredictability in the agricultural sector, each rural business needs to evaluate its asset portfolio to ensure that financial viability is maintained and that opportunities are maximised where they are appropriate for the long-term strategy of the business.

Lenders are now frequently asked to “stress test” your financial conditions as well as the agricultural portfolio – the question is, is your survival kit up-to-date and fit for purpose?

This event will look at the management of rural businesses, risk management tools and opportunities to grow and move forward with the intention of safeguarding the farm business for future generations.

This seminar will examine:

• Methods to evaluate the current business with business intelligence
• Reviewing your financial viability
• Taking the right strategy for your business
• Making a wise investment
• Capitalising on your existing assets
• Considering new opportunities
• A bank’s perspective
• The approach
• The business plan
• Diversifying – top legal tips to succeed
• What you should be doing to make sure you can secure any required funding to diversify
• Alternative means of financing projects
• Engaging with the next generation – family and employees

Speakers will include:

• James Del Mar, Rural Solutions
• Ian Lloyd, Partner, Milsted Langdon, Accountants
• Louis Mathers, Director Parnalls Solicitors
• Euryn Jones, ‎Regional Agriculture Director, Wales and South West at HSBC Commercial Banking

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One Day All This Will Be...Well, Whose Actually?  Alternatives to Conventional Succession Planning
Wednesday 18 Oct 2017: 4pm – 7pm followed by hot fork supper
The Barn at Berkeley, Berkeley Heath Farm House, Berkeley Heath, Berkeley GL13 9EW
Price: £30 inc VAT CLA members (additional family members FOC); non-members £40; Students & YFC members £5

Supported by: Clarke Willmott, Smith and Williamson and Carter Jonas

Discussions on the need for family succession planning have been well rehearsed in recent years - it is a move which is essential to the protection of your assets, your business, your family and, more broadly, the future viability of the farming industry – but what if there is no natural successor?

It has been reported in recent years, that many family farms and estates are faced with the prospect that none of the children are interested in physically farming or do not have the skills, knowledge or desire to farm in today’s agricultural sector.  In those circumstances, farming families should start to explore ways to ensure the farm business continues after the current generation officially retires, rather than simply selling off the asset.  This option would keep the farm in ownership as a going concern, either as a secure investment, or in case a future generation wishes to farm.

This event sets out to provide a guide on the options available to develop a future plan that will drive forward both the farm business and the family’s objectives in a positive and profitable way.
The session is aimed at those without any family succession planning who are looking for alternative ways for business continuity or for those that wish to return to the family business, but may not have the experience or desire to do so right now.

We have the cream of the crop of industry professionals at these events who will endeavour to offer a leap of confidence in tackling this core continuity challenge to any family farming business.

This seminar will examine:

• Recognising the family and business objectives
• The challenges of planning for the future
• Options for transition or continuation of the business
• Career progression and training for family members
• Legal and tax considerations
• Our speakers will also talk through case studies of rural businesses and families who have taken a different approach with no conventional family succession

Speakers will include:
• David Hebditch - Carter Jonas
• Louise Somerset - Smith and Williamson
• David Maddock - Clarke Willmott
• Ian Bell - Addington Fund
• Richard Soffe – Duchy Rural Business School
• Professor Matt Lobley – University of Exeter
• Alison Ricketts – Fresh Start Land Enterprise

Click here to book