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.”
Thursday, March 10, 2011
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
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