Briefing paper (attached).

The Committee considered a briefing paper prepared by Councillor Bulled in relation to the proposed agriculture reforms.

Councillor Bulled addressed the Committee and outlined the following points to the Committee:

·       There appeared to be no effective Rural Policy upon which to hang the increasing environmental demands and offsets that were required within housing and economic development including carbon offsetting, biodiversity net gain, 30 by 30 expectations, climate mitigation, water issues and many more.

·       This provided NDC with an opportunity to facilitate actions that promoted the opportunities to retain the economic value of such measures within our area and provide a leveraged economic benefit to the rural economy.

·       The income of upland farmers had dropped by 34%.

·       Some authorities had a rural policy which defined an intention to support in principle their own rural areas and economies.

·       That the Council consider whether to implement a “Statement of Recognition” of the value of the rural economy, its potential role in contributing towards the Councils core objectives .

·       Rural North Devon was central to the Councils visitor economy and food production as well as having the means to deliver many of the Councils environmental aspirations. A statement of support would be a good start to engaging fully with them.

·       The European Union (EU) based Basic payment scheme (BPS) was due to end in 2024 and would be replaced by Environmental land management (ELM) which would eventually deliver private finance opportunities from carbon, water and biodiversity. In the meantime farming and other rural business were likely to suffer financial challenges of significant proportions.

·       Farmers produced food and only 50% were self-sufficient in the United Kingdom.

·       Would like the Council to support and acknowledge what farmers were doing and the value that they brought to the economy.

·       The Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) was a regular income paid to farmers and the loss of this subsidy would have a huge impact upon their livelihood.

·       The Committee raised concerns regarding the national failure of the government to understand or acknowledge the financial pressure that farmers were facing.  The National Planning Policy framework now had food production as a priority and there was a requirement for a firm political steer.

·       Farmers required support and continuity from the Council to lobby government.

·       The average age of a farmer was now 57 years old and it was becoming increasingly difficult for younger people to get into farming.

·       The next steps were to draw up a list in invitees to attend a meeting with the Committee to discuss agriculture.

·       The Chief Executive added that Graham Allcott from North Devon + be invited to attend the meeting as a member of the panel.

The Chief Executive advised that in order to make a decision, the Council would first need to ascertain what was contained within a Rural Policy to ensure that there was no crossover with its existing policies, which might deliver a similar remit.

He added that farmers were currently supported through North Devon +, which provided advice and farm diversification. There were a couple of events scheduled for 30^th January and 6^th February 2024 at Holsworthy and Filleigh to meet with farmers and discuss how they could be supported.

In response to a question regarding how much farmers would lose financially as a result of the loss of the BPS, the Chief Executive advised that he would liaise with North Devon + to find out if they had that information available.

RESOLVED:

a)    That the report be noted; and

b)    That Councillor Bulled arrange an agriculture group meeting within the next couple of weeks to discuss and develop a list of panellists to invite to the Committee meeting in March 2024.

The Chair thanked Councillor Bulled for her update to the Committee.