Issue - meetings

To consider the Notice of Motion.

The Committee considered the report, prepared in response to a Notice of Motion: Protecting Family Farms and Preserving Rural Communities across Cheshire East farms, which had been referred to the Committee by Council at its meeting on 11 December 2024

Councillor A Heler addressed the committee as the seconder of the Motion.

The Committee debated the Notice of Motion. Points raised during the debate included:

·       the changes having a negative impact on small farmers and family run farms rather than large landowners.

·       it could lead to increase reliance on imported food which could be of lower quality.

·       the economic damage the tax could have on rural communities as farms supported local businesses and employment.

·       the increased financial pressure could worsen the mental health and high suicide rate amongst farmers.

·       large corporations could find legal ways to avoid the tax and small farmers would bear the burden.

·       farming was not a high-profit industry, and many farmers reinvested earning into their land

·       there was criticism of the Government’s justification for the tax changes and that the statistics used were misleading

·       the inheritance tax reforms were necessary to prevent wealthy individuals from using farmland as a tax shelter.

·       there should be tax relief for farmers who engage in sustainable environmentally friendly practice rather than applying a blanket exemption.

It was noted that further engagement with farmers and stakeholders would take place during the Rural Action Plan update, and that a rural workstream was being set up within the new devolution framework, and funding would be sought for rural initiatives.

RESOLVED:  That the Committee

1               note the Notice of Motion.

2        note that engagement will be undertaken as part of the refresh of the Rural Action Plan throughout the year, and therefore to enable opportunities of support to be identified and included in the revised Rural Action Plan 2026-2030.