Key Decision CE11/12-22 Farms Estate Policy Review
Meeting: 09/01/2012 - Cabinet (Item 99)
99 Key Decision CE11/12-22 Farms Estate Policy Review 
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To consider the findings of a review of the rationale for the provision of the service, and the scale and nature of future provision.
Minutes:
Councillors D Flude and S Wilkinson had both declared personal interests in this item.
Consideration was given to the findings of a review of the rationale for the provision of the service, and to the scale and nature of future provision. As the existing management strategy was due to mature in 2013 a Cabinet Review Group had been commissioned to study the issues, including the nature of the service and how it relates to the Councils vision and corporate objectives, and to provide a cost benefit analysis to assist in reaching a conclusion upon the formulation of policy for the service.
RESOLVED
1. That the report on the Farms Estate Policy Review be noted.
2. That the continuing provision of opportunities to farm as a core objective for the service be endorsed.
3. That the target structure be amended to accommodate targets to deliver two levels of opportunity identified as Entry Level 1 (EL1) and Entry Level 2 (EL2) farms.
4. That the target structure be modelled to continue the drive to deliver a larger number of the Entry Level 2 units in the proportional split of three Entry Level 1 farms to eight Entry Level 2 farms.
5. That the size of the estate be maintained at a similar area as existing, subject to reductions occurring by the disposal of property identified as surplus in the reorganisation, for corporate projects or for development purposes and strategic acquisitions, where appropriate.
6. That the implementation of the reorganisation be amended to acknowledge deferred activity and a more proactive approach to deliver the mature plan within five years.
7. That the capital programmes acknowledge and recognise the receipts achievable from the disposal of those properties identified as surplus in the reorganisation.
8. That the capital programmes acknowledge and recognise the predicted costs of the reorganisation programme.
9. That opportunities for the Farms Estate asset base to contribute to and achieve the wider vision of the Council be explored.
10.That a series of service targets be developed to recognise objectives regarding the target structure and the wider vision of the Council’s Sustainable Communities Strategy.
11.That the Cabinet Review Group further explore both the options for a revised structure of tenancies and the implications for the Farms Estate Management Shared Service arising from the conflicting ambitions of Cheshire West and Chester and Cheshire East for their respective estates.