Agenda, decisions and minutes

There were no apologies for absence.

To provide an opportunity for Members and Officers to declare any disclosable pecuniary and non-pecuniary interests in any item on the agenda.

There were no declarations of interest.

In accordance with Procedure Rules Nos.11 and 35 a period of 10 minutes is allocated for members of the public to address the meeting on any matter relevant to the work of the body in question.  Individual members of the public may speak for up to 5 minutes but the Chairman or person presiding will decide how the period of time allocated for public speaking will be apportioned where there are a number of speakers. Members of the public are not required to give notice to use this facility. However, as a matter of courtesy, a period of 24 hours’ notice is encouraged.

Members of the public wishing to ask a question at the meeting should provide at least three clear working days’ notice in writing and should include the question with that notice. This will enable an informed answer to be given.

No members of the public were present.

To consider the lettings of Moss, Centenary and Mount Pleasant Farms. 

That approval be given to the letting for Moss, Centenary and Mount Farms individually for periods of up to 15 years, and that Officers be authorised to take all necessary actions to implement the proposal.

It was reported that the overarching farms estate strategy had been approved by Cabinet in January 2012 and supplemented by the findings of a Cabinet Review Group during 2013, including improving the scale and type of opportunities to farm for new entrants and those seeking progression. 

Options for the structure of the Ridley Farms estate were considered and approved in October 2015 confirming that Moss, Centenary & Mount Pleasant Farms should be offered as Entry Level 1, Level 2 & Level 2 opportunities respectively.  The farms had been advertised ‘to let’ from 1^st April 2016 following on, in the two latter cases, to the outgoing tenants having secured tenancies of larger farms on privately owned estates.

Lettings for farms are for a period of up to 15 years or up to age 65, typically with 5 year break clauses, and they are advertised on the open market. Prospective tenants are invited to submit their farming proposals and business plans identifying the term that they propose, any investment that they propose or require, and the rent payable, by informal tender; Portfolio Holder approval was required for leases of more than 7 years.

In response to an email request from Cllr B Roberts, that all workers employed either directly or indirectly on Cheshire East owned property should be paid not less than the living wage, it was noted that whilst being supportive this was not something which could be dealt with as part of the lease agreements.

RESOLVED

That approval be given to the letting for Moss, Centenary and Mount Farms individually for periods of up to 15 years, and that Officers be authorised to take all necessary actions to implement the proposal.