Council farm tenancies to double in length

By Elgan Hearn, Local Democracy Reporter

A new Powys council farm estate policy that will see tenancies double in length has been backed by the county council’s cabinet.

Powys has the biggest rural farm estate in Wales and the fifth biggest in all of the UK and how it is run has become a political football in recent years.

The major change is a move to 15-year farm tenancies from the previous eight years with the updated policy to: “establish a clear strategic framework for the council’s farm estate by defining its primary purpose as a long-term public asset that supports entry into farming, sustainable land management, resilient rural communities and wider corporate outcomes, while operating within the council’s approved financial framework.”

A consultation took place between September 1 and October 12 last year on draft proposals.

Council Leader, Cllr Jake Berriman (Liberal Democrat – Llandrindod North), said: “I’m really pleased to be able to bring this policy to you today, it’s been some time in gestation.

“We received not the most extensive response to that consultation, but some really detailed responses from people who understand and care about the sector, and I’m particularly pleased glad we had quite a lot of tenant participation in those responses.”

Cllr Berriman continued: “What we wanted to do is ensure that the estate going forward is providing competitive and viable rent so that we are getting value for the council but not being prohibitive to those who wish to become tenants.”

He added that the estate was being used as a “powerful tool” to respond to the nature and climate emergencies the council has declare to ensure that farming practices as those “to be proud of.”

Finance Portfolio Holder Cllr David Thomas (Labour – Tawe Uchaf) while welcoming the new policy pointed out that investment in the estate would be difficult to justify.

Cllr Thomas said: “I do hold some concerns particularly in the long term over resource implications.”

He drew attention to Director of Corporate Services and s151 Officer Jane Thomas’ comments in the report.

Cllr Thomas said that her comments “point out a number of objectives in the policy have the potential to require considerable investment and with the current situation the authority is in, it will have to be carefully managed”.

“She also reminds us that the council’s focus should be on statutory services in the long run,” he said.

These are that Education and Social Services that the council is legally obliged to provide, while maintaining a farming estate is not.

He added that any investment in the estate would need to be supported by “business cases” and approval of projects to align with the council’s “wider priorities”.

Cabinet Member for Legal and Regulatory Services, Cllr Richard Church (Liberal Democrat – Welshpool Castle), welcomed the policy and said: “It demonstrates that we’re not disinterested landlords that let out land without showing any interest in what land is used for during a tenancy.

“We’re landlords that are acting as custodians of the land for the long term – this policy demonstrates that very clearly.

Councillors went on to unanimously vote in favour of adopting the policy.