HC FARMS

[Denise Lloyd]

http://councillors.herefordshire.gov.uk/documents/s50041006/Appendix%201%20-%20HC%20Phase%201%20Report.pdf

 

No doubt this will be nodded through next week

[Denise Lloyd]

It's Our County

2 hrs Â· 

Cabinet approve Fisher German Report recommending Herefordshire small holding sell-off plans. Fisher German recently sold cabinet member Patricia Morgan's farming estate for well over its multi-million asking price.

[Denise Lloyd]

I am not absolutely certain the above comment is as factual as it should be I have merely copied it over from FB

[Denise Lloyd]

http://www.herefordtimes.com/news/14813245.Disposal_plan_for_smallholdings_estate_approved/?ref=mrb&lp=14

 

 

As predicted

[Denise Lloyd]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hereford-worcester-37751470

[Denise Lloyd]

When they have spent the xxx million pounds that they think they will make on the farms which is in effect capital on Adult Social Care as HC say they are going to do then what. Mind you  I personally think if they said they were going to spend it on silly expensive roads to nowhere then there would be uproar  but they have chosen to go for the sympathy vote by saying Adult Social Care. This Council is spiralling out of control when you have a business spending capital on running costs you are only delaying the inevitable.

 

 

Herefordshire farmers 'devastated' at eviction notice

 

The council said the sale provided "best value" for taxpayers' money

Tenant farmers in Herefordshire are saying they are 'devastated' after being told by the council to leave their farms so the council can sell the land.

 

In February, Herefordshire Council issued notices to 'farm business' tenants, two months after agreeing to sell all of its county farms prompting a petition to be launched in a bid to persuade the council to reverse its decision.

 

The council said the sale provided "best value" for taxpayers' money. The farming estate runs over 4,800 acres (19.42 sq km) of land in a number of locations across the county.

 

Tenant Farmers' Association chief executive George Dunn said the council was 'steamrolling ahead' with no regard for the impact of its actions.

 

"At the meeting of the Council’s Cabinet in December, various assurances were given which are not being followed through.

 

"The Cabinet also said that affected tenants 'would be supported through the process'. If kicking tenants out of their homes is being supportive, I would hate to see the Council taking a hardline!"

 

Life-time's work

 

Steve Clayton, a Rowlestone farmer, said the council had told tenants "no-one would be homeless" but some have been told to leave by September.

 

He told the BBC: "It's a life-time's work. At the moment we just don't know where we are going to be next year."

 

Patricia Morgan, deputy leader of the council, said: "As funding becomes ever tighter, the notices have been issued to ensure certainty for tenants and we will support tenants to ensure they receive the support and help they require."

 

Green Party councillor Jenny Bartlett said an opportunity to look at more creative ways of running the county estate had been missed.

 

"The decision was made with no real consideration of the options put forward by the General Overview and Scrutiny Committee working group, of which I was a member."

 

Clare Greener, NFU Herefordshire county adviser and spokesman, said: "Herefordshire farming families have faced serious upheaval throughout this process, unable to plan for the future, and they will be inconsolable.

 

"We understand there are pressures on council budgets but they are a valuable resource and properly managed can provide sustainable long term income; we remain convinced that they should not just be cashed in."

[Maggie May]

I think this just goes to show that whether the Council have their finance officer or not, they cannot be trusted with OUR money and assets. Why can so many other Council's run their small holding estates to generate a regular income year after year, but our Council cannot turn a profit?

If compared to other local council's they are so rubbish at running what is quite a small Council, then perhaps they shouldn't be in charge. The people who should leave are not the small holding tenants but this incompetent Cabinet who cannot run an agricultural estate profitably. When this Capital money has all gone, what will these Councillors then do for money? It sounds more like they will be leaving a note saying "if you are looking for the money - it is all gone"! This estate was built up over many years to benefit future generations and this Cabinet has squandered everything of value in our County in very few years and left nothing for this generation, let alone those who follow us. As a taxpayer I am so sorry for the tenant farmers facing eviction - none of it is being done in  my name.

[Denise Lloyd]

TFA e-newsletter 28 October 2016

Welcome to this week’s TFA e-newsletter. This week’s e-newsletter contains an update on the situation with Herefordshire County Council and their decision to sell the entire County Farms estate, news that the TFA is to meet with Natural England and also that Red Tractor is carrying out a review of its standards. There are some new Briefing Notes and the usual tenancy opportunities.

Just to remind members the clocks change this weekend. On Sunday, October 30 at 2 am, the UK will revert to Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) by going back one hour, to 1 am. This marks the official end of British summertime. It means that the mornings will be lighter for a while, but that the evenings will be darker earlier.

Herefordshire County Council's Sell-Off Hits the Headlines Again

The decision to sell the entire Herefordshire County Farms estate made by the Cabinet of the County Council in December of last year, was once again in the headlines as some of the tenant farmers on the estate alleged they had been misled by the local authority. During the Cabinet meeting in December the leader of the Council, Cllr Tony Johnson made the following commitments:

“There has been much rumour and I think some conversation on the radio yesterday that this was going to turn people out of their homes etc and that is extremely wide of the mark. What we are talking about is a possible change of ownership of the tenancies not a change of the tenancies themselves. There will be some changes if it moves out of the ownership of this council. But to many people it will arguably be to the advantage of the tenantsâ€.

“I must take exception to “kicking in the teeth†that implies that these people will lose their homes, lose their livelihoods or whatever, that is not the case. We are talking about a potential change of ownership if the decision is taken to dispose. There will be new owners. The tenants are protected by the terms of their tenancy and that protection will continueâ€.

Despite these very clear statements, the Council decided in February to serve Notices to Quit on all those tenants (around 15) occupying farms under Farm Business Tenancies. All of these tenants face losing their homes and livelihoods contrary to the assurances given by the Leader of the Council.

The TFA continues to press the Council to rescind the Notices to Quit. Click here for an interview provided to BBC Herefordshire and Worcestershire by the TFA’s Chief Executive, George Dunn and one of the affected tenants, Steve Clayton (starts 2:07:45 in).

[Denise Lloyd]

http://www.fwi.co.uk/business/council-farm-tenants-continue-battle-against-estate-sell-off.htm#.WBxUZmDraCZ.facebook

 

 

More national nay international bad news for HC

[Denise Lloyd]

User Actions

 Following

George Dunnâ€@georgewdunn

My interview on BBC Radio Wales this morning talking about the importance of County Council farms in W

[Denise Lloyd]

I could not get the link to work properly but Powys CC understand the importance of the farms and prepared to invest (note the word) the money to get the farms maintained to a legal standard.  I suspect that part of the reason the report carried out on behalf of Hereford CC was banned from public view  contained many pages info on how very poorly maintained these farms actually are.  Marketing poorly maintained properties including farms does get the best value for the tax payer Councillor Bramer et al

[Denise Lloyd]

Missed a really important NOT in the above comment - should read farms does not get the best value ................

[megilleland]

BBC Radio 4 - Farming Today

The National Trust has very little interest in the welfare of hill farmers, says Lake District tenant farmer. But the National Trust begs to differ.

 

Sounds familiar - people and their livelihoods don't count.

[Denise Lloyd]

Yes indeed Meggilleland I know a lot of people who no longer support the NT.

[Denise Lloyd]

I knew the following earlier in the week it took me a couple of days to recover from the news.  All in it together hey?

 

Ombudsman Fails to Find Fault With Council's Fake Pledge

TFA Chief Executive George Dunn

The Tenant Farmers Association (TFA) has expressed its disappointment following a report from the Local Government Ombudsman (LGO) which failed to censure Herefordshire Council for raising false hopes amongst its tenant farmers.

The TFA had complained to the LGO that the Council was guilty of maladministration for serving eviction notices on around 15 of its farm tenants having previously promised the decision to sell its farms estate would not result in tenants losing their homes and livelihoods.

TFA Chief Executive George Dunn said “When the Cabinet of the Council made the decision to sell its 4500 acre estate on 03 December last year, the Leader of the Council, Cllr Tony Johnson, made very clear and unambiguous statements that farm tenants would not face expulsion from their holdings so how can it be that 15 farm families are under notice to quit?â€

The LGO found that although tenant farmers may have been misled by the comments of the Leader, they were in fact unplanned, unscripted and just badly phrased.

“The comments did not come from an inexperienced or junior member of the Council they came from the Council Leader who is an experienced and long-standing politician who is well versed with Council procedure and public speaking. He had been aware of the press reports concerning the potential eviction of tenants occupying on Farm Business Tenancies indeed, he referred specifically to these reports in his remarks. It cannot be concluded that the Leader’s remarks were simply badly phrased. The TFA asserts that the Leader knew exactly what he was saying and what he was responding to,†said Mr Dunn.

“This is a simple case of politicians saying one thing and doing another and they should not be allowed to get away with it. The conduct of the Council falls well short of the standards we expect in our elected representatives when conducting public office.â€

“The Leader must stand by the statements he made in an open meeting of the Council’s Cabinet. The maladministration was not in what he said but in the actions subsequently taken which were contrary to those statements. The Leader should instruct the officers of the Council to rescind all Notices to Quit given his clear and unambiguous statements made on 03 December 2015,†said Mr Dunn.

end

Ref: MR53 Date: 14 November 2016

Notes for Editors:

Direct quotes from the Leader of the County Council, Cllr Tony Johnson, made at the meeting of Herefordshire’s Cabinet on 03 December 2015:

“There has been much rumour and I think some conversation on the radio yesterday that this was going to turn people out of their homes etc and that is extremely wide of the mark. What we are talking about is a possible change of ownership of the tenancies not a change of the tenancies themselves. There will be some changes if it moves out of the ownership of this council. But to many people it will arguably be to the advantage of the tenants.â€

“I must take exception to “kicking in the teeth†that implies that these people will lose their homes, lose their livelihoods or whatever, that is not the case. We are talking about a potential change of ownership if the decision is taken to dispose. There will be new owners. The tenants are protected by the terms of their tenancy and that protection will continue.â€

“Councillor Price made much of, and quite rightly, our duty of care to tenants particularly the FBTs. I promise Councillor Price and everybody else in this room we will do everything we can to make life as comfortable as possible for those affected in this way and we will be inviting them all to come and talk to us either collectively or individually.â€

For further information contact George Dunn on 07721 998961 or TFA Communications and Events Co-ordinator Jenna Kirkpatrick on 0118 930 6130.

[Denise Lloyd]

BBC1 Sunday 11th December 2016 at 1820 hours Countryfile featuring the plight of HC Farms - bit more bad press for HC me thinks

[Glenda Powell]

I was disappointed with Country Files coverage about Herefordshire Council Farms, Mr Craig was close to tears when he said he had farmed for 20 years, and he was to old to do anything else. When Country File asked for an interview with Herefordshire Council they declined, no surprise there! but gave a statement saying it was due to loss of funding from Central Government that they had to sell the farms !.

[Denise Lloyd]

Yes I know what you mean it did not quite get to the heart of the matter.  A farmer has to love what he is doing to do it and it will be heart breaking for these farmers.  The 2nd part was better and the Government adviser who was interviewed - David somebody whose surname I did not catch - made the point that Councils had been advised to hang onto the farms.

 

Shame they did not interview George Dunn of TFA but perhaps he feels he has done all he can for the farmers.  

[Denise Lloyd]

https://t.co/TIqDaXvu83

 

More on Council farms Radio 4 Farming Today with George Dunn being interviewed

[Denise Lloyd]

This decision just will not lie and go to sleep - I always had the feeling that this was the one that would come back and bite HC on the bum!!

 

15 February 2017 09:36:04 |News,NFU,Property News,Rural Life

 

Herefordshire Council ordered to reveal report into smallholding sale after critical response from NFU

Tenant farmers in Herefordshire are saying they are 'devastated' after being told by the council to leave their farms (Photo: Herefordshire farmland)

Herefordshire Council has been ordered to reveal sections of a report which show that it was advised to sell off only part of its smallholdings estate which has since caused 'devastation' to the tenant farmers who live there.

 

The order, by the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), says the council must “continue to provide a means for first generation farmers to enter the industryâ€.

 

The Council had refused to disclose these sections of the report, which was drafted by independent experts, Fisher German, on the grounds that they were “commercially sensitiveâ€.

 

Tenant farmers in Herefordshire are saying they are 'devastated' after being told by the council to leave their farms so the council can sell the land.

 

In February 2016, Herefordshire Council issued notices to 'farm business' tenants, two months after agreeing to sell all of its county farms prompting a petition to be launched in a bid to persuade the council to reverse its decision.

 

The National Farmers Union (NFU) raised this with the ICO which has now agreed more information needed to be made available.

 

Farming families affected

 

Herefordshire Council’s Cabinet agreed in December 2015 to the sale of all its tenant farms.

 

Around 45 farming families are affected and some tenants have already left with others having to negotiate either new tenancies or uncertain as to their future.

 

NFU Deputy President Minette Batters said: “Now this information has been disclosed, it is clear that Herefordshire Council did not take on board the recommendations set out in Fisher German’s report when it voted to sell off its entire smallholdings estate.

 

“Seeing this report provides vindication for those tenant farmers in Herefordshire. But its cold comfort as it’s too late to reverse the Council’s heart-breaking and short-sighted decision.

 

“In the three years this issue has been ongoing, the NFU has been concerned about Herefordshire Council’s refusal to disclose more of the Fisher German report as we were keen to ensure that the Council’s review of its smallholdings estate was conducted transparently.

 

“We understood that part of the estate would have to be sold off to help with Herefordshire Council’s financial deficit. But all the while we argued that county farms provide a vital role in allowing that first foot on the ladder for new entrants to the industry.

 

NFU Deputy President Minette Batters

 

'Very poor'

 

Miss Batters said communication from Herefordshire Council during the past three years has been 'very poor'.

 

She said: “It’s vital that local authorities with county farm estates are transparent with their tenants about how their decisions are made and about the advice and recommendations of any independent and professional reports which are commissioned.

 

“We can only hope that, following this latest revelation in Herefordshire, the Council takes a long, hard look at how it is treating its tenant farmers; many of whom are facing the devastating loss of both their livelihoods and their homes. These tenants deserve a lot better.â€

 

The NFU is calling for local authorities with farm estates to work more closely with their tenant farmers to remove uncertainty and to make any decisions relating to those estates transparent.

 

0 Comment

 

[Denise Lloyd]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b08dmkg1  Farming Today 

 

 

I am sure it is just sheer coincidence that Tony Featherstone - author of the very lengthy Council Farms report - should decide to take early retirement this last December 

[Denise Lloyd]

and more 

 

https://t.co/VYvvC7h8rc

[Cloudberry]

It is madness to sell off these farms to build houses on instead. The country is going to need all its top grade agricultural land to grow food and reduce our dependency on imports.

 

See:

https://amp.theguardian.com/business/2017/feb/17/morrissons-to-hedge-bets-and-recruit-more-uk-based-suppliers

 

"Morrisons is aiming to recruit 200 more British suppliers after a report commissioned by the supermarket found that only just over half the food eaten in the UK comes from local sources. The report, by Professor Tim Benton of the University of Leeds, highlights the growing risks associated with a global food supply chain. Benton warns that increased frequency in severe weather events caused by climate change, combined with political changes, such as Brexit and the election of Donald Trump, may affect global trading relationships and compromise the food supply. Trump’s protectionist agenda may lead to countries hoarding the crops they specialise in, for example.

 

The effect of restricted food supplies has been highlighted by recent shortages of fresh produce due to poor weather in southern Spain, where more than 80% of the UK’s leafy vegetables come from during winter. “The future of the UK food system that we advocate is a response to the risks and uncertainties of the future. It is not to disengage from reliance on global trade, but to hedge our bets by increasing local production for local consumption,†Benton argues in the report.

The chairman of Morrisons, Andy Higginson, said: “Morrisons is already British farming’s biggest single customer, and the publication of the report today from Prof Benton makes us more determined to produce more of our food and source more from local British suppliers … We want small UK food suppliers to become bigger ones and we also want to give our customers the option of more food that meets their local food tastes.â€

[Denise Lloyd]

It is a shocking decision from every angle you view it.  HC continue to make these life changing decisions with little opposition it is a real worry just how far they will go in bringing this county to it's knees.

[Denise Lloyd]

Herefordshire Council ordered to reveal detail in ... - Farmers Weekly

www.fwi.co.uk/.../herefordshire-county-council-ordered-reveal-tenanted-farms-report...

1.  

5 days ago - Herefordshire County Council (HCC) has been ordered by the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) to reveal more details from a report into ...

 

 

The last 2 paras make very interesting reading thus  "The initial draft of the Fisher German report was incomplete and never finalised.  The report was therefore not relied upon by the Council in decision taking" etc etc

 

If somebody is able to copy the article in it's entirety onto here please do so

 

Is it not time somebody started to ask some very pertinent questions

[megilleland]

In view of the above Denise this does not put the Ombudsman investigation and report in a very good light, but then all these government organisations are working to protect the status quo.

In a report, published on 10 November, the LGO said while some “potentially misleading†comments were made during a public meeting on 3 December 2015, where it was agreed the estate would be sold off, those comments had not influenced the decision of council cabinet members to sell the farms.

 

“The council followed the correct process in reaching a cabinet decision to sell its portfolio of farms and smallholdings,†it said.

 

“Despite some potentially misleading comments made during the public meeting to make that decision, there was no fault in the council’s decision to give notice to some farmers to terminate their tenancies prior to the sale.â€

 

The Ombudsman’s role and powers

 

The Ombudsman investigates complaints of injustice caused by maladministration and service failure. I have used the word fault to refer to these. The Ombudsman cannot question whether a council’s decision is right or wrong simply because the complainant disagrees with it. It must consider whether there was fault in the way the decision was reached. (Local Government Act 1974, section 34(3))

[Denise Lloyd]

Meggilleland without me trawling through all the HC expenditure you probably know exactly where to find the info.  Just how much have HC paid to Fisher German for what it would seem to be an incomplete non useable report?

 

And to think that Fisher German have been entrusted with the task of marketing the farms for the best value to the tax payer - it does not bear thinking about 

[Denise Lloyd]

It is strange how the name Tony Featherstone keeps cropping up - is he working at Hoople for 2 days/week or has that arrangement come to an end?

 

Tony Featherstone is he being used as a fall guy - surely this is not possible.

 

Surely somebody has some comment to make. Enough people have viewed this forum in the last 24 hours I am quite certain somebody has some input!

 

Later I will post a link to the report  TF wrote which might just jog a few people's memories.

[megilleland]

Meggilleland without me trawling through all the HC expenditure you probably know exactly where to find the info.  Just how much have HC paid to Fisher German for what it would seem to be an incomplete non useable report?

 

And to think that Fisher German have been entrusted with the task of marketing the farms for the best value to the tax payer - it does not bear thinking about 

 

A bit like looking for a needle in a haystack.

 

The Council's expenditure and contracts page lists all expenditures over £500 since April 2010.

 

The easiest way to open the spreadsheets is to select the latest (ie December 2016 expenditure CSV format)

 

This will open the spreadsheet and to make it easier to read drag across columns A-G and select format on your menu bar and then auto fit column width.

 

To analyse the data select column then go to Data on menu bar and then sort.

 

 

No sign of any payment to Fisher German, although the monthly expenditures are displayed about 3 months behind events. Their report was published in November so payment could appear after January 2017, providing that the council have not redacted the figure when published.

 

I noted that this redaction figure was very high in the latest accounts.

[twowheelsgood]

Featherstone is now (re) employed by the Council on a consultant basis.