Denise Lloyd

Then the cabinet was hand picked disgraceful of course they are all going to stick together they're all cons. I looking forward to reading the HT tomorrow.

Well done Jessica Phillips of the HT. This forum is getting a lot of interest and I suspect a great deal of it is out of county. http://www.herefordtimes.com/news/14133701.Cabinet_members_accused_of__trashing_local_democracy__following_decision_on_smallholdings/ And well done to the Councillors who are prepared to stand up and be counted on this

It floods

One of the reasons for voting for the sale of council farms was the cost of maintenance outweighed the money made in rent. Yet the Veddoes was up for rent earlier this year under a full repairable lease so where would the maintenance be? https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=8&ved=0ahUKEwjQ_J36lM3JAhUEYg8KHYkbChkQFghLMAc&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fstaffordshirecountyfarms%2Fposts%2F938962976114362&authuser=1&usg=AFQjCNGRXCWate0EbeTGsWcTKwz14Pig3A&sig2=wXIdE15kSvYZhNYxq-CSJg

Good point jbfc. Are these nice very lucrative contracts put out to tender?

There are many sectors I firmly believe would use a train to get to and from the Rotherwas area and visa versa - students/school children/visitors to the Archives/visitors from outside the county/freight users/workers and so on. When I worked at Rotherwas and I did for 25 years and lived near to the station would I have used the train - deffo. Cycling is an option but would you really cycle the roads at peak times? Once again missed opportunity. Birmingham have introduced trams back into the city they are trying different things to take traffic off the roads. Why can't Hereford?

Well good luck to them whatever their nationality as long as they work pay their taxes and work within the law I'm comfortable with it. Small independent shops are to be applauded

So Fisher German are acting as advisor and agent win win situation for them P152837/CD3 - Herefordshire Council https://www.herefordshire.gov.uk/planning.../details?... Applicant address, Herefordshire County Council C/O Fisher German. Publicity date, Wednesday 30 September 2015. Comments by, Wednesday 21 October ... So advise to sell and then act as the agent and do all work on the planning application. Is there nobody suitable in Hereford to do the work?

Todays Western Daily Press. Don't think this little problem is going to go away Many councils now believe the low rate of turnover of tenancies means they are failing to meet the aspirations of young prospective farmers. Small acreages have also proved impractical. Dorset County Council amalgamated some farms, and sold off redundant high value farm houses and now its estate makes a £500,000 profit. But George Dunn, chief executive of the Tenant Farmers Association said: " The only way we could change the decision would be by Judicial Review. We have to take advice on whether that is appropriate or reasonable. "It's appalling the way in which the council's governance is set up, with a small group taking decisions. "Many have said they have not been able to influence the decision and some county councillors are talking about tabling changes to the constitution." Read more: http://www.westerndailypress.co.uk/Council-decides-sell-farms/story-28308594-detail/story.html#ixzz3tddfMJmf Follow us: @WesternDaily on Twitter | WesternDaily on Facebook

Included in the Council are several lifetime tenancies are these farms included as well in the sale? I have heard of 2 possible purchasers and I can only imagine one of which has done more than muttered and possibly already made an offer. This kind of money isn't spent unless the purchaser feels very confident that they can make it a profitable project. Why have the Council failed to make money out this?

Is this still going to be a Care/Nursing Home?

Does anybody know the latest on this it has gone very quiet

The tenants should not be penalised for the fact that the farms have been very badly managed - who was responsible for managing these farms? Was there never any accountability? Unless a figure has already been agreed where does this £48 million come into the equation is this a valuation by Fisher German? Were the Council or the tenants getting the Single Farm Payment each year? I think many people who completed the questionnaire also included a proviso was this published?

Here for Hereford â€@HereforHereford 37m37 minutes ago RT @tenantfarmers Herefordshire County farms debate. Some excellent points raised by the non-cabinet members https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=1_wRGdjq2x4 … View media 0 retweets0 likes Reply Retweet Like More The tenants through their sheer hard work have made these farms what they are today. With modern technology they have turned the grass fields into highly productive pastures producing some of the finest animals in the county. Many of these tenants get up do their farm work and then go off and do a day's work off site to come back and do their evenings feeding of animals The Council will never have better caretakers.

http://www.herefordtimes.com/news/14117588.Cabinet_will_be_asked_to_agree_to_sell_all_its_county_farms_today/ http://http://www.herefordtimes.com/news/14125339.Online_poll__Do_you_agree_with_decision_to_sell_off_county_farms_//news/14125371.Herefordshire_Council_s_cabinet_approves_sale_of_all_county_farms/http://www.herefor http://www.herefordtimes.com/news/letters/14118645.I_had_to_declare_my_personal_interest_in__Southern_Link_Road__so_should_Herefordshire_Council/ I think these links work and last but definitely not least is Jean's letter I HAVE direct experience of dealing with Herefordshire Council over the proposed Southern Link Road. It is planned to go through my garden, destroying three significant veteran trees. As a Clehonger parish councillor, I have to excuse myself from discussions about this road because of my material interest. When the route was proposed with the Clehonger link, I had to argue with the council to establish my land ownership. This was very distressing and avoidable, had the council’s agents looked at the relevant Land Registry documents. I do not understand why the council has to include this ‘Clehonger link’ when it does not form part of the national government’s funding offer. Has the council declared its interest in this proposed road which will go across their farm holdings? Will councillors excuse themselves from discussing it, as I have had to do? This planning application is too big, and too controversial, for the planning committee to determine. There needs to be an independent judgement. Share article No doubt developers and estate agents are rubbing their hands at the prospect of housing along the route, but the council should not be joining them without being called to account. JEAN HARRIS Pykeways, Allensmore

Dippy yahoooooooooooooooooooooooooo you've come back

Whilst nobody is replying to this they are no doubt viewing it so I will continue talking to myself I don't mind. Chris I said I would think about what you have said well now the decision has been taken out of your hands. There are many comments on HT for the 3 reports on this topic and one by Liz Harvey particularily caught my eye. Here is an exerpt - The funds generated by selling these farms will not go on services, Mr Dig. That’s because they are deemed to be what’s termed ‘capital receipts’ – which are not allowed to be spent on ‘revenue projects’ - what day-to-day service delivery is classed as being. So the revenue from the sale of the century will not go towards places like No 1 Ledbury Road. You like me and many others believed that this money could go towards this very worthy cause. Harry Bramer has said that this money will go towards financing infrastructure projects which I take to mean the much objected to SLR. I just hope that you as a member of the opposition will express your views to the Council. Many people (and sadly not enough) voted IOC Libs and Indies for a reason. I appreciate that the Council can be likened to a venominous snake pit but ..........

On a lot smaller scale Nieuport Estate Almeley was sold off in 2009/10 by HC under very similar circumstances . It did not cause the same furore but was for the same reasons. County councils 'must not sell off farms' Details Written by Charlie Jacoby Part of the former Nieuport Estate, Almeley, Herefordshire It sounds ideal. The former Nieuport Estate on the outskirts of the unspoiled village of Almeley in West Herefordshire. Local agent John Amos & Co asked for formal tenders by last Thursday, 12 February. But now the vendor, Herefordshire County Council is under fire for “selling off the family silverâ€. The 391 acres of holdings represent typical Herefordshire mixed farming units. All of the land is of a fairly level nature with productive soil structure and represent an ideal opportunity to acquire established farms, with ranges of modern and traditional farm buildings, together with good access to all parts. The land lies between 110m and 160m above sea level and is generally Grade 2 / 3 land. It includes 89 acres of woodland, managed under a woodland grant scheme. It includes established plantations of broad leaved and conifer throughout and has been well managed for commercial timber production and conveniently placed for sporting and amenity interests. The holdings comprise four farms, a farm house a cottage, estate yard and other buildings The Tenant Farmers Association has criticised the council's decision to proceed with the sale of holdings from its farm estate totalling just short of 10% of its total county farms estate. TFA chief executive George Dunn says: "This is bad news all round and sends the wrong signal for all sorts of reasons. It was not very long ago that the council was making clear its commitment to retaining county farms and here it is within a short period of time confirming that it is selling a large chunk of its estate. This is bad news for the democratic process within the local authority as people understandably begin to doubt what they are being told from County Hall. “It is also extremely bad news for council tax payers. There is now strong evidence that the best return to council tax payers from ownership of farmland comes from careful, long term, strategic asset management of the estate which allows for the sale of relatively small pockets of high value land for development purposes whilst retaining the bulk for statutory purposes. In selling away the family silver in large chunks the council is denying council tax payers the opportunity of the long term benefit they deserve. “The County Council also appears to have ignored a recent influential report from the Government's adviser on sustainable rural development, Sir Don Curry which sought to encourage local authorities to manage their county farms estates for the benefit of agriculture more widely, the local economy, the local environment and for recreational and educational activities. In selling off this large tract of land the County Council has turned its face against providing these much sought after benefits. "A major concern for us is the impact on the tenant farmers on the estate and their families. Many, if not all, of these tenants rely upon these farms for their livelihood and future security. The county council is supposed to be encouraging new entrants into farming and helping them find ways sustaining their businesses into the long term. However, all they have succeeded in doing is upsetting them. I am involved with a number of individual farm families on the Herefordshire Estate where the stress caused by the uncertainty is causing illness, depression and family problems. “I would, however, like to thank those 17 county councillors who voted to stop the sell-off but who where sadly thwarted by the three line whip of the controlling political party.†The TFA has also held discussions it describes as “constructive†with North Yorkshire County Council about its policy towards its county farms estate. TFA national vice chairman Stephen Wyrill, who farms on the North Yorkshire estate, says: "North Yorkshire County Council's policy of progressive disposal of its estate is not something which has found favour with the TFA. The TFA believes that local authorities should be retaining their estates and using carefully crafted asset management plans to ensure that council tax payers are obtaining the best possible value through, strategic, planned disposals of small pockets of relatively high value land for development use whilst retaining the remainder of the estate statutory purposes. This is something which has been echoed in a recent, influential report from the Government's adviser on sustainable development, Sir Don Curry. I am pleased to say that the County Council agreed to consider the conclusions of Sir Don's report and how this might impact upon its ongoing management of its estate." In cases where the Local Authority has decided to continue with a disposal of a holding the TFA also expressed concerns that the way in which the Local Authority handles sales to sitting tenants in comparison to the sales with vacant possession in the open market, discriminates against sitting tenants. When selling a farm the Local Authority includes within the contract of sale various claw back provisions. Sitting tenants face financial claw backs if they obtain any financial benefit from development in the 30 years following their purchase or any general profit from sales within the first 10 years of the purchase. Purchasers in the open market only face the claw back on development profits. “This is unfair to sitting tenants who, in order to finance the purchase of their holdings, often need to sell a small proportion of farm to manage the cost of the purchase. I am pleased that following our intervention North Yorkshire is prepared to look at this again,,†says Wyrill. Discussions also covered other issues including repairs, rent reviews and investment in fixed equipment including the fixed equipment that will be required to meet the statutory standards of the new Nitrate Vulnerable Zone Regulations.

Another comment that has not been picked up yet made by Tony Johnson yesterday must be some kind of organisation lined up to take on these farms - 16:04 The cabinet at Herefordshire Council has voted unanimously to sell off 4,800 acres of farmland it owns. The 45 tenants were earlier reassured by the leader of the council the sale would mean a change of landlord and not them losing their farms.

I will have a think about what you have said Chris. Anthony Powers asked about a report yesterday and I was going to comment on this but my question has been answered. I will just leave this here - Herefordshire Council witholds 'vital farms report' Stock photo The Tenant Farmers Association is pressing Herefordshire Council to release a report on its smallholdings estate. TFA Chief Executive George Dunn said “When the County Council announced its review of its County farms’ estate, it appointed consultants, Fisher German, to produce a report to inform the review. The tenant farmers who live with their families on the estate and stakeholder organisations were given assurances that the report would be placed in the public domain as part of the evidence base for the review. Eighteen months down the line and this report has not seen the light of day. Despite many attempts including a Freedom of Information request, the Council has refused to publish this report.†“It is bad enough the report is not in the public domain but it is even worse that the document was not made available to the County Council’s own Task and Finish Group tasked with preparing recommendations for the future of the estate or its General Overview and Scrutiny Committee which was charged with making recommendations to Cabinet. "However, despite the unavailability of the document, the recommendation to Cabinet was to retain and rationalise the estate. Cabinet has wholly rejected this recommendation and will be pushing for the sale of the estate when it meets tomorrow (03 December),†said Mr Dunn. “We don’t even know if the report is helpful to those of us who are pressing the Council to retain and better manage its estate but it is simply appalling behaviour that the report is not in the public domain. Better to have all the information in the open so that good and accountable decisions can be made rather than individuals feeling that they have been left with a job half done,†said Mr Dunn. “I have been in contact with all of the County Councillors to press that decisions about the future of the County farms estate should be pushed to Full Council for consideration rather than left with its Cabinet. However, the Constitution of the County Council provides its Cabinet and individual portfolio holders within the Cabinet with effective “carte blanche†to do what they like regardless of what the rest of the Council or the residents of Herefordshire want. Whilst it may be too late for County farms, this Constitutional dictatorship within the County must change,†said Mr Dunn. Read more on this subject: TFA accuses Herefordshire Council Cabinet for lacking sound judgement over farm estate

I wonder just how many councillors promised these poor HC tenant farmers that they would put it right to get their vote. There was something about the Library as well. Off subject sorry. Skulduggery I hope somebody is going to ask one or two questions about all of this

No you're right there give them a year and it will be haven't got any money This decision should never have been made by Cabintet - I so get all these Committees mixed up but don't suppose I am the only one

I confess I did not know the meaning of that word so looked it up and for those who also do not know the meaning here it is A gerontocracy is a form of oligarchical rule in which an entity is ruled by leaders who are significantly older than most of the adult population. How absolutely true and very approppiate

Cabinet at @HfdsCouncil has just voted unanimously to sell off 4,800 acres of farmland currently occupied by 45 tenant farmers. In case you people have not heard. I thought I had posted this earlier but obviously had a slight of hand! 7:12 a.m. - 3 Dec 2015

Better colour confident decorator not to have a dust sheet