TFA warns against ‘dash for cash’ in council farm sell-off

Herefordshire county council has been warned against making a “dash-for-cash” as it considers a proposed sell-off of its farm estate.

The warning, by Tenant Farm Association chief executive George Dunn, came in a strongly worded letter to the sole councillor who has the final say on the future of the county’s farms.

Mr Dunn said he was alarmed to hear the Conservative councillor, Harry Bramer, may have already decided to go ahead with the farm sell off even though a long-awaited review of the council’s estate would not be published until November.

 See also: Wales council farm sell-off continues

The review was carried out by a team of council members but Councillor Bramer alone will decide the fate of the farms.

“I am deeply disappointed that this thorough review will just be a box-ticking exercise of no consequence to the decision in the end,” Mr Dunn said.

He added: “The county council should not be seduced by a short-term ‘dash for cash’ which will leave the local authority worse off.

“Better asset management is what is required not a fire sale of income.”

Mr Dunn also said a previous review in 2008 had concluded the farms should be retained.

“The county council should not be seduced by a short-term ‘dash for cash’ which will leave the local authority worse off”
George Dunn, Tenant Farm Association

In addition the 2008 review suggested the council’s management of the asset should be improved.

“Tax payers need to be informed that the council has failed in its duty to manage the farms estate appropriately and in accordance with the conclusions of the 2008 review,” Mr Dunn said.

“I fear that the county council is about to compound its bad management over the past seven years with a bad decision based on political ideology as opposed to pragmatism, best value and a long-term view,” he warned.

The TFA has called for a more time to consider the findings of the latest review and for the final decision to be made by the full council and not just a small group of councillors or individual.

The TFA is calling for:

• The review to be published for discussion prior to any decisions being made
• Following a 12-week period of consultation on the review, a decision about the future of the smallholdings estate be made by the full council not just one individual.

Herefordshire County Council has not responded directly to the TFA letter but issued a wider statement on its farm estate.

The statement said: “As a result of substantial government funding reductions, Herefordshire Council needs to significantly reduce its budget and make unprecedented changes to the services it delivers. 

“As part of the council’s current income and savings proposals, a smallholdings review is being undertaken.”

“As a result of substantial government funding reductions, Herefordshire Council needs to significantly reduce its budget and make unprecedented changes to the services it delivers”
Herefordshire County Council 

The statement added that the council had engaged directly with smallholding tenants through a questionnaire and participation event and their views along with those of a number of stakeholders were being considered. 

“The review is also included in the priorities and budget consultation, which is available to members of the public on the council’s website until Friday 9 October.

“The smallholdings review is still ongoing and the findings and recommendations will be presented to the council’s overview and scrutiny committee in October,” the statement added.