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Question from: County Councillor Karl Lewis Subject: Powys farm estate sales and Llandinam School house
Question:
With the recent concerning news that a number of Powys County Council farms have been put up for sale in the Caersws area could the portfolio holder answer the following questions please
1. How many Powys County Council farms does Powys have in total and how many of these have been identified for possible sale? 2. Over what period of time will these identified Powys farms be sold off? 3. When a Powys County farm is sold, will every penny from that sale be reinvested into the remaining Powys County Farm holding stock – farm houses and buildings? 4. How many farms will see land amalgamated with other Powys County farms and the farmhouses sold off? 5. What measures has the portfolio holder put in place for the wellbeing of the tenants of the Powys County Farms who will be affected by these sales? As we know we have some of the very best farmers in the UK who choose to farm on Powys County Farms. Some of these farmers will lose their homes and their livelihoods. So they will become homeless and unemployed at the same time, bearing in mind farming is all many of these tenants have known. 6. How much notice will Powys County Council give their tenants that the farm they rent is up for sale? 7. If a tenant of a Powys County Farm receives additional land from an amalgamation process of a neighbouring Powys County Farm, would that tenant have to retender as their farm would be bigger so should be more productive? 8. As there are Powys County farms identified for sale, can I ask are there plans to sell other property in Powys County Council control such as houses, workshops and garages? 9. What are the plans for the School house at Ysgol Llandinam as it was promised to Ysgol Llandinam for the school to use, but as yet no work has commenced on the property?
Minutes: Response by the Cabinet Members:
Many thanks for your questions. To aid clarity, we have repeated your questions. If you have any specific queries, we are happy to raise these with Neil Clutton.
With the recent concerning news that a number of Powys County Council farms have been put up for sale in the Caersws area could the portfolio holder answer the following questions please
1. How many Powys County Council farms does Powys have in total and how many of these have been identified for possible sale?
· The council has 134 farms. Four have currently been identified for sale.
2. Over what period of time will these identified Powys farms be sold off?
· The farms currently marketed for sale will hopefully be sold this financial year.
3. When a Powys County farm is sold, will every penny from that sale be reinvested into the remaining Powys County Farm holding stock – farm houses and buildings?
· Council policy currently requires capital income to be centralised and thereafter utilised in line with the councils’ priorities.
4. How many farms will see land amalgamated with other Powys County farms and the farmhouses sold off?
· Of the current farms being marketed all will have land transferred to neighbouring holdings or held in hand.
5. What measures has the portfolio holder put in place for the wellbeing of the tenants of the Powys County Farms who will be affected by these sales? As we know we have some of the very best farmers in the UK who choose to farm on Powys County Farms. Some of these farmers will lose their homes and their livelihoods. So they will become homeless and unemployed at the same time, bearing in mind farming is all many of these tenants have known.
· The properties currently being marketed were all vacant prior to the decision to declare surplus.
6. How much notice will Powys County Council give their tenants that the farm they rent is up for sale?
· If council decides to declare surplus any farm, the appropriate notice will be served in line with their lease agreement. Notice periods are typically 12 months.
7. If a tenant of a Powys County Farm receives additional land from an amalgamation process of a neighbouring Powys County Farm, would that tenant have to retender as their farm would be bigger so should be more productive?
· They would not need to re-tender. The Farms Management Team would negotiate a new lease for the additional land as appropriate.
8. As there are Powys County farms identified for sale, can I ask are there plans to sell other property in Powys County Council control such as houses, workshops and garages?
· Commercial properties, workshops and non-HRA residential properties are being reviewed in accordance with the Council’s adopted Asset Management Strategy. As part of this review process, all appropriate options available to the Council, including asset retention, investment, and disposal, will be considered.
9. What are the plans for the School house at Ysgol Llandinam as ... view the full minutes text for item 1. |