The recent financial situation has resulted in many business and organisations announcing that they are having funding problems and this has recently spread to include local councils. As some councils look to ways to save money and raise cash they may be tempted to sell off agricultural land to raise the required funds.
In 1984 the local authorities of England and Wales owned 137,664 hectares of farmland. By 2006 this had fallen by 30% to 96,206 hectares. This fall has restricted the opportunities for those trying to reach the first step onto the farming ladder and it is unlikely ever to improve.
This problem further hampers young and enthusiastic individuals who are trying to make a career in farming and agriculture and despite the recent global events the price of farmland remains high and few have the capital required to invest in land.
The recent slow down in the development market and property sales from council portfolios are creating more gaps in funding, both of which mean that council farms remain at risk.
DEFRA’s Sustainable Food and Farming Delivery Group recently reported that in the five years since TRIG there is still much work to be done to improve the networking and collaboration across councils in managing council farms.
Councils should continue to work with the tenants to develop further the benefit of the farm to the wider public and engage in renewable energy, local food and public access to help secure the future of the council farm.
For more information contact Tom Heathcote 01858 411222 email tom.heathcote@fishergerman.co.uk
