Agenda item

The Chairman welcomed Daniel Shamplin-Hall, who outlined the work commissioned by the Board on the future role of councils in the management of rural land. 

The Chairman welcomed Mark Little, Director, and Alice Rawdon-Mogg, Associate Director Rural from Savills Rural Research. 

The presentation covered the following points: 

·         the UK has been bound by the Common Agricultural Policy but following the result of the EU referendum and the UK’s impending withdrawal from the CAP, the policy framework which determines the way farmers, land owners and land managers are incentivised to maintain rural land is set to change.  

·          Fundamentally, there is a view from UK Government to transition away from a centrally managed national systemand create locally targeted plans to improve the environment based on local priorities. 

·         The opportunities within the draft Agriculture Bill. 

One of the Core elements Savills wanted to explore is how the future delivery of agricultural and environmental land management policy will be delivered at both national and local levels.  

A discussion took place with the board and the following points were raised:  

·         guidance on the best approach on increasing growth in these areas and ensuring business and conservation areas 

·          that the potential large range of future levers that could be used to drive local economic growth in rural areas could create significant fragmentation 

·         concern around the expansion of the national parks and the impact this can have on local communities in terms of stricter planning laws restricting development and the diversification of economies within these AONB communities.  

The Chairman thanked Savills for updating the Board on their findings to date. 

Decision:  

Savills and officers to use members’ comments to inform future discussions and the shape of the final report.