Agenda item

The Agriculture Bill

(To receive a report from Vanessa Strange, Accessibility and Growth Manager, which provides the Committee with an outline of the issues in relation to the Agriculture Bill which was published on 12 September 2018)

Minutes:

Consideration was given to a report which provided the Committee with an update on the Agriculture Bill.

 

The Committee was advised that following the publication of the Health and Harmony Command Paper in February 2018 and the subsequent consultation period, the Agriculture Bill had been published on 12 September 2018.

 

The Agriculture Bill should be considered in the context of the 25 Year Environment Plan; the National Industrial Strategy; and the development of a Local Industrial Strategy.  The Bill had passed its second reading in the House of Commons and had now moved to the Committee stage.

 

Lincolnshire County Council had responded to Defra's consultation on the Health and Harmony Command paper, by working with key stakeholders across Lincolnshire, as well as elected members through the Brexit Working Group and the scrutiny committee.

 

The report contained detailed information on the Bill, including information on its proposed changes to subsidy payments; the new Environmental Land Management System; research and development; transition period; delinking; and how the Government would strengthen transparency in the supply chain to assist farmers in getting a better deal in the market place.

 

An action plan considering impacts of the Bill for Lincolnshire and potential areas of activity for Lincolnshire County Council would be presented to the Committee at its meeting on 27 November 2018. 

 

It was suggested that the action plan focused on: the role of the Council in giving advice to the farming community; County Farms – how the Council might support its tenants; exploring the opportunities for Lincolnshire farmers in seeking provenance for their foods; and the changing employment needs in agriculture.

 

The Committee was provided with an opportunity to ask questions, where the following points were noted: -

 

·       The current Basic Payment Scheme and higher level environmental schemes 'Direct Payments' would be phased out by 2027.  In the future, public money would be linked to 'public good', such as better air and water quality, improved soil health, higher animal welfare standards, public access to the countryside and measures to reduce flooding;

·       It was clarified that the production of food was not classed as a public good.  It was highlighted that this had created significant comment by the sector and many sector organisations had been campaigning for the Bill to explicitly support domestic agriculture to ensure food security and stability of food supply;

·       Further to the above point, it was highlighted that there was a need to invest in flood protection, as this helped safeguard food production; 

·       Concerns were raised by the Committee in relation to the Government's proposal to cease Direct Payments, as this could have a detrimental effect on farmers in Lincolnshire.  It was commented that a significant number of farmers had indicated that the payments were the difference between a profit and a loss;

·       It was suggested that there was a need for the County Council to consider supporting the farming industry in becoming resilient for the future;

·       The Council's County Farms were discussed and it was highlighted that the Council owned 22,000 acres of farming land.  The ways in which the Council supported County Farmers were discussed.  It was suggested that an officer from the Council's Property Team attended a future meeting of the Committee to discuss County Farms;

·       It was clarified that the monies that had currently been allocated for agricultural subsidy would be ring-fenced for the lifetime of the current Parliament only;

·       The current payment system would be used for 2019 and 2020.  An agricultural transition period would then follow between 2021 and 2027, as Direct Payments were gradually phased out and new schemes commence.  All farmers would see a reduction in their payments at the start of the transition period;

·       The idea of generating churn, enabling succession planning and enticing new entrants, was a theme of the Command Paper.  It was highlighted that there were a number of young people keen to take on County Farm tenancies.  It was commented that those young people would require support from the County Council; and

·       It was commented that technology had significantly changed the farming industry.  Furthermore, consumers now expected cheaply priced food but focus should rather be on quality and paying the right price for good quality food.

 

RESOLVED

 

(1)  That the content of the report be noted.

 

(2)  That support be given to the development of an action plan in partnership with stakeholders, which will outline Lincolnshire County Council's activities in relation to the Agriculture Bill and be presented to the meeting of the Committee on 27 November 2018.

Supporting documents:

 

 
 
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