Agenda item

To receive the report of the Assistant Director for Legal and Governance on any Notices of Motion received by her.

Councillors are asked to note that any Notices of Motion must be received by the Assistant Director for Legal and Governance no later than noon on Tuesday, 4 July.

The Council had before it a Notice of Motion set out in the agenda papers standing in the names of Cllrs Mel Allcott, Richard Udall, Dan Boatright-Greene, and Luke Mallett.

The motion was moved by Cllr Richard Udall and seconded by Cllr Mel Allcott who both spoke in favour of it, and Council agreed to deal with it on the day.

The following amendment was moved by Cllr Adam Kent and seconded by Cllr Marc Bayliss:

“Worcestershire County Council recognises and notes the huge contribution made by our local farmers to the Worcestershire economy and its rural communities. Council calls upon the Cabinet Members Responsible to continue to work with our partners, interested parties and the NFU considering:

·         How Worcestershire County Council can develop stronger partnerships with our arable, livestock, and dairy farmers in order to enhance our magnificent countryside. How the Council can support farmers, by being sympathetic to diversification opportunities and promotion of local produce.

·         How to support our local farmers to market their produce to local events and organisations.

·         Ways to encourage residents, where possible, to shop locally, taking advantage of home-grown, affordable and nutritious food, both plant and meat based thus reducing food miles to our plates and boosting the local economy.

·         How as a council we can continue to support the Council’s County Farms estate, encouraging training and skills in farming and rural industries on our estates."

The mover and seconder of the motion accepted the amendment and the motion as amended became the substantive motion. Members spoke in favour of the motion with the following points being made:

·         Council should recognise the huge contribution of local farmers to the local and rural community. Supporting all farmers and growers was essential to the local economy and good for the environment. There were small things that could be done like supporting seasonal produce for Worcestershire events and promoting its use by local residents including local plant-based products. The sector had been left too long to the vagaries of the free market and needed intervention from national and local government. The Council should use its estates to promote the Council’s values and principles, to promote the local economy and new businesses, rural trades and industries especially for young people

·         The Cabinet Member with Responsibility for Corporate Services and Communication commented that the motion as amended solidified and reinforced this Council’s commitment to the farming community. The Council continued to work with farmers and held regular meetings with representatives of the NFU

·         The Cabinet Member with Responsibility for the Environment commented that he had regular contact with the farming community and tenant farmers. There were a number of examples of partnership working. For example, the Council worked with partner organisations including farming and agriculture representatives on the Worcestershire Local Nature Partnership to develop areas of the county. This work included the sharing of grant-funded opportunities. In addition, the Council had been working with partner organisations on the Natural Networks Programme to deliver biodiversity enhancements across the county

·         The Council needed to encourage real diversification in farming and help farmers to move to a lower emission approach to farming away from dairy and livestock production

·         It was not possible to support the motion as amended as it encouraged diary and intensive animal agriculture

·         It was disappointing that the amendment removed the request for a Cabinet Member report as well as the requirement to use the Council’s influence with tenants to ensure decent pay and conditions for their employees

·         The Council had held meetings with the National Trust, the local NFU and local farmers as part of the Eight Hills Regional Park Project which aimed at providing a financial advantage to farmers to allow access to their land to people who would not usually be able to

·         It was insulting to suggest that farmers did not ensure the best working conditions for their employees

·         Local farmers were operating in very challenging circumstances with concerns over mental health and social isolation. The rural economy was dependent on local farmers.

·         Farming had become a very competitive, mechanised industry. Pockets of land became unviable and therefore needed to be sold from time-to-time.

On a named vote the substantive motion was agreed.

RESOLVED: “Worcestershire County Council recognises and notes the huge contribution made by our local farmers to the Worcestershire economy and its rural communities. Council calls upon the Cabinet Members Responsible to continue to work with our partners, interested parties and the NFU considering:

·         How Worcestershire County Council can develop stronger partnerships with our arable, livestock, and dairy farmers in order to enhance our magnificent countryside. How the Council can support farmers, by being sympathetic to diversification opportunities and promotion of local produce.

·         How to support our local farmers to market their produce to local events and organisations.

·         Ways to encourage residents, where possible, to shop locally, taking advantage of home-grown, affordable and nutritious food, both plant and meat based thus reducing food miles to our plates and boosting the local economy.

·         How as a council we can continue to support the Council’s County Farms estate, encouraging training and skills in farming and rural industries on our estates."

Those in favour of the motion were: Cllr Kyle Daisley, Cllr Alastair Adams, Cllr Mel Allcott, Cllr Allan Amos, Cllr Marc Bayliss, Cllr Dan Boatright-Greene, Cllr Bob Brookes, Cllr David Chambers, Cllr Lynn Denham, Cllr Nathan Desmond, Cllr Allah Ditta, Cllr Elizabeth Eyre, Cllr Andy Fry, Cllr Simon Geraghty, Cllr Laura Gretton, Cllr Peter Griffiths, Cllr Karen Hanks, Cllr Ian Hardiman, Cllr Adrian Hardman, Cllr Paul Harrison, Cllr Marcus Hart, Cllr Bill Hopkins, Cllr Matt Jenkins, Cllr Adam Kent, Cllr Adrian Kriss, Cllr Aled Luckman, Cllr Steve Mackay, Cllr Emma Marshall, Cllr Karen May, Cllr Tony Miller, Cllr Jo Monk, Cllr Richard Morris, Cllr Tony Muir, Cllr Beverley Nielsen, Cllr Tracey Onslow, Cllr Scott Richardson Brown, Cllr Josh Robinson, Cllr Linda Robinson, Cllr Chris Rogers, Cllr David Ross, Cllr Mike Rouse, Cllr James Stanley, Cllr Emma Stokes, Cllr Kit Taylor, Cllr Richard Udall, Cllr Malcolm Victory, Cllr Craig Warhurst, Cllr Shirley Webb, and Cllr Tom Wells. (49)

Those abstaining were: Cllr Natalie McVey (1)