Hampshire County Council

Executive Member, Policy & Resources Item

11 September 2003

County Farm Estate, Compton - Reorganisation

Report by the Director of Property, Business and Regulatory Services

(Summary of CONFIDENTIAL decision)

1

Summary

1.1

The following decisions are sought to enable the reorganisation of the County Farm Compton Estate to proceed as a result of events which are expected to lead to the surrender of the tenancy of Bushfield Farm::

1.2

That as a result of the unexpected surrender of Bushfield Farm:

i)

the tenant of Cox Croft Farm, Compton be offered an eighteen-month Farm Business Tenancy of 21 hectares (53 acres) of Bushfield Farm, including the farm dwelling, buildings and 300,000 litres of milk quota on which to establish a dairy enterprise.

ii)

the tenant of Attwoods Drove Farm, Compton be offered the addition of 15 hectares (38 acres) and 38,000 litres of milk quota, to his existing Farm Business Tenancy.

iii)

the tenant of Yew Tree Farm, Compton be offered the addition of 14 hectares (35 acres) of land to his existing Farm Business Tenancy.

iv)

the tenant of Itchen Farm, Compton to be offered 15 acres of land to be added to his existing Farm Business Tenancy

with detailed terms of i)-iv) above to be settled by the Director of Property, Business and Regulatory Services (Head of Estates Practice) and

v)

Proposals to be brought forward to establish a dairy unit at Cox Croft Farm in the 2005/6 financial year, subject to the availability of capital funding and the grant of planning consent.

2

Reason

2.1

To manage the Compton Estate in accordance with guidelines approved under the County Farms Review.

3

Other options considered and rejected

3.1

The County Council does have the option of letting the entire unit as a dairy 'starter' unit, but this would not enable the existing tenants to progress with their businesses, and in the long-term Bushfield Farm is not considered a suitably viable site to continue maintaining a dairy herd.

4

Conflicts of interest declared by the decision-maker or a member or officer consulted

4.1

None

5

Dispensation granted by the Standards Committee

5.1

None

6

Reason(s) for the matter being dealt with if urgent

6.1

Not applicable

Approved by:

..........................

Date of decision:

.........................

Councillor T K Thornber