Tories vote again to sell County Farm Estate

4.52.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Thu 8th Jul 2010

Today at Somerset County Council's Scrutiny meeting the Conservatives voted to back their Cabinet's policy of going for a fast track sell-off of the "family silver" - the County Farm Estate. They refused to back a call by the Liberal Democrats for a proper and full review of the estate, and turned down a request to have full consultation with all interested parties.

It appears that as long ago as March 2010 the Tory Administration issued 3 tenants with "Notices to Quit" their farms, knowing that a quick review, with the intention to sell, would be initiated after the General Election. This was a very cynical manipulation of information.

Sam Crabb, Acting Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group, who initiated the call-in of the Cabinet decision of 21st June said:-

"I am very disappointed that the Conservative Scrutiny members could not support my recommendations to Cabinet. Farming is a long term activity that needs time to plan, quick decisions will result in a poor return on the sale of assets for Council Tax payers, total uncertainty for tenants and the potential loss of a valuable asset, and the effects of the loss of starter farms for young people interested in farming in Somerset."

The county farms bring in a good return in terms of rent and in the past 14 years there has been managed sales of surplus land for £2million every year on average, which has supported the Council's capital programme.

The Conservative Administration are looking for quick sales to balance the books and try to fill potholes."

Kind regards

Sam

The recommendations proposed by Sam Crabb at Scrutiny and were voted down are as follows:-

1. The Cabinet should be sympathetic to the three tenants given notice in March 2010, and to seriously consider a one year extension of their tenancy.

2. There should be a full review of the estate, to determine the futture use of the "core of the estate", so that tenants have a firm base to plan for the future.

3. There should be full consultation with all interested parties.