Issue - meetings

Cobtree Young Farmers and The Forstal Field

Meeting: 06/11/2019 - Cobtree Manor Estate Charity Committee (Item 47)

47 Cobtree Young Farmers and The Forstal Field pdf icon PDF 73 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Councillors Daley and Mrs Gooch stated that they had been lobbied.

 

The Cobtree Manager presented her report setting out details of a request by the Cobtree Young Farmers’ Club for a ten year lease and management agreement to enable it to secure funding through a Heritage Lottery funded project and commence conservation grazing on part of Forstal Field.  It was noted that:

 

·  Discussions had been held with the manager of the Old Chalk New Downs Heritage Lottery funded project who had offered guidance and support by way of a total land management package.  This would provide ecological and land management expertise in the form of an ecological survey and the production of a land management plan for conservation grazing on the site.  Funding would also be provided for fencing, gates, extending the water supply and security measures.  In addition, work place training and environmental education would be made available to the Cobtree Young Farmers’ Club in areas such as hedge laying, scrub management and reptile surveying.  Funding was dependent on the Club securing a ten year agreement for managing the land.

 

·  The field was currently subject to a short-term tenancy granted to a local agricultural contractor who had farmed the field for two seasons but had not returned in subsequent years.  Despite repeated attempts to establish the contractor’s intentions for the land, there had been no response.

 

In response to a question, the Cobtree Manager confirmed that the Cobtree Young Farmers’ Club was aware of the proposals for a railway at the Cobtree Manor Estate and that it was considered that with good quality fencing and rotational grazing both projects could be accommodated.

 

RESOLVED:

 

1.  That subject to the issues associated with the existing short-term tenancy being resolved, a lease and management agreement be approved to enable the Cobtree Young Farmers’ Club to secure funding through a Heritage Lottery funded project and commence conservation grazing on part of Forstal Field.

 

2.  That the Head of Mid-Kent Legal Services be given authority to seek the formal consent of the Cobtree Charity Trust Limited and all other involved parties, to complete all necessary legal steps, and to draft and complete the lease and management agreement to the Cobtree Young Farmers’ Club in accordance with the Heads of Terms attached as Appendix 1 to the report of the Cobtree Manager.