Farming in the Uplands - ARCHIVE: Defra

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52 Farming in the Uplands Farm scheme may be part of the solution to lack of affordable housing—we seek clarification from Defra as to how the scheme will work in practice. In particular, we expect Defra to clarify whether, ‘Home on the Farm’ will be limited to providing affordable housing and whether retired farmers and current farm workers will be able to take advantage of the scheme. (Paragraph 98) 25. We recommend that Defra work across Government to ensure that the national planning framework has a flexible and less restrictive approach to housing in rural areas. The planning framework should enable local communities to seek innovative and cost-effective solutions to the problem of affordable housing in rural areas, for example through use of defence estate properties that are becoming vacant. (Paragraph 102) National Parks 26. We support the purpose behind the CRC’s recommendation that National Park Authorities have an additional statutory duty relating to social and economic wellbeing. The Authorities’ duties to the landscape and environment and the people who live, work and cherish those landscapes should have equal status. There appears no reason why the Sandford Principle should not be preserved and applied to a third statutory duty. We recommend that the Government seek an appropriate legislative vehicle to make this change and to introduce greater flexibility. (Paragraph 108) 27. We conclude that some Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs), that cover rural areas, appear to lack interest in, and knowledge about, rural issues. In addition, significant rural areas are not currently covered by LEPs. We encourage rural and farming representative organisations engage with LEPs. We recommend that Defra engage with the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills about including consideration of rural needs, where appropriate given the geography, as part of the criteria for selection of future LEPs. (Paragraph 113) EMBARGOED ADVANCE COPY: Not to be published in full, or part, in any form before 00.01am GMT Wednesday 16 February 2011 28. There is a lack of clarity about the current position and how Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE) funding will be provided now and in the future. We recommend that Defra provide a clear and precise description of how funding will be provided across the country, with or without LEPs. We further recommend that Defra produce clear guidance for farmers and rural communities as to how RDPE funding will be administered now and in future. (Paragraph 114) 29. Any confusion about how RDPE funding will be administered compounds the difficulties farmers and local communities encounter in receiving information and accessing funding. We recommend that the Government explore a simpler means of gaining access to rural funding, of all kinds, through a one-stop-shop. (Paragraph 115) 30. We recommend that Defra only use LEPs as a focus for delivery of RDPE funding in future (after 2013), when they have demonstrated that LEPs have sufficient geographical extent to benefit farmers in all rural areas and have sufficient skills, local knowledge and interest to assist with rural businesses. In the intervening time RDPE funding is to be delivered by Defra. We remain to be convinced that the department
EMBARGOED ADVANCE COPY: Not to be published in full, or part, in any form before 00.01am GMT Wednesday 16 February 2011 Farming in the Uplands 53 will be an effective and efficient delivery body. We expect Defra to set out how it will administer the fund and what processes are in place to monitor its performance as a delivery body. (Paragraph 116) Conclusion 31. In this report we have highlighted issues raised by the Commission for Rural Communities in High ground, high potential that we consider require particular attention. Defra will shortly be producing its uplands strategy. Defra must decide whether farming is to be maintained as the central activity of uplands communities, and if so, explain how this will be achieved. As several witnesses have said there is now a need for action; we have therefore recommended that Defra produce an action plan setting out the Government’s objectives, how it will achieve those objectives, the resources available and the timetable for implementation. (Paragraph 118) 32. As farming is central to the uplands, the Common Agricultural Policy is central to the prospects for upland farmers. This Committee is currently considering the European Commission’s proposals for reforming the CAP. In our deliberations on the proposals we have been mindful of the variety of agriculture within the UK—we trust the Government is similarly aware of the needs of all parts of UK agriculture and particularly the uplands. (Paragraph 119)
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Farming in the Uplands - ARCHIVE: Defra

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