Rural Forum
Tuesday 11 November 2008
RURAL FORUM
11 NOVEMBER 2008
Present: Councillors Mrs Bateson (Chairman), Mrs Pitteway and Wiles
Also present: Philip Everett (Crown Estate), Elaine Cook (CCB), Andrew Randall (Royal East Berks Agricultural Association) and Peter Thorn (BCA)
Officers: Sally Dunford, Peter Hitchen, Liz Hornby, Harjit Hunjan, Steve Johnson and Helen Leonard
PART I
- 1. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
- Apologies were received from Councillor Kellaway.
- None were received.
- 3. PRESENTATION BY ELAINE COOK, COMMUNITY COUNCIL FOR BERKSHIRE
- The Forum members were given a presentation by Elaine Cook from the Community Council for Berkshire (CCB) and made the following points:
- That the CCB had a vision of thriving, diverse and sustainable communities around the county of Berkshire and that their key theme was to actively support communities in Berkshire who needed it most.
The CCB had a Rural Team who comprised advisers and community development workers who produce advice and guidance on a variety of topics to rural communities. That they also provide support across the Parishes in the Unitary Borough’s of West Berkshire, Wokingham Borough, RBWM, Bracknell Forest and Slough Borough and cover both rural representation and help influence practical service delivery.
The rural team was represented in many areas, among which they were members of the Local Strategic Partnerships and their ambition groups; Chairing and co-ordinating the Berkshire Rural, and Rural Towns Partnerships; they had a seat of the SE Rural Forum; a seat on the Housing Forum of the Regional Assembly.
The Rural team provided support to Town and Parish Councils, rural shops. Village halls, rural housing and the Berkshire Rural Towns Programme.
There were many challenges facing Berkshire, some of which were that this was the most successful economy in the UK and that the local rural economy was under-performing. The natural resources were under pressure – water, energy, waste, flooding. There had been a lack of investment in the Berkshire infrastructure. The cost of housing was very high and that there was much over development, leading to a threat to the environment. There was a lack of basic skills which therefore led to poverty and deprivation. Livestock farming was vulnerable with landscapes at risk.
The CCB recognised bodies who could help with these issues, among which were the Commission for Rural Communities, ACRE (Action for Communities in Rural England), SERCC (South East Rural Community Councils), Berkshire Rural Forum, Berkshire Food Group, as well as the CCB.
Opportunities had been identified from RDPE (Rural Development Programme England), Big Lottery, SEEDA, BBO Food Groups, Local Area Agreements and Trusts.
The CCB would like authorities to get involved by joining the CCB, support the rural strategy for Berkshire, engage with the Berkshire Rural Forum, become a BBO member and to provide a voice for rural communities within the Royal Borough.
The Chairman thanked Elaine Cook for her very informative presentation and there was much to take in and discuss in the future.
Steve Johnson from the Royal Borough’s Trading Standards team spoke about Animal Health within Trading Standards, and commented that many people were surprised that Animal Health was under their remit and handed out a leaflet explaining the key areas that the team covered.
Steve Johnson explained that they had an important role controlling the welfare, disease control and food chain within the Royal Borough and were also supported by DEFRA who was part funding Sally Dunford’s post, and that should DEFRA withdraw that funding, Sally’s post with the Borough may be uncertain.
During the 2007 Foot & Mouth outbreak Trading Standards took the lead for the Authority and provided advice to livestock keepers, closed footpaths and provided advice to Councillors. The disease was controlled and quickly died out.
Sally Dunford explained that she made visits to farms to ensure that Animal legislation was being adhered to. Her role was to assist farmers as much as possible and make sure that animals were well kept in a manner that would prevent disease from spreading, particularly with cloven-hoofed animals. This included pet livestock kept by individuals as well as herd keepers. Records relating to movement of livestock were kept, particularly for sheep, goats, pigs and cows, along with records of births and deaths. Those animals who were due to go into the food chain had to have a Vets record of all injections any animal had received. This helped farmers to comply with the legislation.
The Forum asked whether Sally visited abattoirs. Sally commented that as there were none in the Borough she did not, although other authorities who did have abattoirs in their area, did make visits. It was also pointed out that the Borough had no slaughterhouses or livestock markets. It was noted that due to the present economic climate many people had taken to keeping their own chickens and the question was asked whether the legislation covered chickens and whether records needed to be kept. Sally commented that when any animal is moved from one agricultural holding to another the seller had to provide a Movement Licence of which three copies were given to the new owner. Once the animals had been moved to the new site, the new owner had to send the top copy to the relevant authority within 3 days. This made tracing a sick animal easier.
The Forum asked that should there be an outbreak of Avian Flu, how would local residents who kept chickens be informed? It was noted that this would be through the local press and radio. It was also noted that any owner who kept more than 49 birds had to be registered.
5. HEDGEROWS
Helen Leonard, Arboricultural Co-ordinator spoke about the Hedgerow Regulations 1997 and commented that this did not cover hedges within residential gardens. It was noted that if someone wanted to remove a rural hedgerow, a Hedgerow Removal Notice would have to be issued on the Local Authority and failure to do so could result in a prosecution up to the sum of £5,000 and a Hedgerow Replacement Notice could be served. It was also noted that the Local Authority liaised with Parish Councils on receipt of a Hedgerow Removal Notice. Helen Leonard commented that most hedgerows within the Borough were either on Private Land or Crown Estate, the latter were still subject to the requirements of the Hedgerow Regulations 1997. The Forum noted that only three Replacement Notices had been served within the last 2 years and that due to grants being available, particularly via Defra’s Environmental Stewardship scheme, there was an incentive to manage hedgerows in a more sustainable way.
6. ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION AT NEXT MEETING
- Carbon Management
Fly Tipping
- 4. DATE OF NEXT MEETING
- The date of the next meeting is to be arranged once the new Corporate Diary is in place.
- 5. MEETING
The meeting, which opened at 6.00pm, ended at 7.05pm