To discuss the future meeting arrangements going forward and also whether to continue virtually or return to in-person meetings.

David Scott introduced the item. After a review of the Rural Forum, the Council decided to make the Rural Forum an outside body rather than a formal council meeting. He also added that the renewal of the municipal year (1st May) and William Emmett’s resignation as Co-Chair gave the Rural Forum an opportunity to reflect upon itself.

David Scott then stated that after having discussions with Forum members, there needed to be a clear understanding of the membership of the Forum. He reminded the Forum that there were two groups of members: 6 elected Councillors, nominated by the Council, and a group of 10 organisations on the list. These organisations included the National Trust, BCA (Berkshire College of Agriculture), Woodland Managers, Country Landowners Association, the Crown Estate, CPRE (Campaign to Protect Rural England), NFU (National Farmers’ Union), Smallholders’ Association, Parish Councils, and officers of the Council. He added that while there were other groups who had an interest, there needed to be caution around groups who have single-issue interests and wider interests.

David Scott also stated it was ideal that there was robust attendance at the Forum meetings to ensure they were being well used as a basis of policy development as well as provide dialogue between the Council and members from the rural community.

David Scott suggested that the Forum could hold another meeting before the next meeting on 29th November if they believed it was appropriate as November was a long time away.

With the new municipal year approaching, the Forum would need to decide on the next chair of the Rural Forum. He also endorsed the suggestion of having agenda planning meetings prior to the scheduled Forum meetings; though he added that they would probably best if they were more formal rather than through email.

The Co-Chair Councillor Bateson commented the organisations that were usually invited never attend, and that the farmers should decide on which groups should attend. Alan Keene replied that farmers were not really responsible for the groups listed. He also added that Royal East Berkshire Agricultural Association (REBAA), the organisation which he represented, did not have a formal role in the Forum and followed that he would ask for REBAA to have a formal role, which could help with coordinating the farming input. Alan Keene also gave the view that the Rural Forum was focused on farming and not so much on non-farming rural people.

ACTION: David Scott to invite representatives from various rural-based group to attend Rural Forum meetings.

Geoffrey Copas made a few suggestions on the arrangements for future Forum meetings. He commented that it would be better if there were more farm and landowners becoming members of the Forum, reiterating that these people managed the countryside. He also reiterated that it was important to get as many Councillors as possible to attend the Forum meetings as they were the ones who made the decisions.

(Councillor Clarke entered the meeting via virtual call)

Geoffrey Copas supported the principle of having a single chair for the Forum rather than a joint co-chair. He also expressed preference for the Forum chair to be a Councillor with a rural/farming background who would potentially hold the viewpoints of both Councillors and farmers; and followed by nominating Councillor Rayner as a potential candidate due to her farming background. Despite this, he expressed appreciation to the current Co-Chair Councillor Bateson for her chairmanship of the Rural Forum.

While agreeing with most of what Geoffrey Copas commented, Alan Keene added that having a chair and vice-chair was the standard procedure rather than a joint chair; and that chair and vice-chair should be a Councillor and non-Councillor for balance. He expressed disagreement that the chair must be a Councillor and believed the role chair and vice-chair should be open to anyone on the Forum.

Nick Philp asked if the election for the Forum chair would take place during the next Forum meeting in November 2022, which the Co-Chair Councillor Bateson confirmed.

Geoffrey Copas reiterated the issue of the declining number of farmers and agricultural labourers, which was putting pressure on farmers. He disagreed with the general comment from Councillors that it was farmers who should take action, asserting that there were fewer farmers. He then reiterated his original question on whether Councillors wanted agriculture to remain as the main use of the countryside, stating that a clear answer had not been given.

Geoffrey Copas believed that the Council needed to understand on whether it was a priority to get involved with the people who manage the rural land (82% of the Borough), as well as that they would have to be the main instigators to what would happen.

Councillors Coppinger and Rayner reassured Geoffrey Copas that the farming community was important to the Borough and that Councillors wished to preserve rural areas as much as they can and were supportive of the farming community.

Councillor Clarke commented that another purpose of the Rural Forum, alongside interfacing between farmers and councillors, was the promotion of the value of the Borough’s farming and rural areas and making this message clear to residents. He believed there was a communication issue over the importance of rural areas to residents, namely the importance of the use of the land, the benefits this brought, and the stability and security this did to the countryside.

Councillor Clarke suggested that the Forum needed to better communicate to residents to ensure they understood what was within their Borough, how it was used, and how it was managed. In addition, the Forum needed to communicate the efforts the farming community went through to maintain open spaces, the countryside, the production of food and any other positive elements.