Agenda and minutes

It was proposed by Councillor Mrs French, seconded by Councillor Marks and resolved that Councillor Taylor be elected Chairman of the Rural and Farming Committee for the remainder of the Municipal Year.

It was proposed by Councillor Taylor, seconded by Councillor Count and resolved that Councillor Mrs French be elected Vice-Chairman of the Rural and Farming Committee for the remainder of the Municipal Year.

To confirm to members the revised Terms of Reference for the Committee as agreed by Full Council in February 2024

Members considered the flooding issues affecting the district.

Members made comments, asked questions and received responses as follows:

·       Councillor Taylor stated that drainage is highlighted in many planning applications, and he has been looking at these plans alongside Middle Level and the Drainage Boards to review drainage strategies to try to prevent flooding and to assist where possible as farmers know the land and know how drainage works. Middle Level has stressed that their drainage is at full capacity, and it is a concern.

·       Councillor Booth agreed flooding is an issue, but the legislation is fragmented and disparate and there are many different organisations involved because the County Council is the Lead Flood Authority plus there is Middle Level who are the lead for the drainage boards, with the question being what the role of Fenland District Council is. He added that the Environment Agency will step in if there is a so-called emergency, which this area is on the cusp of because of the amount of water on the fields and the soil and moisture deficit being at 0%. Councillor Booth questioned that Fenland District Council’s Planning sets policy which is considered in applications but what other role can the Council play? Councillor Mrs French made the point that the Planning Committee take flooding into consideration as local councillors know their areas and all have great concerns especially with the amount of water that has fallen in recent months.

·       Councillor Count stated in terms of reference for this Committee it states it is the voice of the farming community and nobody knows the land better than local farmers which is particularly relevant for the Fenland area because of the nature of the land, the drainage, and the ditch structures, also the pumping stations in the area which makes this area a different to other areas. He made the point that it is important that when the Lead Flood Authority and all the other agencies listen to people who are experts in flooding, that they listen to a local committee that can represent the voice of the farming community who have hands-on experience of how the fields and water tables are affected and the urban community.

·       Councillor Booth stated he agreed this committee is the voice of the farmers, but it also needs to be the voice of the rural communities. One of the problems needing to be acknowledged is within the drainage board the public do not realise the work that is undertaken behind the scenes to keep the water systems flowing and the amount of maintenance that takes place, and he feels there needs to be more knowledge shared in the wider community. Councillor Booth added the question remains is this panel a voice for the farming and rural communities as there is no actual legislative powers that this Council has apart from the planning process which is common knowledge.

·       Councillor Taylor stated Councillor Mrs Laws could not join this meeting but she is the councillor who is  ...  view the full minutes text for item RF3/23

To consider the motions which have been agreed by Full Council and identify and agree the next steps.

Members considered the recent motions to full Council in relation to farming and rural matters.

Members made comments’ asked questions and received responses as follows:

·         Councillor Count commented he would like to understand what this committee could add to a debate that has already taken place in full Council and would it not be more beneficial to monitor the action logs to ensure that the actions are put in place. Councillor Taylor responded that once the motion has gone through Council his job is to pick up the action and contact the relevant people to engage with the motion and gain advice as needed. Anna Goodall confirmed, it is the role of this committee to monitor the actions in accordance with the motions and ensure they are taking place.

·         Councillor Booth asked if the same framework is going to be used as Overview and Scrutiny Panel and Audit and Risk Management Committee. This was confirmed by Anna Goodall

Members noted the action for the Farming and Rural Committee on motions submitted to the Full Council.

To consider the report and make any recommendations

Members received a presentation by Joe Hillier – Programme Manager, Karen Staples – Major Infrastructure Programme stake holder, Matt Pluke – Head of Environment, Huge Maxfield – Land Engagement Leader, from Anglian Water regarding the proposed Reservoir in the District.

Members were advised that the key issues are as follows:

·         Why the Fenland area needs a reservoir, which is due to potential climate change, with less rain forecast, local growth in the area, and current water sources getting more stressed.

·         The project is classed as a national significant infrastructure project which is set out in the

·         Planning Act and is signed off by the Secretary of State. The project is stakeholder led, and all comments are taken into consideration from the local communities to meet the area’s needs.

·         How the Reservoir can support the area and work alongside other local organisations such as the Fenland Future work programme and the food and farming organisations.

·          Anglian Water will be looking at investment and opportunities that will come back into the Fenland area as part of the growth programme.

·         The proposed effect the reservoir has on the local community and the different matters that have arisen in the intervening period.

Members made comments asked questions and received responses as follows:

·         Councillor Count asked about the natural water table, does this affect the surrounding environment and what impact the carbon emissions (CO2) has as the ground is unique in the Fens due to the high peat soil? Joe Hillier responded the local farmers help Anglian Water to understand the natural water table connectivity between the mid-levels as they work the land all the time, the reason this area was selected is due to the underlying materials recognising that there is some peat but there is a competent thick clay horizon underneath called the Roden beds. He stated that the reservoir will be hydraulically isolated so there will be no interaction between any surrounding water other than potential transfer roots, the studies that are happening now are looking at how this will all fit together and what the benefits will be in terms of reducing pumping at St Germans and the flood management benefits for the area. Councillor Count asked in terms of the isolated pumping is there going to be a base so that the natural clay is not being relied on? Joe Hillier responded that the reservoir will be relying on the natural clay as a base, there is a geological investigation being undertaken proving where those clay horizons are and it is showing that they are superficial overlying deposits such a peat and other materials, below that there are really thick lenses of clay which is a competent material, water pressures have been measured and the water horizons around the area. He stated that once the foundations are put together the clay will be formed as the base and a hydraulically isolated unit will be developed. Councillor Count stated he was concerned as all the local roads are suffering and being  ...  view the full minutes text for item RF5/23

To consider the report and make any recommendations to Cabinet and to note that a further update report will be presented.

Members considered the Rural England Prosperity Fund report presented by Simon Jackson and Dawn Caplin.

Members made comments, asked questions, and received responses as follows:

·       Councillor Count stated he was in agreement with the funding proposed but queried The Men’s Shed as he understands there is a Men’s Shed at the FACT offices, and the report also indicates that there is a Men’s Shed in Wisbech so has there been a misunderstanding or is it a different type of Men’s Shed? Simon Jackson stated he would take that question away and check with Councillor Christy who runs the FACT site.

·       Councillor Mrs French asked which is the other company and location in March for the Men’s Shed? Simon Jackson responded it is listed as unused space on Station Road, Cemetery Chapel, March to renovate the inside of the two Chapel buildings that have recently been repaired externally. Councillor Mrs French confirmed this is a disused building, and there is a Men’s Shed at FACT on a Wednesday and Saturday and is open to women too. She continued there is a conflict here with the two sheds and feels the funding needs looking at to see if this project can be moved into one big shed as she does not feel this project needs duplicating with when the extra funding could be used elsewhere.

·       Councillor Marks stated, in reference to apprenticeships, is this something that is being pushed as there are a lot of youngsters between the ages18-25 who are starting their own businesses and there are a lot of local businesses looking for apprentices, but travel and access is an issue? Simon Jackson responded there is a wider programme of support for skills apprenticeships, when Cabinet made a decision with the shared prosperity funding this was to provide a top slice of it to the CPCA as other local authorities have done to add to an areawide skills programme which would include apprenticeships, internships and so on, so what the Council are being careful of is as this programme is much smaller it will add value to what is already planned and happening as the CPCA and other colleges are already doing a lot of work.

·       Councillor Marks asked if this was common knowledge as the businesses, he speaks to are struggling to recruit apprenticeships and there seems to be money sitting there and local business do not seem to know this is available and feels this is something that should be pushed. Simon Jackson agreed and stated the CPCA are mindful of this fact and in the past, there was an extensive database built up of businesses and as an Economic Growth Team this is the main mechanism for communicating directly with businesses. He stated there are currently 2500 businesses on the list and the Council is about to procure a customer relationship management system which will help to improve that communication even further, there is a regular newsletter that goes out  with information about what the Council, other  ...  view the full minutes text for item RF6/23

To provide an update on how Local Farmers are managing climate adaptation, specifically in relation to the unique Fens environment and for members to note the summarised DEFRA report.

Members received a presentation from Rob Wise of the NFU.

Members made comments’ asked questions and received responses as follows:

·         Councillor Marks stated he would like to know the view on Anaerobic Digestion (AD) plants as there has been peat disappearing over the years which happens for a multiple of reasons but there are now fields after fields feeding these AD plants and the tractors on the fields are puddling the land and he feels this is contributing to the flooding issues in this area because the fields are not recovering as the water is just laying on the top of the field and the peat is soaking into the clay below. Rob Wise responded on the issues surrounding AD plants these can be similar to root cropping, the growing of the maze and potatoes which is undertaken on cropping licences, annual cropping licence and sometimes landowner farmers who grant these cropping licenses, looking for short-term return. It is undeniable that the effect on the movement of soil from the fields if there is only a short-term interest does constitute as much attention as when there is a long-term interest in that land. He added this is a difficult area to legislate or regulate on whether to constrain individual farmers or landowners in decisions about how that land is used. Councillor Marks made the point that there are many solar farms in this area taking up good soil where good crops could be grown but the fields have instead been covered in glass panels which are catching all the water, and he would like to know what the NFU view is on this as opposed to the land being used for its proper use and solar farms being placed in lesser land usage? Rob Wise responded that generally the NFU has taken the view that the not best used land should be prioritised for solar but as an organisation the NFU cannot dictate to individual businesses how they use their land, all the NFU can do is make the point of the best available land that should be prioritised, there is increasing innovation within the solar industry to allow for increased cropping use, possible vertical panel arrangements  and high level mounted arrangements being introduced that will allow for cultivation underneath the panels.

·         Councillor Taylor raised concerns about the operation of the NFU. Rob Wise agreed to take his concerns away.

·         Councillor Clark stated he felt the committee needed to be careful where it strays in terms of Fenlands most rural communities including farming matters that the Council are responsible for the Council are not responsible for, with what has been mentioned today he cannot see how the committee can bring value to this presentation. Rob Wise responded he was invited to share the climate reviews and values the interest from the committee. He added that he is pleased to see this committee has been developed to support the rural and farming community and looks forward to the committee adding value  ...  view the full minutes text for item RF7/23

For information.

Members considered the Future Work Programme

·       Councillor Booth asked that Anglian Water ne invited back this time next year for an update on the reservoir. Councillor Marks added that the IDB and Middle Level should also be invited as they are involved too.

·       Anna Goodall suggested at visit from the Police on rural crime and exploitation within the area. Councillor Marks asked if all the rural emergency services could be invited, if possible, on the 7 October 2024 with the focus on how the rural environment impacts on their services.