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Response by the Cabinet Member: As Council Leader, I am committed to the prudent use of public funds and assets. Most farm tenancies, especially longer-term agreements, contain periodic rental review provisions, typically every three years. These reviews help ensure that rents remain fair and sustainable for tenants while also providing a reasonable return to the Council and, ultimately, the taxpayer. I think that you have mis attributed remarks you suggest were made by Cllrs Mitchell and Jones. During the Economy, Residents and Communities Scrutiny Committee, it was explained that the proposed policy seeks to allow any additional income generated through these rent reviews, above the current annual income target of approximately £1.3 million, to be used to support the long-term sustainability of the Council's farm estate. This approach was developed with the support of the cross-party Farm Estate Advisory Group and was considered to be a proportionate way of addressing estate investment needs whilst recognising the Council's wider financial pressures and responsibilities. In principle, I support exploring opportunities to reinvest additional estate income where doing so helps address maintenance liabilities, supports the rural economy and enables sustainable land management. However, I also recognise that the Council must continue to fund a wide range of statutory and non-statutory services that are important to communities across Powys, including education and social care. As you are aware, the Economy, Residents and Communities Scrutiny Committee recommended that opportunities for reinvestment into the rural estate be reviewed as part of the Council’s overarching budget-setting process. I accepted this recommendation and have asked that it be considered by the cross-party Budget Advisory Group. This will ensure that the investment needs of the farm estate can be balanced against the wider financial pressures facing the authority and that any decisions are taken in the context of the Council's overall priorities and available resources. Ultimately, the objective is to strike an appropriate balance between maintaining a sustainable and productive farm estate for future generations and ensuring that the Council continues to meet its obligations to deliver essential services for the people of Powys.
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