CLA North East Annual General Meeting - Country Land & Business ...

An introduction to College Valley
College Valley is a 12,600 acre upland estate comprising two tenanted farms, a mansion
house, 17 cottages and over 2,000 acres of woodland.
The estate stretches for six miles from low foothills to the 2700ft Cheviot summit and
the Scottish border - largely defined by the catchment of the College Burn, a tributary
of the Glen, the Till and the River Tweed. The whole estate lies within Northumberland
National Park and includes both geological and habitat-based SSSIs as well as a site
of European significance.
Between 1964 and 1973, the estate embarked on an ambitious forestation programme,
planting 1600 acres of commercial coniferous woodland. The estate’s woodlands under
management now total over 2,200 acres, including over 800 acres of native woodland.
In 1999 the estate pulled back from farming and let 10,000 acres of previously in-hand
land through two Farm Business Tenancies. Surplus cottages were let under residential
tenancies with four cottages let as furnished holiday accommodation. Two small
lowland farms were also let under agricultural tenancies.
The directors have followed an innovative management path in recent years, including
adopting a long term sustainable development plan from 2001 to 2021. In this plan, eight
key principles were identified as the focus for future strategic management within the
overall guiding principle “of managing the estate in a way that will enhance and maintain
its value as a cultural, environmental, economic and scenic place of excellence.”
In late 2012, the opportunity arose to regain occupation of the southern, and most
environmentally important, part of the estate. The board decided that management
of this 5,500 acre block would be driven by environmental objectives rather than
agricultural ones so that farming would support environmental outcomes rather than
the other way round.
By grazing in the summer months only, it is hoped to maintain the important habitat
for those species of birds and plants that depend on a grazed habitat and
simultaneously increase the biodiversity and save those special plants that have
suffered from over grazing.
Booking form and ticket application
Please complete the form on the reverse, detach and send promptly to the regional office address on
the back cover – not forgetting to enclose your cheque. Space is limited, so to avoid disappointment please
act quickly.
Unfortunately we are unable to make a refund if you have to cancel for any reason.
The North East branch of the CLA would like to thank Bond Dickinson for their valued support.
.org.uk
COUNTRY LAND & BUSINESS ASSOCIATION
North East Branch Committee 2012-13
President: J P P Anderson Esq DL Little Harle Tower, Harle,
Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE19 2PD
C A E Braithwaite Esq Haughton Castle, Haughton,
Hexham, NE46 4AY
M Bridgeman Esq Fallodon Hall, Alnwick, NE66 3HF
W Browne-Swinburne Capheaton Hall, Capheaton,
Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE19 2AB
Chairman: A J Cochrane Esq Strutt & Parker, 59 Newgate Street, Morpeth,
Northumberland, NE61 1AY
J A Cresswell Esq Newlands Farmhouse, Belford,
Northumberland, NE70 7DS
Mrs E Earle
Dickinson Dees, One Trinity, Broad Chare,
Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE1 2HF
J Elkington Esq
Chipchase Castle, Wark-on-Tyne, Hexham,
Northumberland, NE48 3NT
D A Gray Esq FRICS Swallow Cottage, Hamsterley,
Bishop Auckland, DL13 3QF
J Hutchinson Esq Hett Moor Farm, Hett, Durham, DH6 5LJ
Mrs A Morshead
The Lees Farm, Haydon Bridge,
Hexham, NE47 6DA
M Orde Esq
Smiths Gore, Eastfield House, Main Street,
Corbridge, NE45 5LD
G W Ridley Esq
The Grange, Middlepart Farm, Belsay,
Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE20 0HB
Mrs J Robson
The Duke of Northumberland’s Estate Office,
Alnwick Castle, Alnwick, Northumberland,
NE66 1NQ
W J Rogers-Coltman Esq OBE Berryburn, Berwick-upon-Tweed, TD15 2TF
W H T Salvin Esq MRICS The Estate Office, Eggleston Abbey,
Abbey Lane, Barnard Castle, DL12 9TN
C J Stephenson Esq Bradley Hall, Wolsingham, Bishop Auckland,
DL13 3JH
D Stewart Esq
Paddock House, Allendale, Hexham, NE47 9EL
A Thompson Esq
Embleton Old Hall, Hurworth Barn,
Wingate, TS28 5NX
REGIONAL TEAM
Regional Director:
Policy & Public Affairs Director:
PR & Comms Manager:
Regional Adviser:
Regional Surveyor:
Regional Administrator:
Regional Administrator:
Dorothy Fairburn
Douglas Chalmers
Daniel Curtois
Jane Harrison
Jacqui Stoddart
Nikki Brown
Sarah Lister
Aske Stables, Aske,
Richmond, DL10 5HG
Tel: 01748 907070
Fax: 01748 907075
Email: north@cla.org.uk
Minutes of Last AGM
Minutes of the Annual General Meeting held
on 15 June 2012 at Kirkharle Courtyard.
There were nine apologies for absence.
Mr P Bridgman paid tribute to the late Lord
Ridley. Mr C Harle paid tribute to the late Guy
Beadon. A minute’s silence was observed.
1. Minutes of the 2011 Annual General
Meeting:
The minutes of the 2011 AGM held at
Seaton Delaval Hall on 22 June, which had
been previously circulated, were approved
and signed. There were no matters arising.
2. Branch Chairman’s Report:
The Chairman’s annual report had been
circulated and was received by the meeting.
3. Election of Officers and Committee:
The following were duly elected:
a. President: Mr J Anderson
b. Branch Committee:
i. Retirements - The following resigned:
Mr J M B Cookson and Dr P Lavery.
The following retired under the five year
rule: Mr W Charlton, and The Hon C
Beaumont. Special thanks were paid
to Charles Beaumont for his major
contribution to the work of the CLA.
The following retired after finishing
their term on national committees:
Mrs S Bolam (BREC), Mr C Cresswell
(Environment) and Mr P Scrope
(Taxation).
ii. New members – Mr J A Cresswell,
Mr W Browne-Swinburne and
Mr J Elkington.
4. Branch Representatives to Council:
The following were duly elected as Branch
Representatives to Council:
Mr A Cochrane and Mr G Ridley.
Any Other Business: None.
INVITATION TO THE
CLA North East
Annual General Meeting
Friday 7 June 2013
College Valley
cla.org.uk

This year’s Annual General Meeting, generously supported
by Bond Dickinson, is to be held on Friday 7 June at
College Valley, Kirknewton, Wooler, Northumberland.
College Valley is a 12,600 acre upland estate, stretching for six miles
from low foothills to the 2700ft Cheviot summit and the Scottish border.
It is largely defined by the catchment of the College Burn, a tributary
of the Glen, the Till and the River Tweed. The whole estate lies within
Northumberland National Park and includes both geological and
habitat-based SSSIs as well as a site of European significance.
Programme for the day
10.30am
11am
12.30pm
2pm
4pm
Registration and coffee on arrival at Cuddystone Hall
AGM
CLA President - Harry Cotterell
Bond Dickinson
Introduction to the College Valley Estate –
John Cresswell, Chairman of Trustees
Pre-lunch drinks followed by a two course locally
sourced, seasonal lunch in Cuddystone Hall
Minibus tours (unsuitable for members with limited
mobility) to include: Heather management and rotational
burning: conifer removal and heather restoration, fluvial tree
planting, conservation grazing and goat management
Return to Cuddystone Hall for tea and depart
Notice of the 2013 Annual General Meeting of the North East Branch
of the Country Land and Business Association to be held at College
Valley at 11am on Friday 7 June.
Agenda
Apologies for absence.
1. Minutes of the 2012 Annual General Meeting held at
Kirkharle Courtyard, Kirkwhelpington
2. Report of the Branch Chairman, Mr A J Cochrane
3. Election of Officers and Committee Members
4. Election of Branch Representatives to Council
5. Any Other Business of which due notice shall have
been given
2012 will probably be best remembered for the appalling weather
conditions that farmers had to endure - from facing drought 12 months
ago to ending the year as the second wettest on record.
The rural economy was hardest hit by the poor weather, with a financial
black hole on Britain’s farms amounting to more than £1 billion. Farmers
and land managers have lost valuable crops and are also facing huge
feed bills for their livestock. It is already clear that many of these
difficulties have been compounded by the dreadful start to 2013.
This vulnerability of food production to climatic factors is another
reminder of why the CLA’s role in the current CAP negotiations is so
vitally important for securing the future of farming in the North East and
elsewhere.
Writing the Chairman’s report is a great opportunity to reflect on the
CLA’s importance and recent activities.
National lobbying
The CLA has excellent access to promote its pro-growth agenda
to ministers in the Coalition Government. Our influence was clearly
illustrated earlier this year when the Government agreed to relax
planning restrictions relating to agricultural buildings, allowing them to
be converted to other uses without the need for the normal, difficult and
costly full planning application process.
Your CLA has to be strong to compete for the Government’s ear against
the efforts of other campaigning groups, often single-interest and
well-funded, and directly opposing policies which favour our members’
business interests. We can see emerging trends in Scotland which,
if replicated south of the border, would further threaten the interests
of the owners of rural land and property. These include moves to
support vicarious liability (whereby landowners are prosecuted for the
wrongdoings of their employees), the absolute right-to-buy for farm
tenants, and other developments which would constrain the use of land
and diminish its value.
CAP reform
The Association continues to battle hard to ensure a fair deal for our
farmers, and to robustly defend our stance on capping, ‘greening’ and
the definition of ‘active farmer’.
Tax
CHAIRMAN’S
REPORT
from our highly respected tax adviser and our public affairs team.
Horsemeat/food labelling
Food labelling came under the spotlight again earlier in the year, as a
result of the horsemeat scandal. The CLA has been active in the area of
food labelling for a number of years. In 2006, we launched the Just Ask
campaign to push for those in the food service sector to recognise the
importance of labelling on the products served to the consumer.
Effective labelling of food products is crucial, but so too is the actual
provenance of the food on offer. If, as a result of the horsemeat scandal,
the consumer is to become more reliant on local sourcing, then this will
be an indirect benefit of the crisis.
However, this may only be a short term change and the British shopper
will inevitably tend to go back to the supermarket. This is why we will
continue to send a clear message to the consumer that buying locally
guarantees a form of security that clearly has not been the case in the
retail chain.
Forestry
Our forests are under attack from diseases such as Chalara fraxinea
(ash dieback) and Phytophthora ramorum in larch. We are calling for a
culture change within Defra and the Forestry Commission so foresters
are recognised as the best early detectors of tree pests and diseases.
Our seminar at Etal in March, on tree safety and tree disease, was very
well attended and really instructive on the spread and identification of
disease, as well as giving really sensible, practical and proportionate
advice on owners’ duties with regard to safety. CLA at its best!
Crime
Cleveland, Durham and Northumbria now have their own Police and
Crime Commissioners (PCCs) to ensure local policing meets the needs
of local communities. If you haven’t already made contact with yours,
I would urge you to do so to ensure rural crime is on the agenda.
Badger cull
This is sure to be big news again in 2013. CLA is fully supportive of the
cull to help combat the unacceptably high toll on cattle and farmers’
livelihoods caused by bovine TB. Harry Cotterell, our national President,
has been working hard behind the scenes to steer this important
exercise in the right direction.
Campaigning
Last year the CLA campaigned on a range of rural issues including
a reduction in red tape for the equine industry, VAT relief on static
caravans, a halt to empty property taxes, improved broadband delivery
and improved rights for landowners in the iniquitous compulsory
purchase system, to name but a few.
We have recently launched a new tourism paper calling on the
Government to cut VAT on the supply of rural tourism services from 20
percent to seven percent in a bid to support the industry.
Events
Last year’s Northern Farming Conference at the Great Yorkshire
Showground, Harrogate, was a great success. It attracted a great
range of speakers and MPs including Efra Chairman Anne McIntosh
and Shadow Defra Secretary of State Mary Creagh. I look forward
to seeing you at this year’s event on Wednesday 13 November at
Hexham Mart.
Many of you will already have taken part in events lined up by the
regional team, including a fascinating visit to the Nissan plant in March.
The team has also run various members’ surgeries throughout the
North East, as well as specific seminars on the housing policy and the
Green Deal, tree safety and tree disease, as already mentioned, and
social media for beginners! I encourage you to check the CLA website
regularly for new events coming up in the North East and indeed other
regions throughout the North.
Regional team
The team, under Regional Director Dorothy Fairburn, has settled in
well at the new Aske office, where advisers have handled hundreds of
enquiries on a range of rural and landowning issues over the last year.
Our Policy & Public Affairs Director Douglas Chalmers has met with
dozens of MPs and ministers, including Owen Paterson, David Heath
and Nick Boles to argue the case for the rural economy.
Booking form for AGM
Member’s Name:
Guest’s Name:
Address:
On 23 and 24 April, our national Deputy Vice-President, Ross Murray,
toured the region, to meet with members and to listen to their views,
and to explain to them the work that the CLA is doing. I was delighted
to accompany Ross on the second day of his visit. He is very intelligent,
attentive, and passionate about what the CLA is doing and stands for.
I know that the Association is in safe hands, and has a bright future!
The AGM
Despite the weather, last year’s AGM at Kirkharle was a tremendous
day – I am immensely grateful to John and Kitty Anderson and their
staff, and to Wrigleys for their support.
I am greatly looking forward to a fascinating day in the College Valley.
I would like to extend my thanks, on behalf of all North East members,
to the Trustees of College Valley Estates, and to Colin Matheson and
his colleagues who are responsible for managing this most spectacular
corner of England.
Your CLA membership has never been so important. I thank you for
your support and ask you to continue helping us in the fight to protect
landowners’ rights.
Alistair Cochrane
Douglas Chalmers meets Defra Secretary of State
Owen Paterson
Email:
Price
AGM
Free
AGM, lunch and tour £28.50
Membership No
Tel:
Just Ask – food provenance has a higher
profile after the horsemeat scandal
Number
D U Fairburn
Regional Director
More threats to landowners in the fields of APR, Mansion Tax, and VAT
on listed building repairs have been met with further concerted lobbying
Bad weather has dominated the agenda over the last year
Enclosed cheque for £
Payable to the CLA
Please return as soon as possible to reach us no later than Tuesday 28 May and send with cheque to: CLA North, Aske Stables, Aske, Richmond,
North Yorkshire, DL10 5HG.