Motion: Farming Families and the Rural Economy

Council Meeting - 3rd December 2024

That this Council condemns the failure by the Government to prioritise farming families and the rural economy as part of the Autumn Budget; notes with deep concern the decisions to introduce new thresholds for Inheritance Tax and Agricultural Property Relief, which will jeopardise succession planning on farms, create barriers for new entrants to agriculture and discourage investment in many farm businesses; further notes that these policies undermine the aim of increasing food security and promoting more sustainable and efficient farming practices; is equally alarmed that the Chancellor has opted not to ringfence farm support budgets or uplift levels of funding in line with inflation; calls on the Minister for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs to bring forward proposals to mitigate the impact of these damaging policies on local farms, as well as avoid significant increases in food prices; and further calls on the Minister to work with the Minister of Finance to deliver an early and concrete commitment to farming families that current levels of financial support will not only be maintained but increased in the next financial year. 

Proposed by: Proposed by Councillor Buchanan and seconded by Councillor Robinson