Here is a summary of the business scheduled to be discussed at the Individual Decision Days meeting of Cornwall Council. The meeting was scheduled to cover individual decisions from the Leader of the Council & Group Leader - Liberal Democrat Group, Councillor Leigh Frost, and the Portfolio Holder for Economic Regeneration and Investment, Councillor Tim Dwelly. The topics scheduled for discussion included ensuring that defence-led investment in Devonport creates opportunities for the people and communities of Cornwall, and the rationalisation and release of several farmhouses and estates. The meeting was also scheduled to address questions from the public.

Council Farm Estate

A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to discussing the rationalisation and release of various farmhouses and estates owned by the council. The report pack included individual reports for each property, detailing recommendations for declaring them surplus to requirements and authorising their disposal on the open market. The reports referenced the Council Farms Estate 20 Year Strategy & 10 Year Business Plan, adopted in December 2019, which anticipates a reduction in the number of Fully Equipped Holdings (FEH) while maintaining the overall acreage of the estate. The properties under consideration were:

• Lower Trebrown Farmhouse, Saltash: The report recommended declaring the property surplus and disposing of it on the open market. The wider holding was assessed, with the Asset Management Plan (AMP) and Head of Property decisions attached as exempt Appendix 2. The plan included reletting three bare land opportunities and applying for England Woodland Creation Offer funding for tree planting.
• Resparveth (west) Farmhouse, Grampound Road: Similar to Lower Trebrown, the report recommended declaring the farmhouse surplus and disposing of it on the open market. The Resparveth estate consists of two main farm holdings and a parcel of land with buildings used for livestock and equestrian purposes. The Asset Management Plan suggested rationalising the two holdings into one, releasing one of the farmhouses and amalgamating the remaining land with the existing tenant of Resparveth (east) farm.
• Treburthes Farmhouse, Ruan Highlanes: The report recommended declaring both farmhouses, farm buildings, and approximately 23 acres of land surplus and disposing of them on the open market. The Treburthes Farm estate consists of two farms, Treburthes 1&2 and No.3 Treburthes, providing a total of just under 194 acres. The Asset Management Plan also suggested creating two bare land opportunities and applying for England Woodland Creation Offer funding for tree planting.
• Treneath Farmhouse, Liskeard: The report recommended declaring the farmhouse, farm buildings, and approximately 23 acres of land surplus and disposing of them on the open market. Treneath Farm is currently just under 70 acres. The Asset Management Plan suggested amalgamating the land to the west of the property with South Hendra Farm and extending tree planting on land to the east.
• Meudon Farmhouse, Falmouth: The report recommended declaring the farmhouse surplus and disposing of it on the open market. Meudon Farm is currently just under 115 acres. The Asset Management Plan suggested reletting the wider holding on a bare land basis with farm buildings for 11 years, with a provision for the council to regain possession of part of the farm for community benefit.
• Barwick and Furda Farms Estate, Tregony: The report sought approval to declare parts of the Barwick and Furda Farms estate surplus and dispose of them on the open market. The estate extends to approximately 112 hectares and is currently comprised of four lettable units. The Asset Management Plan proposed reverting Furda Farm from a dairy farm to a mixed livestock farm, releasing a pair of semi-detached houses, and amalgamating land to the adjoining Higher Barwick farm.
• Coosewartha Farm, St Agnes: The report sought approval to declare part of Coosewartha Farm surplus and dispose of it on the open market. Coosewartha Farm currently extends to approximately 59.2 hectares. The Asset Management Plan suggested releasing the farmhouse and land, reletting bare land opportunities, and renewing the lease agreement with the parish council for allotment land.

The report pack stated that the divisional ward member for each property had been consulted. Each report contained a section on the Cornwall Development and Decision Wheel, stating that the proposed disposal had been assessed as not requiring a Decision Wheel because it was unlikely that there would be any material change of use.

The reports noted that the 2019 Farms Strategy remains the principle behind decision making on the Council Farms Estate, but these decisions are taken against the wider financial pressures faced by the Council. Each report contained the following statement:

The Council cannot hold properties which offer no future service value or limited commercial value and therefore disposal is the required outcome.

Defence Led Investment in Devonport

Councillor Leigh Frost was scheduled to discuss ensuring that the defence led investment in Devonport creates opportunities for the people and communities of Cornwall. A Devonport National Defence Growth Area Memorandum of Understanding was included in the report pack.

Questions From The Public

Time was set aside on the agenda for questions from the public to both Councillor Leigh Frost and Councillor Tim Dwelly. The supplementary pack included the questions that had been submitted to Councillor Tim Dwelly. These included questions about the number of affordable homes delivered through the ERDF and ESF programmes, and the number of homes that had been empty for more than six months. The supplementary pack included the questions that had been submitted to Councillor Leigh Frost. These included questions about the Department for Culture Media and Sport DCMS Grant to Cornwall Council to Deliver the Youth Transf.