The Farms Estate Committee of Devon Council met on Thursday 17 September 2026 to review revenue and capital monitoring, and to discuss the impact of bluetongue and drought on estate tenants. The committee endorsed reports on revenue and capital monitoring, and agreed to continue offering empathetic support to tenants affected by current agricultural challenges.

Revenue and Capital Monitoring

The committee endorsed the reports on revenue and capital monitoring for the period up to month 4 of the 2026/27 financial year. The revenue report indicated a forecast surplus of £566,000 for the year, with a significant reduction in rent arrears from £474,849 to £309,000. Debbie Haffenden, Head Accountant for Corporate Services, explained that the reduction in arrears was due to the hard work of the credit management team and that while arrears might increase slightly after the next invoice point, the overall position was positive. Councillor Cathy Connor raised questions about the cyclical nature of farming income and its impact on rent arrears, to which Ms. Haffenden responded that direct debits were being encouraged to mitigate these fluctuations.

The capital monitoring report showed that £228,488 had been spent by month 4, primarily on farmhouse improvement works. A further £765,281 was committed, with plans to fully commit the budget by year-end. The report also detailed capital receipts generated from the sale of assets, including part of Baxters Farm and part of Beara Down Farm.

Impact of Bluetongue and Drought on Tenants

The committee noted the significant impact of drought and the bluetongue virus on estate tenants. The report highlighted that Devon had experienced one of the driest summers on record, leading to poor grass growth and increased costs for forage. The bluetongue outbreak had also resulted in livestock losses and concerns about fertility in breeding stock.

The committee resolved to continue signposting relevant information to tenants and to maintain an empathetic approach to supporting those affected on a case-by-case basis. Councillor L Wainwright, Vice-Chair and acting Chair for the meeting, noted that the estate managers were receiving an increasing number of calls from distressed tenants. Information on emergency grants and government support had already been shared with tenants. The report also referenced a letter from Councillor Cheryl Cottle-Hunkin to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, urging government action on testing, communication, vaccine supply, financial support, and a long-term strategy for dealing with the impacts of climate change on agriculture.

Other Business

The committee also approved officer recommendations regarding tenant monitoring visits and requests for landlord's consent for tenant improvements, although details of these discussions were held in private session. The minutes of previous meetings held on 19 May 2026 and 13 August 2026 were also signed as a correct record. Councillor Louise Wainwright chaired the meeting in the absence of Councillor Henry Gent, with Councillor Jim Cairney appointed as Vice-Chair for the meeting.