The Sustainable Growth and Place Overview and Scrutiny Committee met to discuss the council farms strategy, approve the committee's work programme for the coming year, and hear updates from cabinet members. The committee approved recommendations for a workshop on the council farms strategy, the work programme, and actions for the Cabinet Member for Transport. The committee also heard updates on the Pydar regeneration project in Truro and Newquay Spaceport.

Council Farms Strategy

The committee agreed to set up an informal workshop in September 2025 to develop a clear scope to support any future proposed Task and Finish Group, taking on board the key points highlighted by the committee.

The Council Farms Estate 20 Year Strategy & 10 Year Business Plan was established by a Cabinet decision in 2019. The committee requested a report on the council's farm service and estate to understand the service and estate at the 5th anniversary of the strategy. The report summarised issues for members to consider, including the changing financial position of the council, pressures on the estate and the need to review service activity.

Points raised in the report included:

• Capital requirements to maintain the asset in a safe, compliant and efficient condition are short.
• Revenue returns are narrow.
• Dairy farming is too expensive to deliver across small land holdings.
• Property maintenance of large residential properties, traditional stone barns and livestock specific infrastructure is expensive and offers limited return in rent.
• Demand for holdings is unchanged and remains buoyant.
• The Fentenfenna Farm at Ruthvoes is an example of where the service has approached a farm differently but been clear about the desired outcomes.
• Bare land lettings for arable and vegetable cropping and food production offer strong rents.
• Delivery of environmental growth/nature recovery will be delivered through the selection of suitable tenants, not through strict land management terms.
• Marginal agricultural production land has been identified and is being incorporated into the 10% canopy cover ambition of the strategy growing.
• Alternative land uses may be required to deliver the council's multiple ambitions.
• The estate includes one scale renewable generation scheme: the wind turbine at St Allen on the A30.

Committee Work Programme 2025-26

The committee approved the draft work programme, subject to the Climate Change Action Plan/Net Zero Target being considered at its next formal meeting on 7 October 2025. Amendments to the work programme before its next consideration will be determined by the Chairman of the Committee, in consultation with the Vice Chairman, the Senior Responsible Officer and the Democratic Services Lead.

The work programme is a tool for identifying, prioritising, conducting and reviewing the committee's work. Each item on the work programme is focused on outcomes and how the committee can help identify solutions to issues.

Suggestions were received from members and the public, including:

• Tourist levy
• Travel passes for carers
• Climate Change Action Plan
• Connectivity and public transport
• Planning enforcement
• Homes Cornwall and asset utilisation
• Capital programme
• Cornwall County Farms
• Review of Homechoice allocation
• Community Led Housing/Community Land Trust
• Hospitality and Tourism
• Defence Sector
• Critical Minerals Sector
• Cormac Small Highways Scheme Review
• Local Plan
• Review of Newquay Airport
• Regular updates from Cornwall Council's Arms Length Businesses (ALB)
• Disabled access
• Review of the 20mph roll out

Questions to Cabinet Members

The committee approved that the Cabinet Member for Transport should provide a summary of the categories of free bus passes available in Cornwall and consult members on the future parking tariff review.

Updates from cabinet members included:

• Councillor Tim Dwelly, Portfolio Holder for Economic Regeneration and Investment, informed the committee of his recent visit to Langarth.
• Councillor Dan Rogerson, Portfolio Holder for Transport, referred to a forthcoming Peninsula Transport meeting and a meeting with a Plymouth bus contract provider.
• Councillor Peter La Broy, Portfolio Holder for Housing, discussed investment for family homes and the temporary acquisition programme.
• Councillor Loic Rich, Portfolio Holder for Environment and Climate Change, noted that the new Cabinet will be preparing action plans in respect of both the Local Area Energy Plan and Nature Recovery Plan towards the end of this calendar year.
• Councillor Sarah Preece, Portfolio Holder for Tourism, Localism and Planning, noted that her priorities are community, connection and commerce.

Public Questions

A question was raised regarding the Pydar area regeneration project in Truro. A member of the public asked when a new planning application would be submitted, and whether the council had considered any alternative uses for the site. The Strategic Director for Sustainable Growth and Place responded that the new landowner, Treveth, is reviewing the existing masterplan and a fresh Reserved Matters planning application will be prepared for Phase 1 and submitted in Spring 2026. The director added that a long process was undertaken to find the right answer for the Pydar Street site with a lot of consultation undertaken which included the Truro City Council and many other stakeholders.

Minutes of the Previous Meeting

The minutes of the meeting held on 1 July 2025 were approved as a correct record. The Chairman advised that the response to the public question regarding Newquay Spaceport given at the meeting of the 1 July 2025 had been revised due to questions being raised about whether Newquay Spaceport was currently operational. The Strategic Director for Sustainable Growth & Place provided an update, stating that while there are no active launches at this time, the spaceport holds a CAA¹ license and remains active in developing the partnerships and infrastructure needed to support future missions.