A motion to support Isle of Wight farmers following controversial government tax changes has been tabled by the county councillor for Chale, Niton and Shorwell.
Cllr Claire Critchison’s submission, which will be voted on at next week’s Full Council meeting, has been lodged in light of controversial changes to Agricultural Property Relief (APR) and Business Property Relief (BPR) which formed part of Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ Autumn Budget.
The Green Party representative’s motion requests the council leader call for the Island’s two MPs to ‘advocate for a pause and further consultation on the changes’ and write to the government to ask that the ‘effects of these various actions on the farming community’ are ‘considered as a whole’.
The motion also instructs County Hall’s cabinet to meet with National Farmer’s Union representatives to ‘discuss how the council can support and work with local farmers and rural businesses’ and ‘consider all reasonable and practical measures to provide support to and work with the farming sector in the future’.
The motion states:
“The Isle of Wight’s farming and rural community are at the heart of our Island as food producers, employers and custodians of the land, and the important role they can play in nature restoration and flood alleviation.
“Our farmers are in the front line of climate change and so have borne the brunt of severe weather and flooding, affecting harvests and the sustainability of their businesses.
“In light of the objections to the changes to Agricultural Property Relief (APR) and Business Property Relief (BPR) announced by the government in the Autumn Budget.
“And the fact that the changes have the potential to introduce a ‘Family Farm Tax’, which severely undermines the viability of our Island’s farming sector and threatens the nation’s food security.”
Cllr Critchison said:
“Farmers play such an important role in nature restoration and flood alleviation and are at the heart of our Island as food producers, employers and custodians of the land.
“But they are under immense pressure as the costs of production have risen whilst farm gate prices have stayed the same or gone down.
“We need to see a sustainable, thriving future for family farming on the Isle of Wight – and I hope that all councillors can get behind this motion next week.”
NFU county chairman Robyn Munt said:
“On behalf of members and the agricultural community, the NFU continues to make the devastating impact to family farms, and as a consequence every business in the rural sector, of the budget announcements known to government and would welcome the support of the Isle of Wight Council.
“Failure by the government to revisit the proposed tax changes and to consult with the farming industry to find a workable solution is already causing immense stress and uncertainty.
“It will discourage investment and growth and it will be detrimental to the production of food and management of our beautiful Island landscape.”
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