Corruption and letting council farms in norfolk

[nick...]

There is a bit in local paper today about corruption letting council farms in Norfolk.ive got friends who have been affected and lots of people knew what was going on but the truth has now come out.understand 3 people have been suspended by the council.local paper got some details after someone has told the truth.maybe someone can link the story from the eastern daily press
Nick...

 

[Bald Rick]

Would depend how corruption is defined.

All I know is that most, if not all, council farms coming on to the “market” tend to go to either existing tenants or their offspring.

I suppose there might be scope when bits get sold off?

 

[Kam]

Council workers suspended over Norfolk County Farms complaint

Two staff members who help run a council’s farming estate have been suspended.

www.edp24.co.uk

 

[Bald Rick]

Council workers suspended over Norfolk County Farms complaint

Two staff members who help run a council’s farming estate have been suspended.

www.edp24.co.uk

Ha. Very brief report but it sort of alludes to my previous post

 

[Breckland Boy]

Often the whole process is flawed. The councils have to go through the motions so it seems all is fair and correct. In reality the deal has already been done with either an existing tenant or a neighbouring tenant. The process is to find out what others are willing to pay.
I certainly had that impression when last looking around a council farm. Sheds were locked up, previous cropping plans inaccurate and information in general was vague.
Its difficult to prove one way or another until someone owns up.

 

[nick...]

A friend of mine could elaborate on a lot of things regarding council farms but it’s up to him to comment if he wants too.
Nick...

 

[Ball acre]

I could be wrong but I think there is corruption in other parts of the country as well. Sub letting, ad maize etc etc.

 

[Martyn]

NPS manage quite a large number of Council Farms, from pre experience wouldnt trust them further than you can through them.

 

[Flat 10]

The only things I know about Norfolk are good things apart from the article above. Suffolk on the other hand!!!!! ?

 

[Barleymow]

2 local council farms near here ended up in the hands of the same person when they were sold off hmm

 

[Rossymons]

2 local council farms near here ended up in the hands of the same person when they were sold off hmm

I'm guessing they weren't the sitting tenant at the time of sale?

 

[Formatted]

NPS manage quite a large number of Council Farms, from pre experience wouldnt trust them further than you can through them.

I have encountered this myself - council farm in South West, applied and got through to what we thought was the final two.

We were told by the agents to tour the farm with the current tenant and the other prospective candidate, which we did. We then had lunch with the other candidate and left thinking it was us or them. We swapped numbers, had our interview and waited to hear more.

On the drive home we got a call from the agents saying that we'd been unsuccessful, so we called the other interviewees who had also been unsuccessful. We called the current tenant who said he wasn't aware of a third application and they hadn't toured the farm!

Corruption is rife with NPS, they are rotten to the core!

 

[bobk]

You need a wad of 20's in your back pocket .

 

[tw15]

Its not just Norfolk that its happening to . Here in Dorset it does seem to be a situation of selling of or end up with another local council tenant getting the next up farm for very little rent if at all to tidy up the farm instead of getting a new tenant in. Dorset council have a lot to answer . Some land around here was common land that was taken over in the war and 6 farms were built up on a block of around 400 acres at the time . Be interesting to see what they do do there now as one is now just let to a large farmer for grass keep they are now just 3 active farms on there as they have been amalgamated from 6 to 3 .
What hope have the youngsters got to get into farming when one of the first stepping stones is taken away .

 

[nick...]

From what hear it depends how thick the brown envelope is.its just appalling and it’s not a cheap job to apply for a council farm with all the costs and associated help required either.
Nick...

 

[tepapa]

What hope have the youngsters got to get into farming when one of the first stepping stones is taken away .

Why is it the responsibility of the local council to help new entrants into agriculture? If the industry needs fresh blood it's up to us as an industry to help them in.
Maybe when 50acres goes up for rent all the big players stand back and yet a young farmer rent it rather than all scramble to get even bigger.

 

[Sid]

I tendered for a few over the years.

It never goes the way the agents describe it.

To be let as a dairy unit. Nope beef and sheep now.

To be let as a whole. Nope split into 3 parts and let.

 

[Granite Farmer]

You look at the particulars for these farms now and it'll say things like '40x60 silage clamp, (not to be used for clamp silage)' or 'muck ramp (redundant)' and the list goes on.

It would seem half the infrastructure on these farms redundant unless it is the tenants own.

A council farm came up for tender near us, huge crowd there from all over, in goings were not available. How are you supposed to submit a business plan and tender without the in goings.

 

[Robt]

From what hear it depends how thick the brown envelope is.its just appalling and it’s not a cheap job to apply for a council farm with all the costs and associated help required either.
Nick...

Hi Nick, If you have genuine evidence this would be the perfect story for a local Journalist at the EDP or radio Norfolk. Make a difference and dont let it continue

 

[farmerfred86]

Well said Rob,

I have my doubts about the Suffolk county farms process but can't prove anything.