The motion at the full council meeting on Wednesday, March 19 saw all 95 councillors from all political parties stand up for local farmers and raise concerns over the future of the industry.

The call comes in the wake of devastating changes to Agricultural Property Relief and Business Property Relief announced in the Government’s Budget.

Tabled by Council Leader Amanda Hopgood and Deputy Leader Richard Bell, the motion asked leaders to “outline the council’s dismay at the decisions made in the recent Budget” and urge Government to reverse its decisions to restrict Agricultural Property Relief and Business Property Relief and large reductions in the delinked Basic Payment Scheme.

A strong message

Fifth generation farmer and NFU North Riding and Durham County Chair Clare Wise, who urged the council to put forward the motion of support, said: “We’re thrilled and grateful today that Durham County Council has sent such a strong message to Government about the vital role farmers play in the economics and community of Durham County and the devastating effects their poorly planned policies will have on them.

“Durham County is the heartland of family farming and relies heavily on the rural community for jobs and a thriving economy.

“Beyond inheritance tax, the recent halting of the Sustainable Farming Incentive, shorting uplands support, new taxes on fertiliser and supply chain inequalities have seen farm incomes locally fall by record levels.

“Hard working people deserve a better deal from this government and the council has fully acknowledged this and the local communities are grateful and lucky to have such strong representation.

“A huge thank you to all who voted and it was a huge message of support for all of our members, it is so good that we have that support and every drop creates an ocean.”

Backing farmers in their continued fight

The council will write to Government to urge for the planned changes to inheritance tax to be scrapped and highlight the devastating impact it could have on rural communities and important environmental work in Durham.

They said they would continue to challenge Government on the proposals and back farmers in their continued fight.

NFU North Regional Board Chair William Maughan, who farms near Darlington, said: “It's great that the council voted unanimously to support the hard-working farmers in County Durham.

“The challenges currently faced by the family farms that produce the food we all enjoy were discussed at length in the council session. The fact that all the councillors voted and agreed to support us speaks volumes. We appreciate their support and look forward to working with them alongside our local MPs to help find solutions for the challenges."