MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT NEIL PARISH (00.09.07)
The Committee to welcome Neil Parish (MP) and put the following questions:
1. Could he briefly discuss the implications of Brexit in relation to agriculture and the rural areas? What are the implications for food, farming and the environment in Mid Devon as a consequence of Brexit as currently envisaged? What preparations are being contemplated in response to "no deal"?
2. Do you consider that proposals for an alternative route via Longwood Lane, for the quarry lorries, avoiding Burlescombe has now hit the buffers or is there still a realistic hope that it may still go ahead.
3. Would you be prepared to lobby the Housing Minister concerning the five year land supply which Middevon has been unable to show and probably never will as we do not sit on swathes of redundant industrial land. This unrealistic target has left us hostage to several undesirable planning applications.
4. There is significant interest amongst the 3 Head teachers in 11-16 schools in Tiverton, Cullompton and Uffculme in respect of engaging in a review of future options of A level provision in Mid Devon, particularly in the light of the major housebuilding programme of over 8000 houses envisaged in the MDDC Local Plan. Could we call upon your services to navigate the options with the Department of Education in considering such a review?
5. Should the government look again at "right to buy" from council stock?
6. Universal superfast broadband coverage remains an elusive concept in Mid Devon, especially in rural areas. A recent report states that the UK slipped to 35th in the global table of broadband speeds, below the likes of Madagascar and Bulgaria. Locally a DCC Scrutiny report called for greater transparency in a critical analysis of the performance of Connecting Devon and Somerset which appears to have been rejected by CDS. How do we hold CDS to account? When will the project be completed> Will the 95% coverage be achieved? What happens to the remaining 5%?
8. Michael Gove has proposed a Protected Landscapes Review of designated landscapes (10 National Parks, 34 AONBs) What are the terms of Reference and how will those working in and for them be able to input into the process directly?
9. Will the Review allow for the consideration of a possible AONB designation for the Exe Valley- a beautiful part of the country?
10. Natural England is being scaled back- how does this fit (or not) with the ambitions of the 25 Year Environmental Plan (25YEP) which seeks to deal with the environmental impact of "unprecedented expansion in population consumption, energy use waste and population”?
11. Natural England has informed the AONB that they are no longer able to provide monitoring data free of charge- information used to fulfil a statutory function of the designation. Will DEFRA be offering additional funds to cover the shortfall or can the policy be re-thought?
12. As many experts forecast, Universal Credit is associated with growing rent arrears which impacts on Councils. Is Government ... view the full agenda text for item 37
Minutes:
The Chairman welcomed Neil Parish MP to the meeting.
The Committee put the following questions to the MP.
1. Could he briefly discuss the implications of Brexit in relation to agriculture and the rural areas? What are the implications for food, farming and the environment in Mid Devon as a consequence of Brexit as currently envisaged? What preparations are being contemplated in response to "no deal"?
The Member of Parliament said that a DEFRA report was looking at this issue sector by sector and the impact of different deals. He said that the Government didn’t want tariffs and that was why the Prime Minister’s deal helped with trade and with Northern Ireland. He said that he felt that now both sides were squaring up to each other it was probably a time when you would see a deal completed.
He explained about the current imports and exports of food and felt that more dairy products could be produced in the country as opposed to relying on imports.
He reiterated that no sides were talking about imposing tariffs and that there was work going on in all departments regarding the scenario of a no deal and that the Government was looking at the various systems of moving goods through barriers.
He referred to the current drought situation and that the weather would make a difference to food prices in the short term but wouldn’t make a difference to Brexit negotiations.
He explained that the Government just had to get on a get a deal, especially when it came to agriculture. He said he wanted to remain but he accepted the vote and that the country needed to get some form of deal. He confirmed that he had full confidence in Prime Minister to deliver one.
The Committee asked if there was a minimum food production level and was there room to support it? Neil Parish explained that the UK was a temperate climate and we produced a fair amount of food. He explained that currently the UK was 58% self-sufficient and he wanted to see that maintained. He felt that in the future more food would need to be grown on less available land.
2. Do you consider that proposals for an alternative route via Longwood Lane, for the quarry lorries, avoiding Burlescombe has now hit the buffers or is there still a realistic hope that it may still go ahead.
Neil Parish explained that he was meeting with the liaison committee to try and consider options available which may include getting the lorries further through the quarry. This was an ongoing issue that he was monitoring.
3. Would you be prepared to lobby the Housing Minister concerning the five year land supply which Mid Devon has been unable to show and probably never will as we do not sit on swathes of redundant industrial land. This unrealistic target has left us hostage to several undesirable planning application.
The Member of Parliament stated that he had had quite a ... view the full minutes text for item 37