This meeting of the Full Council was scheduled to discuss a motion relating to a change to the Inheritance Tax rules for farms, and another motion regarding the reinstatement of the Tavistock to Bere Alston rail line. The meeting was also scheduled to consider minutes of previous committee meetings, a review of polling districts and polling places, and Member Appointments.

Inheritance Tax Relief for Farms

Councillor Jory proposed that the Council write to the Secretary of State for the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to express their dismay at the recent changes to the Inheritance Tax relief rules. The motion for discussion claims that the recent budget changes will introduce a Family Farm Tax estimated to impact 70,000 family farms, and leave the average farming family with an inheritance tax bill of at least £240,000, forcing many to sell portions of their land or close entirely, and paving the way for corporate ownership over family ownership.

“Council believes that: • The Government have committed a shameful betrayal and let down farmers by breaking their promise to not introduce a Family Farm Tax; • The Family Farm Tax will damage the ability of farmers to pass on their farms to their children; • The Family Farm Tax will threaten food security by forcing the sale of family farms; • The Government’s Family Farm Tax will make British food production harder"

Councillor Greenberry-Pullen submitted a separate motion on the same topic, requesting that the Council resolve to seek changes to the Agricultural Property Tax on family farms. The motion argues that the recently introduced 20% Agricultural Property Tax (APT) will place an untenable burden on farming families. The motion states that figures from the National Farmers' Union (NFU) suggest that 66% of family farms will face significant tax liabilities, potentially in the hundreds of thousands of pounds. The motion goes on to say that this threatens the survival of family farms, risks corporate acquisition of farmland, and undermines the production of locally sourced food.

Reinstatement of the Tavistock to Bere Alston rail line

Councillor Jory proposed that the Council write to the Secretary of State for Transport, the Rt. Hon Louise Haigh, and the local Members of Parliament for the three constituencies that cover the Borough area, as well as the two Plymouth MPs to set out the case for investing in the reinstatement of the Tavistock to Bere Alston rail line. The motion for discussion argues that the project would build on the success of the recently opened Dartmoor Line, providing benefits to the environment, in particular the busy A386 road. The motion suggests that the project would also deliver economic benefits for Tavistock and Plymouth, and that it would provide aspirational benefits to residents of West Plymouth and East Cornwall by offering them an improved rail service and opportunities for regeneration in the area.

Polling District and Polling Places Review 2024

The Council was scheduled to review polling districts and polling places following a change to parliamentary constituencies by the Boundary Commission for England in 2023. The new boundaries were used for the General Election on 4 July 2024, and future editions of the Register of Electors need to reflect this. The Representation of the People Act 1983 requires that the Council divide its area into polling districts, each with a designated polling place, and to carry out a review of these districts and places every five years. A public consultation on the proposals was undertaken, with responses from Councillors and electors included for discussion. The review was scheduled to recommend that Councillor's approve a new schedule of polling districts and polling places, due to come into effect in February 2025, when the revised Register of Electors was scheduled to be published.

Member Appointments

The Council was scheduled to discuss the appointment of Councillor Chris West to the Hub Committee as the lead Member for ‘Climate and Biodiversity’, replacing Councillor Ursula Mann. The Council was also scheduled to discuss the appointment of Cllr Mann to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, and the appointment of Councillor Alastair Cunningham as Vice-Chairman of the Overview & Scrutiny Committee. In addition, the Council was scheduled to discuss transferring responsibility for waste and recycling from the ‘Climate and Biodiversity’ portfolio to the ‘Customer Experience and Accessible Services’ portfolio. Finally, the Council was scheduled to consider the addition of the ‘Devon & Torbay Housing Advisory Group’ to the Council's list of outside bodies, and the appointment of a Member to serve on the Group. The ‘Devon & Torbay Housing Advisory Group’ is a successor to the Devon Housing Task Force, which was set up in response to a key recommendation of the independent Devon Housing Commission, which the Council considered at its last meeting. The Group will provide strategic oversight of housing delivery in Devon.

It is important to note that this article only summarises what was scheduled to be discussed at the meeting. It does not describe what was actually discussed, or any decisions that were made.