Decision details

Exemption from publication: There are confidential appendices to this report, which are exempt by virtue of paragraph 3 of Schedule 12A of Part 1 of Schedule 12a of the Local Government Act 1972 because they contain information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information).

On the expiry of the existing grazing licence (31st May 2024) to re-let the land being 25.18 acres on a grazing licence to 23rd October 2024. Then from 24th October 2024 let 15.36 acres being the land not required for tree planting on a further grazing licence to the existing occupant.

The practice of issuing short to medium-term agreements allowing the occupation of comparatively small areas of Council-owned land is a historic one. These agreements primarily concern paddocks scattered across Buckinghamshire and are used by farmers and equestrian owners to graze their livestock.

As only 9.82 acres of the land have been identified for tree planting it would be prudent for the Council to re-let the remaining bare land on a short-term agreement to generate an income and reduce the risk of unlawful occupation of the land.

An alternative option would be to not plant trees on the land and continue with the licenced occupation. This would not have a detrimental effect on the land; however, this would not fulfil the Councils’ tree planting program target and the Governments’ national ambition to increase the planting of trees across the UK.