13 July 2015
DEFRA has confirmed that a case of H7N7 avian flu has been found in Lancashire. The temporary control zone imposed on Friday has now been replaced by a 3 kilometre protection zone and a 10 kilometre surveillance zone. Further information is available on the GOV.UK website.
02 July 2015
Clare Moriarty, the current Director General at the Rail Executive in the Department for Transport, has been appointed as the Permanent Secretary for DEFRA. She will take up the post this summer and replaces Bronwyn Hill. Further information is available on the GOV.UK website.
29 June 2015
The Central Association of Agricultural Valuers (CAAV) elected its new Presidential Team for 2015/16 at its AGM and Conference in Windermere on 26th June 2015. The newly elected CAAV President is Charles Meynell of Fisher German in Stafford, who will be supported by Senior Vice-President Nick Millard, of Michelmore Hughes in Somerset and Junior Vice-President James Dick, who has his own consultancy business in Aberdeenshire.
12 May 2015
George Eustice is to continue at DEFRA as Minister of State and Rory Stewart (MP for Penrith and the Border) joins the Department as Parliamentary Under Secretary. It has already been confirmed that Liz Truss continues as Secretary of State.
11 May 2015
Liz Truss is to continue as Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs under the new Conservative Government. Patrick McLoughlin continues as Transport Secretary. Greg Clark becomes Secretary of State at DCLG and Amber Rudd is the new Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change. Sajid Javid moves to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills and is replaced at the Department for Culture, Media and Sport by John Whittingdale.
27 March 2015
Parliament was prorogued on Thursday 26th March, bringing to an end all Parliamentary business. It will be formally dissolved on Monday 30th March in preparation for the General Election on Thursday 7th May.
03 February 2015
A low severity (H7 strain) case of avian flu has been confirmed in chickens on a farm in Hampshire. A 1 km movement restriction zone has been imposed around the farm. Further information is available on the GOV.UK website.
07 January 2015
The CAAV is holding three full day briefings in England covering BPS 2015, the new online Rural Payments system and changes to the Cross Compliance rules for 2015. The dates and venues are:-
- 27th January - Tortworth Court Hotel, Wotton-under-Edge, Gloucestershire
- 30th January - The Pavilions, Harrogate
- 5th February - The Marriott Hotel, Huntingdon
Further information and booking form may be found in the Events section of this website.
CAAV Examinations Conference - 13th January POSTPONED
(Members Only)
06 January 2015
Please note that following the sad passing of Rowland Beaney just prior to Christmas, his memorial service is being held on 13th January. As many involved with the CAAV examinations wish to attend, we have decided to postpone the Examinations Conference that was due to take place on that date. A new date will be advised in due course.
21 November 2014
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has today announced her new Cabinet. Richard Lochhead MSP remains as the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Food and Environment. Further details are available on the Scottish Government website.
27 October 2014
The Prime Minister has supported proposals in Sir David Higgins' latest report to develop "HS3" - a high speed rail link between northern cities to improve east-west connections. The Government press release can be found on the GOV.UK website. The Higgins report is expected to be published later today (Monday 27th October 2014).
17 September 2014
The RPA has published the results of their latest annual customer satisfaction. Further information is available on the GOV.UK website.
16 September 2014
The RPA has changed its telephone number prefix from 0845 to 0345 in a move away from higher rate telephone numbers. The new number for the RPA CSC is 0345 603 7777. The 0845 and 0345 numbers will run concurently until 1st October 2014. After 1st October, only the 0345 numbers will be available. Further information is available on the RPA page on GOV.UK.
11 September 2014
The Badger Trust has been granted permission to appeal the High Court ruling against it that found it was lawful for the Secretary of State to have decided to go ahead with the badger cull pilots without a panel of independent experts. Further information is available on the Badger Trust website.
10 September 2014
It has been confirmed earlier today that the next EU Agriculture Commissioner will be Fine Gael's Phil Hogan. The proposed new Commission will be considered at a plenary session of the European Parliament in October where it could be appproved or rejected. It is due to take up office from 1st November 2014.
09 September 2014
Bookings for this year's Young Valuers' Conference in Leicestershire have been extended to this Thursday 11th September. Don't miss out on what is always an extremely enjoyable event and useful networking opportunity. Further information and booking form are available in the Events section of this website.
28 August 2014
There is not long left to book your place at the 11th CAAV Young Valuers Conference which is taking place at the Hinckley Island Hotel, Leicestershire on Friday 19th September. Bookings close on Friday 5th September, so don't miss out on attending this highly popular event for our members aged 40 and under.
This is an excellent event which offers 6 hours CPD (including a visit to the Arbury Estate), along with a drinks reception and Medieval banquet in the historical Coombe Abbey's Abbeygate Baronial Hall, and hotel accommodaion all for the inclusive price of £150 (inc. VAT). Partners and friends are very welcome to attend the drinks reception and banquet.
This is the first time that the event has been based at a hotel which offers many facilities including a Health and Leisure Club with sauna, steam room, spa and swimming pool.
The booking form and brochure are available in the Events section of this website.
15 July 2014
Liz Truss MP replaces Owen Paterson as Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs in the Cabinet Reshuffle announced on Tuesday 15th July. Mrs Truss is the MP for South West Norfolk and was previously the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Department for Education.
30 June 2014
"Putting Success into Succession" was the theme of the CAAV Annual Conference, held in Grantham, Lincolnshire on 26th and 27th June 2014 and hosted by CAAV President James O'Brien of Brown and Co. Members and guests enjoyed visits to Lincoln Cathedral and Doddington Estate on the Thursday, followed by a black tie dinner at Belton Woods Hotel. On Friday a range of speakers from agriculture, academia and the professions discussed the importance of succession planning for farm businesses and considered ways to help clients approach this vital topic.
The event concluded with the 70th AGM of the Central Association of Agricultural Valuers, at which Michael Mashiter of NWA Professional and Property in Kendal was elected President. Charles Meynell from Staffordshire and Nick Millard from Western Counties were elected Senior Vice President and Junior Vice President respectively.
A full report will appear in the September edition of the CAAV News Letter.