News

This article by Jeremy Moody first appeared in the CAAV e-Briefing of 25th July 2024 We have to wish the new government well. It faces such a scale and range of challenges on all sides as an increasingly risky and changing world meets an economy lacking growth for half a generation. A common theme from water to defence is that we have preferred to have benefits cheaply without providing for the future. That approach has now run its course on many fronts as the need to invest, repair and adapt...

This article by Jeremy Moody first appeared in the CAAV e-Briefing of 18th July 2024 For a government that has not been in office for quite a fortnight, it has set out much of its stall on development control, housing and infrastructure for England, put at the heart of its economic growth agenda. Yesterday's King's Speech, with supporting papers, outlined the initial legislative programme with a combination of the Planning and Infrastructure Bill and the English Devolution Bill. This builds on...

Coming into force on 1 September 2024, The Avian Influenza (Preventive Measures) (Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2024 require the keeper of any number of poultry or other captive birds to notify the Welsh Ministers. Previously, the Regulations only required notification of flocks of over 50 birds. The new Regulations require a person who keeps poultry or other captive birds at any premises must notify the Welsh Ministers in writing of, among others:The address and the holding number of the...

This article by Jeremy Moody first appeared in the CAAV e-Briefing of 11th July 2024 We have crossed a threshold, now no longer in an election campaign nor the long shadow cast ahead of it. A large majority is taking office and beginning to find the difficulties of government. We welcome Steve Reed and Daniel Zeichner to their new roles in DEFRA and wish them well. Although Labour won describing the last government in terms of chaos, it is a moment to note some of what was put in place that now...

Two further junior ministers have been appointed to DEFRA to join the Secretary of State, Steve Reed, and Minister of State, Daniel Zeichner: Emma Hardy, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State and MP for Kingston on Hull West and Haltemprice Baroness Hayman of Ullock, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State in the Lords

Natural England have published details on how to apply for Nutrient Mitigation Credits for any housing development in the Poole Harbour Catchment area. The details set out who it eligible, how to calculate how many credits are required, the allocation and prioritisation of credits and how to apply for the Nutrient Mitigation Credits from Natural England. The first round of applications opens at 10am on 31st July 2024 and closes at 11:55pm on 27th August 2024. Full details can be found on the...

Steve Reed was appointed as Secretary of State on Friday and, as of this morning (Monday 8th July), has Daniel Zeichner as Minister of State in DEFRA. Both held the equivalent shadow posts in opposition. Further appointments are expected soon.

This article by Jeremy Moody first appeared in the CAAV e-Briefing of 4th July 2024 This last day of the 2024 general election allows a moment of wider reflection before the business of the new government takes attention. Speaking to the CAAV National Conference last Friday, Jack Bobo, Director of Nottingham University's Food Systems Institute, saw the next 25 years as the most important 25 years in the global history of agriculture, the period until the still growing world population starts...

The Laying Hen Housing for Health and Welfare grant is available to add a veranda onto, or to upgrade or replace existing laying hen or pullet housing (for units over 1,000 birds) to improve animal health and welfare. The grant is up to 40%, between £15,000 and £500,000 per applicant business. The online checker can be used to make an initial online application. The online checker will close at 11:59pm on 18th September 2024....

This article by Jeremy Moody first appeared in the CAAV e-Briefing of 27th June 2024 We really have to be careful what laws we write if we are not to be surprised by their effects.Here (and indeed in the USA), a surprising judgment sees the courts get attention when they have merely pointed out what the law says. In Finch v Surrey County Council, the Supreme Court has upheld, by 3 to 2, a judicial review of a 2019 permission for an oil well in Surrey because it had read Regulation 4(2) of the...

This article by Jeremy Moody first appeared in the CAAV e-Briefing of 20th June 2024 A governing party’s manifesto is taken more seriously than many might suppose. The civil service will be poring over it to establish the new policy directions, No 10 conventionally checks off the pledges as progress is made and the House of Lords defers to Bills for manifesto commitments. The political debate of an election campaign then dramatises points, advancing or avoiding proposals and being...

The Agriculture and Rural Communities (Scotland) Bill has completed its Stages in the Scottish Parliament on 18th June and now awaits Royal Assent. As framework legislation, the practical detail for schemes is to come at some point in the Rural Support Plan.

We are aware that some members have been receiving scam emails purporting to be from the CAAV offering either: A list of over 1,500 adding the AGM or A members list. They appear to be using publicly available addresses and, with a style echoing marketing agencies circulars, these are not from the CAAV. If you receive one of these scam emails, please delete it.

DEFRA has announced that SFI23 will close for new applications at midnight on Monday 10 June. Any application that has already been started must be submitted within 60 days of starting. Applications for the expanded SFI offer will open fully later in the summer. To apply early and access the new range of actions, those interested can complete an expression of interest survey. Applications are then to be invited to apply over the next few weeks....