Onus on Tenant Farming Forum to deliver land tenure solutions

NFU Scotland has been encouraged by the interim report produced by the Land Reform Review Group (LRRG) in its work to encourage constructive and positive land management and opportunities for local communities.

The report has a strong focus on community ownership with useful points on access.  It also acknowledges that identifying solutions to land tenure issues are best addressed by Scotland’s existing Tenant Farming Forum (TFF).

NFU Scotland’s seminar ‘A Vision for Land Tenure: 2020’ will be held at Holyrood Hotel in Edinburgh on Tuesday, 28 May.

Commenting on the report, NFU Scotland Chief Executive Scott Walker said:

“The report recognises that there is a requirement to positively address issues around land ownership and land tenure and that the Tenant Farming Forum remains best placed to tackle that challenge.

“The Group has recognised the complexities and sensitivities around farming tenancies and urges the TFF to respond constructively to the issues in this area.

“The TFF has made progress.  Its guide to carrying out rent reviews was issued last week and its published workstream shows its intent to publish papers on dispute resolution and a code of practice by the autumn of this year. With a lot of work underway the TFF can make real progress in addressing the concerns that have been expressed about the land tenure system in Scotland.

“NFU Scotland is convinced that the future of the agricultural industry is intrinsically linked to a healthy and vibrant tenanted sector that functions alongside owner-occupiers. Scotland requires access to flexible and fluid arrangements for landlords, tenants, and owner occupiers to take advantage of and our seminar in Edinburgh next week will look to establish how we achieve that vision.

“In a week when tragic incidents linked to access and sheep worrying made the headlines, it was encouraging to see the LRRG acknowledge the number of responses it had received on the issue of access and the need for better implementation of the Scottish Outdoor Access Code.   Issues around responsible access remain a key concern for many of our members and a review of the code would be timely and welcome.”

Notes to Editors

• A copy of the Land Reform Review Group’s interim report is available at: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/About/Review/land-reform/CallforEvidence/InterimReportLRRG
• A copy of NFU Scotland’s submission to the Land Reform Review Group’s initial call for evidence is available on request.
• A copy of the Tenant Farming Forum’s current workstreams is available on the Tenant Farming Forum website at www.tenantfarmingforum.org.uk

Ends

Contact Bob Carruth on 0131 472 4006