Budget 2018: CLA reaction

CLA - Country Land and Business Association Limited logo

The CLA represents landowners, farmers and rural businesses across England and Wales who together, manage more than 10 million acres of rural land. The organisation has reacted to the Chancellor’s Budget.

On rural broadband

CLA President Tim Breitmeyer said: “The Chancellor has prioritised connecting the countryside like never before. Digital connectivity is vital to boosting rural economic growth and this funding will go towards projects which should lead to the deployment of full fibre broadband in the hardest to reach areas.

“However, although this is very welcome cash for rural broadband, the Government has still missed an opportunity to incorporate 4G mobile connectivity into its plans to improve rural economic growth. Mobile network operators have abandoned the countryside by failing to resolve poor signal and not-spots. Introducing a single rural mobile phone network to deliver better and faster 4G coverage would prove the Government is serious about its ambition to connect the countryside.”

On business rates relief

CLA President Tim Breitmeyer said: “It is not only high street retailers who are finding that non-domestic rates are impinging on viability, rural businesses are burdened by the clumsy and unfair rates system too. All small businesses need rates relief, especially as they gear up for the uncertainty of Brexit, but the Government has failed to recognise the equally pressing needs of small rural businesses.

“The Government must carry out a fundamental review of the broken business rates system before the next revaluation in 2021.”

On Sir Oliver Letwin’s review of build-out rates

CLA President Tim Breitmeyer said: “We are pleased the Letwin Review does not remove the financial incentives for landowners to bring land forward for the building of much needed homes.

“However, we are concerned that planning authorities would be given the ability to unilaterally decide where large scale housing development should take place, backed up by the threat of compulsory purchase, irrespective of the wishes of the landowner. Compulsory purchase should only ever be a last resort. The primary focus should be on establishing effective partnerships with local landowners, not seeking to forcibly remove their property.”