Case Study Flashcards
What were your recommendations to the client to reduce the risk of cattle grazing with public access?
Signage, only permitting certain breeds and ages of cattle.
Why would the breed of cattle need to be carefully selected in regards to health and safety?
Some breeds are more docile than others. It would important for the tenant to conduct risk assessments on the cattle’s behaviour. 2-3 year old cattle would be more suitable as they are calmer, and wouldn’t have calves at foot.
Why did the client prefer native breed cattle?
Native breed cattle are more suitable to graze priority habitats as they are generally lighter, will eat more of the vegetation than commercial cattle would, creating a more diverse sward, help create diversity by treading in seed into soil
Why did you recommend the buildings be let under a separate licence?
The client is interested in converting the buildings into commercial or residential units. If they are on a licence, the client would be able to get the buildings back easier if they do decide to pursue this.
What is the risk of having the buildings let on a licence?
Why wouldn’t public funding be available to the tenant?
NH have funded the creation of the priority habitats. This means the tenant would not be able to claim for these actions as this would be double counting. They would however be able to claim for things like hedgerow management as this isn’t included in the NH funding.
What funding is being paid by NH?
What information was included in the tender pack?
-size of holding
-history of the land
-details of the CLMP
-brief idea of the management prescriptions in the tenancy
-brief section on the clients preferences in relation to timings and livestock type
Careful not to be too prescriptive in the tender pack so that the applicants could propose their own way of managing the land
What rent did the applicant offer and was it sufficient?
What would you recommend the client does different if you were to put the land out for tender again in the future?
I would recommend the client invests in livestock handling equipment and reconsiders letting the farm buildings in the tenancy. This would make it more appealing and more likely to find a suitable tenant. I have already recommended the client lets the whole holding to include the farmhouse again in the future when it comes back in hand.
Would / did you consider using an external agent to manage the tender process?
I would consider using an external agent for the tender process again in a year or two. They may have more contacts and may find the tenant-finding process easier than we did. However, it would be important that the agent understood the NT’s objectives for the land - the priority habitats, not the income.
How would you ensure the habitats are more established in a couple of years when the land is put out for tender again?
Do you expect the terms of the tenancy to be different in a few years when the land goes out to tender again?
The tenant wouldn’t be required to deliver the habitat creation / establishment works in the future. They would just be required to maintain it. This would be less onerous for the tenant.
Why were those specific habitats chosen for the property?
What was required to restore / create the habitats? What was the process?
Did you consider providing livestock handling facilities for a grazier/tenant to make the land more appealing?
Would a 5 year term encourage the tenant to invest in livestock handling equipment and in the land?
