Agenda item
Motion B: Market Gardens - Proposed by Councillor Rizvana Poole, Seconded by Councillor Rosie Pearson
This Council notes that, nationally, we have gone from providing 82.7% of our fruit and veg in 1988 to 55.6% of vegetables and 16.3% of fruit in 2020. Small-scale, low-impact market gardening is an industry that lacks Government support. One of the aims of the Oxfordshire Food Strategy, to which we have signed up, is “to grow our local food economy through local enterprises, local jobs and local wealth creation.”
This Council believes that market gardening could be a source of good long-term jobs and is an efficient use of land – In South Oxfordshire, the market gardener Iain Tolhurst produces 120 tonnes of fruit and veg each year on just 7 hectares. This Council further believes that giving priority to healthy local food production addresses at least 4 of the Council’s corporate priorities:
- Enabling a Good Quality of Life for All;
- Creating a Better Environment for People and Wildlife;
- Responding to the Climate and Ecological Emergency;
- Working Together for West Oxfordshire.
Council Resolves to:
1. Request that the Local Plan Member Working Group gives consideration to the development of a policy or policies in the new West Oxfordshire Local Plan 2041, to positively encourage and support more opportunities for growing and consuming food locally in line with the Oxfordshire Food Strategy.
Minutes:
Councillor Michael Brooker introduced the motion, in the absence of Councillor Poole, which requested that the Local Plan Member Working Group gives consideration to the development of a policy or policies in the new West Oxfordshire Local Plan 2041, to positively encourage and support more opportunities for growing and consuming food locally in line with the Oxfordshire Food Strategy.
In debate, Members stated that work was already ongoing with officers and those employed within the agricultural sector locally to enhance the importance of local food growth.
Members also stated the importance of local action groups working on the subject matter, and that policy additions to the Local Plan would be of use for generations of the future.
Members also praised the work of the Oxfordshire Food Strategy and the work of ‘FarmEd’ in the northwest of the County for their work in the area, particularly around sustainable farming, and also local Food Action Work Groups.
Ideas for larger scale housing developments being inclusive of recreational allotments were also highlighted, and reference was made to allotment waiting times in the town of Carterton, especially with some gardens being small in size. It was suggested that by developers including allotment space within larger scale developments, it would also help sustainability aims and reduce food waste levels simultaneously.
Members reiterated the importance of policies contained within the Local Plan, and that the Cross-Party Member Working Group would play a vital role in putting forward proposals for adoption within the new Plan.
In seconding the motion, Councillor Rosie Pearson stated the importance of local higher educational settings playing a vital role in agricultural apprenticeships offered to students, and that local employers should also take the subject very seriously.
Councillor Michael Brooker proposed that the motion as set out on the agenda paper, be adopted by Council. Councillor Brooker offered his thanks for the support to the Motion that members had expressed during the debate, and welcomed the idea of allocated allotments within larger scale housing developments. This was seconded by Councillor Rosie Pearson, was put to a vote, and was unanimously agreed by Council.
Council Resolved to pass the following Motion:
1. This Council notes that, nationally, we have gone from providing 82.7% of our fruit and veg in 1988 to 55.6% of vegetables and 16.3% of fruit in 2020. Small-scale, low-impact market gardening is an industry that lacks Government support. One of the aims of the Oxfordshire Food Strategy, to which we have signed up, is “to grow our local food economy through local enterprises, local jobs and local wealth creation.”
This Council believes that market gardening could be a source of good long-term jobs and is an efficient use of land – In South Oxfordshire, the market gardener Iain Tolhurst produces 120 tonnes of fruit and veg each year on just 7 hectares. This Council further believes that giving priority to healthy local food production addresses at least 4 of the Council’s corporate priorities:
· Enabling a Good Quality of Life for All;
· Creating a Better Environment for People and Wildlife;
· Responding to the Climate and Ecological Emergency;
· Working Together for West Oxfordshire.
Council Resolves to:
1. Request that the Local Plan Member Working Group gives consideration to the development of a policy or policies in the new West Oxfordshire Local Plan 2041, to positively encourage and support more opportunities for growing and consuming food locally in line with the Oxfordshire Food Strategy.