The Country Land and Business Association (CLA) and the Tenant Farmers Association (TFA) have issued joint advice for landlords and tenants on entering public and privately funded environmental agreements in the post-Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) era.
According to the organisations, there is a need for clarity about how landlords and tenants can collaborate to take advantage of the new environmentally focussed schemes.
“There is so much to be gained from landlords and tenants working together to achieve combined outcomes that will bring joint benefits,” said TFA national chairman Mark Coulman.
“The guidance produced by the CLA and TFA provides a framework for cooperation and an approach which seeks to avoid confrontation and dispute.
“It will be particularly important for agents advising both landlords and tenants to work constructively towards facilitating agreements that will allow participation in the new schemes being developed.
“Although the guidance is addressed specifically to the members of both organisations, it is very much hoped that it will be of benefit more widely.”
The advice
The core principles of the advice, published this week, are as follows:
- The person delivering the environmental goods or services, whether paid for by the private or public sector, should be entitled to receive payment, unless they are acting as a contractor or employee;
- The transition from current to future environmental schemes should be managed so as to achieve the best outcomes for members and for the environment;
- There must be clarity over who is entering into agreements or contracts to deliver environmental outcomes, to avoid the risk of inadvertent double funding or incompatible contracts;
- Landlords and tenants can deliver more environmental outcomes and unlock additional marriage value from environmental investment by working together.
Both organisations note that the advice is based on the information currently available regarding the environmental schemes.
The advice is accessible online.
