Review of Home Farm, Temple Newsam Scrutiny Inquiry Report
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Review of Home Farm, Temple Newsam Scrutiny Inquiry Report 1 Review of Home Farm, Temple Newsam Inquiry Report Published 18 th May 2011 Introduction and Scope the outcome of the consultation and to Introduction submit a report and recommendations to 1. The Scrutiny Board (City Development) the Scrutiny Board in May 2011 for at its meeting on 8 th March 2011 consideration. It was also agreed that considered requests for scrutiny of the representatives from the Rare Breed farming operations at Home Farm, Survival Trust and Rare Breeds Temple Newsam. The requests for International be invited to the meeting of scrutiny were from the Rare Breed the working group. Survival Trust, Rare Breeds International, the Shetland Cattle 6. The working group’s findings which are Breeders Association, the White Park endorsed by full Scrutiny Board and Cattle Society and a number of recommendations are presented below. individuals who feared for the future of Home Farm and the rare breed centre. Scope of the Inquiry 2. They were responding to the City Development Directorate’s “Farming 7. The purpose of our inquiry was to Operations Consultation” document identify areas of savings that would which had been circulated in December allow Home Farm to continue as a 2010 to all key stakeholders and other commercial working farm whilst also interested parties. This stated that continuing as a visitor and rare breed “savings” needed to be made at Home centre. Farm, suggested ways this could be achieved and invited comments and alternative proposals. Anticipated Service Impact 3. At the Scrutiny Board meeting on 8 th March 2011 Parks and Countryside 8. We hope that the working group’s officers reported that as a consequence findings, and the Scrutiny Board’s of their consultation with key recommendations, will have a positive stakeholders several areas for further impact on the service by maintaining consideration had emerged as to how Home Farm as a commercially viable savings could be achieved without operation whilst also maintaining the closing the farming operation. visitor and rare breed centres but at a reduced operating cost and maximising 4. It was reported that at the Council all available resources. budget meeting in February 2011 it had been agreed that the operating budget 9. We also hope to see more Leeds of Home Farm, Temple Newsam would schools considering using the Home be reduced by £100k in 2010/11 but Farm visitor centre as a resource for was left open to the City Development their pupils. Directorate to determine how this should be achieved. 5. It was agreed at the Scrutiny Board meeting on 8 th March 2011 to establish a time limited working group to consider 2 Review of Home Farm, Temple Newsam Inquiry Report Published 18 th May 2011 Conclusions and Recommendations statement draws out those costs which Accounts of Home are presently contained within the Farm broader cost centres of Temple Newsam, Lotherton Hall and P & C 10. We were advised that whilst the Workshops. livestock are a key part of the visitor attraction, the numbers on display at 13. The salient conclusions that we drew Home Farm only represent a small from analysing the information provided proportion of the total managed. Most in appendix 1 are: farming operations are conducted either on a commercial basis or to sustain the • The gross operating expenditure in rare breed herd. The result is a net cost 2009/10 was £563k of which staffing to the Council of £347k each year. costs amounted to 60% of the total. 11. We understand from the accounts • The net operating cost was £347k presented to us that the true income and once overheads and income had expenditure that is attributable to the been accounted for. management of Temple Newsam Farm 14. The table in appendix 2 summarises and other external agricultural holdings total farm income over the last 7 years. held by Parks & Countryside (P & C) is at present spread across 5 separate 15. We noted that when operating costs cost centres which are listed in the table from the last financial year are below. A full print out of these accounts considered against average income, the was provided to us and these included net operating cost would be reduced to total spending in the previous financial £332.5k. Notwithstanding that, it should year, the budget for the 2010/11 be noted that when considered over a financial year, and then spending longer time frame, a major source of against these same headings for this income is received from paying visitors financial year. to the farm. Given that P & C has already sought to increase income by Cost Centres removing subsidised entrance fees to Temple Newsam Farm for Leeds card 22144 Temple Newsam Farm Account holders, where possible operating costs 22149 Temple Newsam Estate Account should be reduced to meet the revised 22148 Lotherton Hall Estate budget figures. 22152 Temple Newsam Fees Account 22892 P & C Financing Charges 16. What became clear to us during our discussions was that the accounts as presented were complicated and difficult 12. In addition to the account statements, a to understand. Often it was unclear what summary of each of the 5 costs centres percentage allocations had been were provided to us and is set out in included under the various cost centres appendix 1. This document clearly and why. The reasons for the accounts defines all applicable income and being presented in this way were largely expenditure that can be attributed to the historic and include Lotherton Hall. farming operations undertaken by Parks and Countryside. Furthermore, this 3 Review of Home Farm, Temple Newsam Inquiry Report Published 18 th May 2011 Conclusions and Recommendations 17. We strongly recommend that the would not experience a accounts for Home Farm are simplified diminished offer from their visit to to show more readily income and Temple Newsam. expenditure for the farm and which excludes all other operations. b) Rare Breed Survival Trust(RBST) • RBST would prefer the following Recommendation 1 breeds to be retained at Temple Newsam That the Acting Director of City Development ensure that the Cattle: Vaynols, Gloucesters, accounts for Home Farm are Shetland simplified to show more readily income and expenditure for the Sheep: Boreray (as rare as farm and which excludes all other Vaynols), White Faced operations. Woodlands, Norfolk Horns and Portlands • RBST guidelines for a minimum breeding group size to be Consultation Findings effective are five cows and 1 bull, and 15 ewes and 1 ram. 18. A copy of the consultation document is attached as appendix 3. We were • RBST have also facilitated visits provided with a summary of the key for officers to farm parks at both findings from the consultation process, Sandwell Park and Tatton Park in categorised under each consultee. order to obtain data and understanding to enable a) Temple Newsam Ward Members comparison between these • Ward Members were unanimous successful farm parks and Home in commending the value of the Farm, Temple Newsam. farm to their constituents and in c) Sandwell Farm and Tatton Farm emphasising the need to preserve and enhance the farm • Both operate on a smaller scale as a visitor attraction. in terms of livestock, land holdings and staff when • Similarly, Members sought considered in comparison to comfort that any proposal to Temple Newsam. reduce the volume of land farmed at Temple Newsam was not • Farm staff undertake a visitor being driven by an aspiration to service function in addition to develop part of the estate. daily farming duties. • In light of the budget pressures, • Both seek to exploit voluntary Members accepted that savings labour to bolster and support were inevitable and they desired specialist farm staff. comfort from officers that visitors to the farm and the wider estate 4 Review of Home Farm, Temple Newsam Inquiry Report Published 18 th May 2011 Conclusions and Recommendations • Both sites rely on hired support ◊ Sales per hectare are for fodder production. significantly lower, by a factor of 3 to 7 times d) Lineham Farm ◊ Labour cost, whether per • The trustees at Lineham Farm hectare or per £100 turnover, is have confirmed that they are higher by a factor of 15 to 25 comfortable with Leeds City times. Council no longer farming the land adjacent to the centre. Visitor Attraction Subsequently, both the management and the charity’s 19. We take the view that Home Farm trustees have confirmed their cannot be seen in isolation from the interest in extending the visitor and rare breed centres as they landholding to include land complement one another and work as a presently farmed by P & C. whole. The loss of the farm would inevitably reduce visitor numbers. e) Farm Management and Staff 20. We felt strongly that part of the appeal • Staff have identified areas in of Home Farm was that people were which they feel livestock numbers visiting a working farm and not a petting can be reduced. farm that uses animals as displays. f) Other Research 21. We should seek to ensure that we maximise all grants and subsidies that • Some limited benchmark are available. comparisons have been obtained with reference to the Farm 22. We strongly oppose any proposal that Business Survey (backed by the would cease commercial farming Government Department operations as suggested in the responsible for agriculture). It Consultation Document. should be noted that this survey is based on commercial farms Recommendation 2 and that Temple Newsam has a unique operational context with That the Acting Director of City extra labour implications Development considers engaging a associated with the breed mix, so consultant to look specifically at the benchmarking data is mainly a pointer for further investigation.