Councillor Paul Marshall visited a dairy farm near Arundel to reiterate the council鈥檚 support for the county鈥檚 farmers and growers after he wrote to Defra Secretary Steve Reed, in December, urging for the planned changes to inheritance tax to be scrapped.
is highlighting the devastating impact they could have on rural communities and important environmental work in Sussex.
Mr Marshall said: 鈥淲est Sussex County Council stands in support of our farmers in their disapproval of the government鈥檚 inheritance tax plans.
鈥淚 have spoken with many farmers in Sussex and heard their stories of how this could be devastating for our rural communities and see farms held by generations lost because of this tax.
鈥淚n our letter to the Defra Secretary we have set out the council鈥檚 concerns that the proposed tax will have a devastating impact on many family farms, with little or no impact on those investing in land purely to avoid tax.
鈥淲e have also explained that the emerging West Sussex Local Nature Recovery Strategy requires strong collaboration with local agricultural stakeholders and environmental partners to drive initiatives to protect and enhance biodiversity across the county and that farms that stay in family ownership are better positioned to continue practices that support wildlife corridors, habitat preservation, and sustainable land stewardship.鈥�
Mr Marshall discussed the campaign, and other key farming issues, with NFU West Sussex Vice Chair Frans de Boer, NFU West Sussex Council Representative Caroline Harriott and apprentice farmer Oscar Smith.
He was joined by West Sussex County Council deputy leader Deborah Urquhart and county councillor for Pulborough Charlotte Kenyon, that led to the council writing to Defra.
Mrs Harriott said: 鈥淎ll three councillors are fully supportive of our campaign.
鈥淭he proposed tax will have a devastating impact on many family farms, with little or no impact on those investing in land purely to avoid tax.鈥�
West Sussex Council Leader Paul Marshall
鈥淲e discussed the importance of giving young people a future in farming, so it was great to have young apprentice Oscar there, on National Apprenticeship Week. We spent a good two-and-a-half hours discussing this and other important issues.
鈥淭he councillors recognise how farmers and growers are at the heart of the community and want to see us at local meetings, having our voices heard.鈥�