Conservative councillors are standing up for rural communities by opposing the government’s changes to inheritance tax rules for farmers.
The Conservative opposition on South Gloucestershire Council has today tabled a motion urging the council’s joint Lib Dem/Labour administration to write to the government requesting that the planned changes to inheritance tax are ditched and that the current tax relief on farmland is kept in place.
As well as asking the Lib Dem/Labour administration to write to the government, the motion also asks for the council to agree that the government’s policy will be harmful to farming communities in South Gloucestershire and that the council should oppose to the policy as a matter of principle.
The motion will be debated at the next Full Council meeting, which will take place on Wednesday 18 December, and will be tabled by the Conservative ward member for the Severn Vale, Cllr Matthew Riddle.
Cllr Riddle has worked closely with South Gloucestershire’s farming community for a number of years and is seriously concerned about the damaging effects that the government’s policy could have on local farming communities.
Cllr Matthew Riddle said: “The Conservative Group is firmly opposed to the government’s plan to restrict inheritance tax relief on farmland and other farming business assets, and we stand shoulder to shoulder with members of the local farming community who will be affected.
“We are urging the Lib Dem/Labour coalition to respond to these serious concerns and show that they are willing to put the interests of our rural communities above party politics.
“I sincerely hope that Lib Dem and Labour councillors support our motion on 18 December as it will send out a positive message to local farmers that the council is on their side.”
In October, the council’s joint Lib Dem/Labour Cabinet received an update on 12 months of intensive work undertaken by the Scrutiny Commission to explore ways the authority can better support farming communities in South Gloucestershire.
The Cabinet report highlighted the financial strain that local farmers face, the unique challenges of running small family farms, mental health problems that farming communities experience and many other important aspects of farming life.
With all this in mind, it’s clear that the council must lend its support to South Gloucestershire’s farming community and take a firm stand against this damaging government policy.
