SETTING THE AGENDA
A powerful tool Judicaelle Hammond, CLA Director of Policy and Advice, sets out the department’s ambitions for 2022, and why member examples are such a powerful tool
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n some respect, 2021 was a game of two halves. For much of it, the CLA’s policy team was still in ‘Covid-19 mode’: we pushed for support for businesses to be delivered by banks and local authorities, put out advice via our online Covid-19 hub as soon as the roadmap in England and new measures in Wales were announced, and continued to work with other organisations to push for solutions to emerging developments such as labour shortages and insurance. At the same time, for a significant part of the year, it was ‘business as usual’ in terms of infl uencing government proposals in Westminster and Cardiff. It looks like Covid-19 may remain a factor for a while, and we will, of course, assist our members with whatever challenge the pandemic throws at their businesses. However, looking at the bigger picture, eb gge p c u e, many of the themes I wrote about last year will continue to be priorities for my team in 2022. Take planning reform. rm. In England, while Michael ael Gove has pushed the ‘pause’ e’ button on the planning bill, we will continue to press his department to address the failures es in the system that led to slow, ow, sclerotic or inappropriate riate development decisions ns in the countryside. This is all the more important nt in the context of both h levelling up and nature recovery: no development means no extra housing or jobs, which means no economic growth – and nd ultimately no money for local businesses to o
invest in their natural capital. In Wales, our report on rural planning highlights the key ey reforms e o s required equ ed to sustain the rural we will be pushing economy, and w Change Minister Climate Cha James to act upon our Julie Jame recommendations. recomme At the time of writing, we are sstill awaiting many announcements that policy a shape the CLA’s work in will shap 2022: tthe UK Government’s response to the Landscape respo Review and associated Revie designation proposals, desig payment rates for the paym next tranche of schemes under Environmental Land Management in England, and whatever the Englan Chancellor feels he needs to Chance start re-balancing the do to sta books in the spending review budget. In Wales, and b Agriculture (Wales) the A Bill that underpins the
Sustainable Farming Scheme will be the key area of focus for the CLA Cymru team. For all of these issues, and many others besides (such as digital connectivity, grid upgrades, low-carbon heating, access rights, reviews of capital gains taxes and business rates, and the public payment for public goods schemes and nascent carbon markets), the CLA will continue to develop and promote ideas that work for our members. Your examples bring the real-world consequences of a proposal to life, so thank you if you have responded to CLA surveys, or contacted us following a magazine or website article. No example is too small – many of the CLA’s wins have been borne out of members’ feedback and the queries we receive. As new policies emerge, we are planning to hold advice events – both online and in person – for CLA members. So, look out for our second series on natural capital, more webinars on climate change and climate markets, talks about tax, and events on agricultural transition and land use. CLA ANNUAL 2022
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