Wiltshire Council will be asked on Tuesday, October 20, to establish a new Rural Resilience and Food Security Partnership, bringing together farmers, landowners, water companies and public bodies. The motion, put forward by Cllr Nabil Najjar and Cllr Richard Clewer, warns that drought conditions across England are placing significant strain on agricultural production, livestock welfare, water availability, crop yields and farm incomes.
Plan to tackle drought risks
The motion argues that the knock-on effects stretch well beyond individual farms, with the potential to impact rural employment and businesses, food supply chains, biodiversity, household food costs and the risk of field fires. Should councillors vote in favour of the motion, the cabinet would be tasked with producing a Wiltshire Rural Drought Resilience Action Plan within six months.
The plan would identify the key risks facing the county's farms, food production, rural jobs, water supplies and wildfire preparedness, alongside existing financial support and guidance available to farmers and rural businesses. It would also explore practical measures encompassing water storage and efficiency, soil health, habitat management and diversification opportunities.
Proposed alliance and planning scrutiny
The proposed alliance would unite a range of bodies, including the NFU, Environment Agency, water companies, fire service, town and parish councils, environmental organisations, and education and skills providers. Planning regulations would also face scrutiny.
Cabinet would be called upon to assess whether Wiltshire's planning policies and procedures adequately support infrastructure aimed at strengthening farm resilience, encompassing reservoirs and other water storage solutions, rainwater harvesting, efficient irrigation, renewable energy and diversification.
County Farms Estate as testbed
Wiltshire Council's own County Farms Estate could, in the meantime, serve as a "testbed" for initiatives including improved soil and water management, biodiversity recovery, renewable energy and rural skills development. The authority would additionally collaborate with colleges, employers and farming organisations to pinpoint the skills required as agriculture adapts to a shifting climate.
The motion states that Wiltshire should be a "leading rural authority" in championing a productive, profitable and environmentally resilient farming sector. It would also heap pressure on ministers.
Councillors would urge the Government to acknowledge that "food security is national security" and deliver a properly funded, long-term resilience package for farmers confronting drought and other climate-related shocks, rather than leaving individual businesses to bear the mounting risks on their own.
