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CLA48 - Biomass: green energy from forestry and agriculture as an enterprise Climate change is one of the biggest issues facing the world in the 21st Century. Government has introduced a range of policies designed to reduce man's impact on the rate of change. Since the first publication of the CLA biomass handbook in 2002, the CLA has continued to lobby Government for better support policies for biomass energy with a wide range of partners. We are proud to have been successful in driving biomass energy up the agenda, and to have been involved in the development of Government policy for renewables. We worked with the Biomass Task Force which reported to Government in 2005 and sit on the Biomass Implementation Advisory Group. As a result, much has changed in the statutory and fiscal regimes that surround the prospects for renewable energy from biomass, and current Government policy and these supports are covered in the handbook. While energy crops have taken a back seat owing to the recent rise in arable prices, the correction imposed by rising inputs bills may offer an opportunity where they offer a fit with farming systems. The handbook covers the main crops, and provides advice on the likely costs and returns as well as the wider implications of growing them. The appendices cover matters to be considered when drafting energy crop supply contracts, a list of larger scale outlets seeking biomass fuel supplies, and a brief reference of contact details for biomass equipment suppliers. The opportunities for members are real: many far-sighted individuals are already benefiting from lower heating bills and warmer houses than they have enjoyed for many years. Others have gone further and are making a business from biomass, in supplying heat to their tenants and others. This handbook flags up the opportunities and sets out the assistance and support measures available. To order this handbook: telephone the CLA Publications Department on 020 7235 0511 – please have your membership and credit card numbers to hand; or write to the CLA Publications Department, 16 Belgrave Square, London, SW1X 8PQ enclosing cheque/postal orders made payable to CLA. Price for members: £29 - Price for non-members: £36 |
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Oliver Harwood FRICS
Rob Wise
Dr Charles Trotman
Claire Collyer
Mike Seville
Adrian Baird
Helen Shipsey
Christopher Price
David Davies
Caroline Bedell MRICS FAAV
Fenella Collins MRICS
Tim Barnes-Clay
Helen Lancaster MRICS
Andrew Shirley MRICS
Jacquie Mason
Harry Cotterell
Sarah Slade MRICS
Graham Clark MSc MRICS
Rupert Ashby
David Price
David Langford
Helen Woolley
Douglas Chalmers
Dorothy Fairburn
John Mortimer
Julian Salmon
Douglas Chalmers
Valerie Taylor
Roger Tetlow
Roberta Sacaloff
Jane Harrison
Dawn Harding-Maddocks MRICS
Mike Ashton
Angus Collingwood-Cameron
Nicola Currie
Sue Baron-Duff Sue is the Membership Co-ordinator for the South East and manages the Field Force and deals with membership issues for the Region. She lives near Andover with her son who takes up most of her spare time! Ben Underwood
James Hawthorne
William Worsley
Lucy Wright
Paul Millard
Sarah Fern
Sue Watts
Carole Hodgson
Harry Flanagan
Tim Broomhead
Sue Evans MRICS MCIArb
Jim Webster
Gillian Stephenson
Joy Brown
Jonathan Thompson MA MBA DipM
Richard Williams
David Cowie
Roger Daniel
Charlotte Bullock
Julian Sayer East Somerset Tim Isaac MRICS FAAV
Maddie Williams
Richella Logan
Donna Tavernor
Jan Hewes
Stuart Jones
Alastair Tait
Adrian Gane
Derek Holliday
Patricia Powell
Tim Barnes-Clay
Charlotte Sealy MSc MRICS
Norman Mason
Tim Daw
Sylvia Hull
Henry Robinson
Ollie Wilson
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Guidance Notes
Has overall responsibility for the co-ordination and delivery of all policy affecting land use. Ensures that the CLA promotes policies that are distinctive and benefit members. Is responsible for strategic thinking on major land use issues and promoting CLA profile across relevant UK and EU institutions. He chairs the European Landowners Organisation (ELO) Policy Group and co-ordinates CLA relations with the ELO.
Responsible for national land use policy issues, and lead author of the draft renewable energy policy. Also provides advice to members on land use issues, including farming, alternative enterprise, minerals, shooting and wayleaves and easements.
A regional adviser who handles environmental issues affecting landowners, including implementation of the Water Framework Directive and Nitrate Vulnerable Zones, waste, fly-tipping and agri-environment schemes, rural grants, coastal defences and coastal access. He will also be dealing with political matters at all levels of local, national and EU government.
Rob grew up on an arable farm in Suffolk and went on to work on farm policy in the U.S. government in Washington D.C. before returning to the UK where he worked in agricultural government relations before joining the CLA.
An economist, advises on rural economic issues, particularly food policy, rural tourism, equine issues and telecommunications policy. 
Advises on agri-environment grant schemes, SPS, cross compliance, designated areas (including SSSIs, SACs and SPAs) and the greening of the CAP.
Advises on aspects of forestry and woodland management including grants, regulation, marketing and utilisation, timber transport, non-timber forest products, wood fuel, biodiversity, carbon sequestration, plant health, deer and squirrels.
Formerly an Inland Revenue Tax Inspector in Leicestershire. He was promoted to the Inland Revenue Policy Division at Somerset House, London, and was an Inspector Principal when he joined the CLA.
Called to the Bar in 1991, in Chambers until 1997 when she joined the CLA. Advises on grazing tenancies, agricultural holdings legislation, farm business tenancies, residential landlord and tenant, public rights of way and the Treasure Act.
A solicitor, advises on national and European public and administrative law issues including human rights, judicial review, planning and compulsory purchase, public rights of way, rating and council tax and various regulatory matters. Also advises on the law concerning field sports.
A chartered surveyor and independent consultant, Dai has wide experience of rural issues. He is also deeply interested in renewable energy, and is currently working to make his farmhouse carbon neutral. He is Welsh-speaking.
Leads the West Midlands team and has responsibility for the overall management of regional business and membership. She also represents the CLA on a number of regional committees and panels.
A chartered surveyor with responsibility for CLA policy on planning and housing issues. Advises on policy including national, regional and local planning and the community infrastructure levy. 
Tim manages media relations for the CLA in the Midlands. He trained in broadcast journalism and worked at various radio stations including BBC Radio Norfolk, Trent FM and Heart FM before becoming a reporter for the Mirror Group's L!ve TV cable network. He went on to work for ITV for a number of years where he presented, reported and produced programmes for Central Television in Birmingham. Tim made the traditional jump from the media into PR and uses his knowledge of the industry to specialise in media relations.
A chartered surveyor, covers Cheshire, Cumbria, Durham/Cleveland, Lancashire, Northumberland.
A chartered surveyor.
Harry Cotterell, Deputy President of the CLA and Chairman of the CLA Board, owns and manages a traditional rural estate in Herefordshire. The main enterprises on the estate are cider fruit, mushrooms, chickens and arable. There is also a commercial forestry operation and a small shoot.
A chartered surveyor with responsibility for CLA policy on public rights of way and access issues. Provides advice to members on issues arising from public access to the countryside.
Chartered Surveyor.
Rupert Ashby, Regional Director is responsible for the whole of the South East Region and works from the Regional Office at Forton. However the Isle of Wight remains under the day to day directorship of David Langford.
David joined the CLA as Regional Director, for the Isle of Wight in 1997. His main career from 1965 to 1994 was in the Army where he became a technical instructor working closely with industry . His final jobs were in the Ministry of Defence in London where he worked in the Procurement Executive buying amongst other things medical stores and ammunition for all the services. He gained experience of the workings of Government at the highest level and was responsible for briefing ministers. 
Leads the East Midlands team and has responsibility for the overall management of regional business and membership. She also represents the CLA on a number of regional committees and panels.
Douglas Chalmers
Douglas is Director CLA North. He is from an Aberdeenshire farming family, graduated from the University of Aberdeen and trained as an animal nutritionist. Douglas held technical and management positions in the agricultural supply industry for 20 years. He joined the CLA in 2001 as North West Regional Director, becoming Director CLA North in 2003. He is Chairman of Cumbria Fells & Dales RDPE Local Action Group, Vice Chairman of the North West Rural Affairs Forum, a Governor of Myerscough College and a member of Cumbria Local Access Forum.
He and his wife own a small farm near Appleby-in-Westmorland keeping Herdwick sheep and free-range poultry, and where he has helped his wife to form Learning Fields, a Community Interest Company offering educational and environmental activities there. He is also a member of Eden Time Bank.
Yorkshire
Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Gloucestershire, Somerset, Wiltshire
Julian has been farming for 32 years in the Welsh Borders, and also has a background in business. His expertise in both these areas has enabled him to lobby effectively for Welsh rural interests.
Valerie has a deep understanding of rural business issues from her background working for an agricultural co-operative in Wales and from her family - her parents are agricultural contractors who run a smallholding. 
A solicitor, advises on general property law, including land registration, conveyancing, business tenancies, easements, private rights of way, commons, water and drainage and sporting rights.
A solicitor, advises on areas including employment, litigation, contract and sale of goods.
A regional adviser, covers Yorkshire.
A chartered surveyor, Dawn covers Anglesey, Caernarfon, Clwyd, Meirionnydd, Powys (Montgomeryshire). A Welsh farmer's daughter, she read land management at Harper Adams University College. She is a specialist in rural property management and runs a smallholding with her husband.
Mike has extensive experience in PR and marketing having worked for a number of agencies throughout the North West over more years than he cares to remember. He joined the CLA from a similar position with the Lake District National Park. Mike was born in Lancashire, raised in Cheshire and lives in Cumbria so claims to know the region and its needs reasonably well.
Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Middlesex, Norfolk and Suffolk
Assistant regional director Ben Underwood is based in the South East office at Forton, and covers the whole region.
West Somerset
William Worsley, President of the Country Land and Business Association, lives in north Yorkshire and runs a family business involving farming, forestry and residential and commercial property.
Carole joined the CLA after 23 years with the LDNPA where she was Senior Planning Administrator, gaining the essential skills which are proving of tremendous benefit to Members. A passionate countrywoman, Carole's horses are stabled at her parents' farm near Kendal. Well-known in the local equestrian scene, she regularly competes in show jumping, hunter trials and dressage. 
A solicitor, advises on all aspects of residential landlord and tenant legislation including farm cottages, the housing of agricultural workers and service occupancies. Also advises on public rights of way and ballooning.
Tim Broomhead is regional surveyor and covers the whole South East region. He is based at Forton.
A chartered surveyor, Sue is a Welsh-speaking farmer's daughter from Anglesey. She studied Estate Management at Harper Adams University College and is also a qualified mediator.
She co-owns a smallholding and has a full understanding of the needs and problems faced by CLA members.
Advises on livestock movements, livestock register, veterinary medicines, TB, British Cattle Movement System, RPA and livestock based cross compliance issues.
Gill is responsible for devising and organising the region’s enviable events programme. Married to a farmer (and therefore farming!), Gill manages to co-ordinate her many events into a faultless programme ranging from hot pot suppers for a few to full day cruises for hundreds. A great many members take the opportunity to meet others at Gill’s events every year.
Joy's unrivalled expertise in administration is proving invaluable in helping deal with the ever-increasing number of planning and policy queries received by our Regional Surveyor.
Advises on heritage policy, historic and listed buildings, scheduled
monuments and archaeology, parks and gardens, viable uses and grants. 
A tax consultant with over 30 years’ experience in the legal profession and with the CLA, where he worked between 1976 and 1986. He is the editor of two technical newsletters, "Farm Tax Brief" and "Trusts and Estates".
Dorset
Devon
Gloucestershire
Tim has a degree in agriculture and is a qualified rural surveyor, specialising in farm and estate management. He runs a number of small-scale livestock and forestry enterprises on his family's livestock farm in north-east Essex.
Tim is also the CLA's Eastern Region Surveyor, advising and representing members on all aspects of rural business management and lobbying all levels of government on key rural issues.
Maddie Williams is the Events Manager for the South East region. She runs a variety of events from technical seminars, to farm walks and fly-fishing days. Maddie is also responsible for regional sponsorship. She works full time and is based in the Forton office.
Richella, as Head of Public Affairs, is responsible for the CLA's political strategy and parliamentary lobbying.
A regional adviser, covers Herefordshire, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire, Worcestershire.
Adrian, as most senior member of staff, is responsible for the day-to-day management and leadership of the CLA.
Lead adviser on European and national environmental issues including water quality (Water Framework Directive, Catchment Sensitive Farming, Nitrates Directive), water resources, fluvial and coastal defence, soil resource, climate change and fisheries.
Formerly a private banking consultant working in London, Guildford and Norwich for some 20 years. She has a broad range of experience in financial issues.
In addition to advising on taxation issues, also advises on potential solutions to rural business problems and assesses specific members' queries for referral to relevant CLA advisers.
Chartered Surveyor.
Cornwall
Wiltshire
Sylvia has a strong equine background having trained at Aberystwyth University for a BSc and a postgraduate diploma in Equine Science. She worked in insurance for six years before moving to work at the CLA. Sylvia managed the 'Ride Welland' project - an intitiative aimed at making the Welland Valley the location of choice in England for equestrian tourism and leisure and continues to contribute to the project as well as training as a rural advisor. For more info go to: www.ridewelland.co.uk
Henry Robinson, Vice-President of the CLA and Chairman of the CLA’s Policy Committee, owns and manages a farm in Gloucestershire. His main crops are wheat and oilseed rape and he also lets out workshops and cottages.
Ollie is responsible for managing media relations, campaigns, the national magazine Land & Business, the CLA website, and the co-ordination of the CLA’s regional press officers.
Anyone who owns rural land or runs a rural business will benefit from joining the CLA.
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The Advisory Services are made available to members on the basis that members' rights to compensation and the liability (if any) of CLA and its officers and/or its staff advisers, are restricted in the following ways. In the event of any advice given by any CLA staff adviser being given negligently or otherwise being incorrect no liability whatsoever is accepted by the CLA or its officers or by its staff advisers concerned
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