How CLA Cymru has been representing rural Wales this October

Following the closure of the Welsh Government's consultation on the classification of self-catering properties for local tax purposes on 30 October, CLA Cymru has submitted a detailed response calling for meaningful reform of the current 182-day letting requirement. CLA Cymru has called for the actual letting threshold to be reduced from 182 to 105 days, recognising that genuine rural tourism businesses should not be disadvantaged by factors beyond their control, including seasonality, location, property size and visitor demand. Our response has been informed by direct engagement with CLA Cymru members, individual case studies and a dedicated member survey, highlighting the financial and operational pressures facing self-catering businesses. This evidence has helped ensure that the experiences and interests of rural businesses are reflected in our representations to Welsh Government.

Alongside our call for a reduced threshold, CLA Cymru has supported the five proposed exemptions in principle, while stressing that they must be practical, clearly defined and capable of accommodating the diverse nature of rural businesses, particularly farm diversification and accommodation subject to planning restrictions. We have also called for consistent national guidance, proportionate evidence requirements, appropriate transitional protection and recognition of exceptional circumstances that prevent businesses from meeting letting requirements. With the consultation now closed, our focus turns to ensuring that the evidence provided by members informs the Welsh Government's next steps. CLA Cymru will continue to make the case for a fair and workable system that protects genuine commercial operators, supports rural investment and recognises the wider economic contribution of tourism across Wales.

CLA Cymru submitted a response to Welsh Government’s Rural Proofing Consultation which included proposals to require Ministers and public bodies to consider rural impacts at the earliest stage of policy design.

Key elements include:

• A legal requirement for consistent rural impact assessment across government.
• Better alignment of planning, housing, transport, digital connectivity, and public‑service delivery with rural issues.
• Proposals to update environmental legislation to support climate and nature objectives.

This consultation is highly relevant to members and follows calls from CLA Cymru to introduce such a duty. However CLA Cymru raised concerns with some elements of the proposed changes to the Forestry Act.

The First Minister convened a major Wildfire Resilience Summit in Merthyr Tydfil this month with CLA Cymru in attendance, bringing together more than forty representatives from across Wales, including land managers, farming bodies, emergency services, environmental NGOs, academics, and volunteer groups.

The summit followed an unprecedented summer of wildfire incidents and focused on how Wales can better prevent, prepare for, and respond to future events. Key outcomes included:

Strengthened national coordination

• A commitment to reinforce the All‑Wales Wildfire Board, bringing all partners together ahead of the 2027 season to coordinate early intervention, risk management, public communications, and multi‑agency response.

Improved information and public guidance

• Renewed efforts to improve public engagement, including clearer information for communities, visitors, and landowners on wildfire risks and prevention.
• A pan‑Wales approach to monitoring spring and summer resilience risks, giving responders and government a consolidated risk picture.

Land‑management evidence and funding pathways

• A rapid evidence review into the role of land management in wildfire resilience, including a separate review of the Heather & Grass Burning Code.
• Work to explore preventative land‑use actions, with Welsh Government signalling that funding routes for risk‑reducing land‑use changes will need to be strengthened.

Support for landowners

• Development of a structured register for farmers and landowners willing to provide vehicles, equipment, and local knowledge during wildfire response — formalising what many already do informally.

CLA Cymru has featured in two Farmers Weekly stories this month.

CLA Cymru staff were quoted in coverage of new research commissioned by Welsh Government, titled Climate Adaptation in Agriculture Study: Stakeholder Engagement. The study showed that Welsh farmers are already adapting to a more extreme and unpredictable climate. It engaged agricultural stakeholders through knowledge exchange workshops involving 63 farmers and eight industry representatives.

Fraser McAuley, senior policy adviser at CLA Cymru, said the findings reflected members’ concerns about inflexible support schemes. He welcomed progress on multi-year funding but stressed the need to develop the Sustainable Farming Scheme Collaborative Layer. You can read the full story here.

CLA Cymru welcomed a Welsh Government consultation that could reduce overhead power lines across Welsh land and make underground cables the default for new electricity infrastructure. Policy adviser Mark Burton responded to the recognition of agriculture’s concerns but warned that infrastructure design is only part of the problem and that better behaviour from the sector is also needed. Read the Farmer's Weekly article here.