BPS 2016 in England

It was hoped that the IT problems that dogged 2015 BPS applications would not reappear this year.  However, worries are starting to increase.  The Agent Bulletin – ‘Helping the rural community prepare for BPS 2016′ received just before Christmas seemed hopeful.  But having seen the ‘demonstration’ at LAMMA, the online version seems a long way from being ready.  With elements supposed to be launching next month(see below) it might be expected that a fully-operational ‘beta’ version would be on show.  Instead there were a few screen-shots.  Below is an outline of what we have been told to expect for the 2016 application:

Check and Transfer Entitlements – By mid-February it should be possible to view the number of entitlements held by a business online.  There should also be the facility to transfer and lease entitlements to another farmer.  But it will not be possible to give-up, sub-lease or transfer entitlements through inheritance via the online system.  RLE1s will still be available for transfers that are not possible online and for those who prefer to do them by paper.  Acknowledgements, for paper or online transfers, will still be sent by post, although it is hoped this will eventually change to an online acknowledgement system.  It will however be possible to see the updated number of entitlements almost immediately when transfers are made online.

Digital and Aerial Photography – By March it should be possible to view a claimant’s land via the online Land Viewer.  These can be digital maps or aerial photography.  It should be possible to check whether previously notified changes to field boundaries and PIFs have been processed.  Unlike in 2015, claimants will not be able to/asked to make changes to land features online.  Any changes to field boundaries or new PIFs will have to be madevia an RLE1.  It will be possible to print maps out, although this will only be for individual fields.  Claimants (or agents) may still want to contact RPA to get a full set of maps.  However, the RPA is not currently able to produce full sets as the Land Parcel Identification System (LPIS, replacement for the RLR) is being updated in preparation for the Land Viewer. 

Making a Claim – The RPA is trying to get as many people back to applying online this year.  Only those that applied on paper in 2014 will automatically receive a paper application.  Others will only receive a paper application form if they request one.  The form should look similar to the 2015 one.  Paper forms and guidance are due to start being sent out in early March. 

The online application process should be available from late February.  Unlike last year’s process which was supposed to have been ‘mapped based’, it will be ‘tabular based’ similar to the previous online application system.  It should be possible to print a ‘form’ off, to go through with clients, before editing it online.  The information should be pre-populated but it is highly likely that some RLE1 information from 2015 may not have been updated.  As always, pre-populated information needs checking very carefully.  RLE1s will need to be sent in for boundary changes, PIFs etc. This cannot be done online.  A submission receipt will be received once the application has been submitted.

Contact Details and Accountable People – It should be possible to check and amend contact details online from February.  Many may recall the RPA briefly asked for ‘Accountable People’ last year, but soon realised this was a step too far (!) and took it off the system.  But this year this information must be collected otherwise the RPA will be open to disallowance fines by the EU.  This requires information about all those who are ‘in control of, and make decisions about, the business’ .  Further definition of what this means in practice is awaited, but it is likely to include all sole traders, partners and shareholders in a Limited Company (although there may be a minimum ownership % set).  The situation on people such as trustees is not clear.  Each person will need to supply their National Insurance number, percentage share in the business and declare their interests in any other farming business.  This information must be completed before claimants will be paid. 

Above we have indicated that things should ‘start to happen’ in February, but the feeling is that this maybe a little hopeful.  We were expecting webinars to demonstrate the online system in January, but these have not yet materialised.  The worry is we were in a similar position at this stage last year.  With the delays in payment of the 2015 BPS many will be keen to go back to online hoping this will speed payment up next year, but if the RPA want the majority to apply online we need to be seeing some more positive progress.