SPS Issues July 31, 2013 12:00 am Agent Project This probably sounds more glamorous than it really is. An ‘agent’ in RPA terms is simply someone who fills out Single Payment forms on behalf of others. The RPA has been running a pilot scheme giving those who complete applications for more than five businesses (SBIs) a single point of contact for all their clients through one Whole Case Worker. This project has now been deemed a success and will be extended to all agents empowered for more than five businesses. The RPA estimates that this will cover around 1,000 advisors. Each agent will get a dedicated ‘Agent Relationship Manager’. More details can be found at – http://rpa.defra.gov.uk/rpa/index.nsf/0/D2E44725513D3B4780257BB100344F2C This is the RPA belatedly catching-up with reality. For a long time the Agency had a fixed idea that each claimant completed their own SP5 form, and communications and systems were designed on this basis. After a long period of education from stakeholders, the RPA has now accepted the major role that advisors play in filling-out applications. New RPA IT System The words ‘RPA’ and ‘computer system’ are not ones that sit happily together. However, as previously reported in the January Bulletin, the RPA is commissioning a new computer system to run support payments from 2015. This will not only cover the new Basic Payment Scheme (BPS), but also other CAP schemes such as those run by Natural England and the Forestry Commission. DEFRA and its agencies are now looking for volunteers to test the new system. More details are available on the Natural England website at – http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/ourwork/farming/funding/capitsystem.aspx. An initial tranche of claimants will be selected in early August from those that put themselves forward. But testing will be ongoing, and it will be possible for further volunteers to join the process later. The type of testing that is envisaged includes; one-to-one visits to demonstrate the screens at a farm or office testing via online surveys, or demonstration events (e.g. at village halls or marts) Learning lessons from the past, the commissioning is being undertaken in a different way to the SPS ‘RITA’ system delivered by Accenture. Then, the RPA came up with a specification (which included a number of major last-minute changes) and the contractors went away and built a system to the spec. This time around the design and build of the IT system is much more integrated into the operations of the RPA. Programmers are in the same building as RPA staff – a element of the program is built and then it is immediatly tested with those who will be using it. Getting external input into the ongoing design and build from RPA customers is also now part of the process. Dual Use We highlighted in the February Bulletin about the doubts over the future of dual use in England. To recap, dual use is typically where a Landlord claims land under an Environmental Stewardship scheme and the Tenant uses the same land to claim under the Single Payment Scheme. EU Auditors have not been comfortable with this arrangement for some time and readers of the Bulletin will know that information gathering exercises have taken place by the RPA and DEFRA in both 2012 and 2013 to prove that land occupation arrangements in England can satisfy both scheme eligibility requirements. The decision to allow dual use for 2013 was made late in the day. It is not guaranteed that dual use will be allowed to continue for 2014. It is perhaps even more likely to be ended for 2015 as the introduction of the BPS would provide a convienient excuse for DEFRA to stop the practice in England. The Department has been a stout defender of dual use in the past, but seems to be getting increasingly worried that it may end up with ‘disallowance’ – i.e. fines from the EU, over the issue. Stakeholders are lobbying for plenty of warning to be given of any change as there would be a lot of arrangements to unpick should dual use be outlawed. Advisors should be aware of the possible changes and be ready to act if necessary. We will keep readers updated of any developments.
