The Common Agricultural Policy after 2013 - 5th Report Published 27/4/2011
The Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee has published its 5th Report – The Common Agricultural Policy after 2013, which examines the impact of CAP reform on UK agriculture. The report draws a number of conclusions and recommendations.
A synopsis of the report can be found the on the Rural Enterprise Solutions website www.ruralenterprisesolutions.co.uk.
A copy of the full report can be downloaded from the House of Commons website www.parliament.uk
South West Engagement with Defra - SWCoRE press release 11/4/2011
DEFRA have announced that they will welcome expressions of interest from suitable representative bodies around the country to help drive forward initiatives on Farming, Food and Rural Affairs through the development of Farming and Rural Networks.
In the South West an organisation already exists that brings together ‘land based and related rural businesses’. This, the South West Chamber of Rural Enterprise, was founded in the aftermath of the devastating foot and mouth crisis. It hosts up to three conferences a year on relevant topics that impact on the profitability of its members. It is chaired by David Fursdon who runs his own rural business in Devon, and is run by a Board of Directors which represents a range of businesses across the South West.
SWCORE is already working closely with SWEN (the South West Environment network) and SWAN (the South West ACRE network) representing the Environmental Groups and the Community/Social Agenda. SWCORE will be hosting a further meeting of these groups this week with a view to responding formally to the invitation from DEFRA.
David Fursdon, in welcoming the announcement from Defra, said:
“The problems facing food producers, farmers and rural businesses are often similar across this area whether it is as a result of concentration on livestock production; peripherality and distance from markets; the uplands challenge or disease both of plants and livestock.
“In the absence in future of a Government Office and a Regional Development Agency, there needs to be a way that we can engage with DEFRA particularly as the reform of the CAP draws nearer. We will also need to engage with the emerging Local Enterprise Partnerships to make sure that the rural voice is heard.”
New Farming and Rural Network to advise government - Defra press release 11/4/2011
Local groups will be able to give advice directly to Ministers on farming, food and rural issues through a new network to help advise on policies that affect rural people and the food and farming industry.
The groups will provide a direct line of communication to provide Defra’s ministers with information and concerns from local rural and farming communities.
Defra Ministers Jim Paice and Richard Benyon are calling for people from farming, food and rural affairs backgrounds to volunteer to be part of the local networks.
Agriculture and Food Minister Jim Paice said:
“As part of rebuilding trust between Government and rural communities, including farmers, we need to re-establish direct lines of contact that used to exist. It is vital that Ministers can pick up a phone and speak to people on the ground for advice and conversely that they can have direct access to Ministers. We want these groups to genuinely reflect a cross section of rural interests in their area
” Between 10 and 20 groups, covering all of England, will form the network that will inform ministers of regional issues on farming, food and rural affairs and to provide input into the issues Defra covers. They will also be given the opportunity to speak to ministers directly and the chairs of the groups will meet at least once a year with ministers.
More information on the new network can be obtained from ruralandfarmingnetwork@defra.gsi.gov.uk
Rural Communities Policy Unit Launched 1/4/2011
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defra, Richard Benyon, has released a written ministerial statement to launch the Departments new Rural Communities Policy Unit. This Unit takes forward the work of the abolished Commission for Rural Communities and will be a centre for rural expertise.
The full Ministerial Statement, with more information on the Unit and it's objectives, can be viewed via the Houses of Parliament website www.parliament.uk.
Upland Policy Review 1/4/2011
A report setting out the conclusions of the Uplands Policy Review, and a range actions that the Government will take in partnership with others in the public, private and voluntary sectors was launched on 10 March 2011 by Defra Secretary of State Caroline Spelman. The Review also sets out how Defra’s Structural Reform Plan commitment to “develop affordable measures of support for hill farmers” will be met (Defra press release).
Visit the Defra website for more information and to download a full copy of the report www.defra.gov.uk
State of the South West 2011 - new report published 1/4/2011
The South West Observatory (SWO) published the latest 'State of the South West' report on 16th March 2011.
Visit their website to download a pdf of the whole report or individual chapters www.swo.org.uk/state-of-the-south-west-2011
Copies of previous years report can also be downloaded from the SWO website www.swo.org.uk
NFU CAP Policy Document released 4/5/2010
The NFU has launched its policy document on the CAP post-2013.
The NFU believes the CAP should focus on:
- maintaining our productive capacity here in Europe
- providing a buffer against the threat posed to farmers by volatile markets
- supporting efforts by farmers to become more competitive
- providing incentives to improve environmental performance
To read the document click here go to www.nfuonline.com/Our-work/Economics-and-International/CAP/NFU-launches-CAP-policy
New SW RDA board members announced 17/12/2009
Rosie Winterton, Minister for Regional Economic Development and Coordination, today announced new appointments to the Board of the South West RDA.
David Fursdon, Peter Moore, Christopher Lewis, Philip Young and Catherine Bakewell will all take up their three year appointments on 14 December 2009 until 13 December 2012.
http://swnews.swcouncils.gov.uk/nqcontent.cfm?a_id=5780&tt=swra
New EU Agriculture Commissioner Announced
European Commission President José Manuel Barroso unveiled the EU executive's new line-up on Friday 27th November 2009 with Dacion Ciaolos from Romania announced as the new Agriculture Commissioner.
See www.euractiv.com for details.
Campaign for the Farmed Environment Launched
FWAG 40th Anniversary celebration
Do One Thing for Wildlife Campaign!
State of the South West - What's New 2009?
Please click on the below link for pdf documents of this report.
www.swo.org.uk/sotsw09/index/?locale=en
SW CoRE's Environmental funding gap letter to Natural England
As a result of SW CoRE's September 2008 Plenary. For a summary, and the letter to Natural England and their response click here
Regional Spatial Strategy for the South West Delay in Publishing RSS
There has been a delay in publishing the Regional Spatial Strategy which will guide development in the South West until 2026. The Government have decided to halt the publication of the document until the full implications are clear of the High Court decision that aspects of the East of England’s plan did not meet specified criteria.
For more information, go to:
www.swcouncils.gov.uk/nqcontent.cfm?a_id=5013
RDPE Network Website goes live!
The RDPE network website www.rdpenetwork.org.uk is now live and includes a directory of projects across the region funded by RDPE, calendar of events, latest news, a discussion forum and more.
The Regional Assembly has ceased to exist and its function as the Regional Planning Body has been transferred to a Strategic Leaders’ Board (SLB). This is at the moment, an interim measure. It is intended that 6 SEEP members will sit on the board and 3 places will be assigned to RDA board members.
Consequently a new group will be established to ‘ensure that regional stakeholders continue to make an effective and meaningful contribution to the development of regional policies’. This new group will be called the South West Stakeholders (SWS).
www.swcouncils.gov.uk/nqcontent.cfm?a_id=4733&tt=swra
Defra/NFU Consultation Document
In March 2009, Defra published a consultation document on proposed changes to the cross compliance Good Agricultural and Environmental Condition (GAEC) and related measures. The purpose of this consultation was to seek views on a range of proposed changes to cross compliance following the conclusion of the review of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP Health Check). These proposals relate to cross compliance standards and related measures in England, including recapturing the environmental benefits of set-aside. See:www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/consult/gaec/
Following SW CoRE’s Plenary on 23rd September 2008, a letter was compiled and sent to Dr Helen Philips, Chief Executive of Natural England. The letter covered concerns about the possibility that many of the environmental achievements of the Countryside Stewardship Scheme are at risk of being lost due to existing Environmental Sensitive Area and Countryside Stewardship Scheme agreements ceasing at the end of their term.
The letter outlined that many of SW CoRE’s members had expressed serious concern that they are aware of existing agreement holders who will not be able to afford to retain the habitats they have created because there is a mismatch between the old and new environmental funding streams. While our letter ‘applauded’ the introduction of ELS, it suggested a range of solutions some of which were: a rising scale of payments depending on number and quality of environmental features would bridge this gap in environmental funding, and that there could be a mid level funding scheme which would fall between ELS and HLS.
The reply came from Janette Ward on behalf of Helen Phillips. It addressed the four areas we had highlighted: The Gap between ELS and HLS, Rising Scale of Payments, Capital Works and extending existing CSS/ESA agreements until further changes are made.
Defra's Strong Rural Communities DSO
For the current Spending Review period (CSR 07) effective from 2008-09 to 2010-11, each government department has developed a set of Departmental Strategic Objectives (DSOs). These set out a picture of what the Department as a whole aims to achieve over the next three years and provides an overarching framework for performance management and progress reporting. Ron Scrutton, Deputy Director, Rural Policy Division, Defra, has written a summary on this.
Monitoring the Impact of 0% Set-Aside
Following the Agriculture Council's move to set a 0% rate of set-aside for 2008, Jeff Rooker, Minister for Sustainable Food and Farming and Animal Health, has requested assistance from various components of the Rural Communtiy in monitoring the environmental impact of the decision. Technical experts from the NFU, CLA, RSPB, NE, and EA are working together to ascertain the perceived environmental benefits of set aside land, and on how best to monitor the change and its effects. Hilary Benn and Jeff Rooker have also asked on a Regional level that 0% set-aside rate is discussedwith those on the ground to ensure that 'future decisions are based on sound evidence'. Defra have therefore constructed Five Key Questions on the 0% set-aside rate.
- Click here for the Five questions
- Click on the link below to download a copy of Defra's Change in the Area and Distibution of set-aside in England and its Environmental Impact'
- http://statistics.defra.gov.uk/esg/ace/research/pdf/observatory08.pdf
Click here for this report
On 30th January 2008 Defra announced the first results from monitoring the impact of 0% set aside rate. The non-rotational area (land left out for more than a single year) is expected to fall by 35%, while the rotational area is expected to fall by 85%. The areas in margins and corners of fields is expected to fall by 13% overall, with larger reductions on farms not in Environmental Stewardship Schemes.
Rural Development Programme for England 2007 ~ 2013
The new Rural Development Programme for England will be implemented in the South West through the Regional Implementation Plan 2007 - 2013 (RIP), commencing February 2008. Cornwall, as a convergence area, will receive 'reserved' funding for its rural development activities.
The RIP is to be built around three key themes developed by National Government:
- Enhancing the environment and countryside
- Making farming and forestry more competitive and sustainable
- Enhancing opportunity in rural areas
Defra's delivery partners - the South West Regional Development Agency, Government Office for the South West, Natural England, Forestry Commission and Environment Agency - have been tasked with developing the RIP, which will guide delivery of the RDPE in the South West.
View more information about the RDPE including:
- The consultation response submitted by SW CoRE
- 'The South West's emerging Regional Implementation Plan (RIP) event on 19th September
- The Draft RIP
For more information about how to apply for funding visit http://www.sw-ruralgateway.info/
In the South West, the SW Regional Assembly prepares the Regional Spatial Strategy (RSS), which reflects national policies and sets out a broad strategy for new development in the region to 2026 and beyond. Following the Government's recent reform of the planning system, local authorities are now drawing up Local Development Frameworks (LDF). These reflect and build on national and regional policies, taking into account local needs and variation.
SW CoRE submitted a joint regional response with the South West Rural Affairs forum to the Examination in Public Panel on the draft Regional Spatial Strategy 2006-2026.
View more information about the Examination in Public of the Draft Regional Spatial Strategy
Cover letter
SW Regional Spatial Strategy Proposed Changes: Habitats Regulations Assessment Final Report
SW Regional Spatial Strategy Proposed Changes: Habitats Regulations Assessment Executive Summary
SW RSS Proposed Changes: Sustainability Appraisal Final Report
SW RSS Proposed Changes: Sustainability Appraisal Non Technical Summary
SW RSS Schedule of the Secretary of State's Proposed Changes and Reasons for Public Consultation
The Draft Revised RSS Incorporating the Secretary of State's Proposed Changes
Review of sub-national economic development and regeneration
Regional Development Agencies will work with individual councils and local leaders in putting together a single strategy for each region - replacing the myriad of overlapping strategies which currently cover issues like jobs, housing, planning and infrastructure - and assume many of the functions currently undertaken by Regional Assemblies.
There is a lot of detail to digest, and the Government has committed to consulting on a number of the key proposals.
Download Report (835KB PDF)