Transcript West Midlands Seminar for Owners, Agents and Managers 26th

Forestry Commission - West Midlands
Grants and Regulations Update
for
woodland owners, agents and managers
22 September 2011
Ewan Calcott
Forestry Commission
Grants and Regulations Manager
Grants & Regulations update
Overview:
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Revised Forestry Commission structure – SR10
Felling Licence data
EWGS budgets
Claims update
EWGS grant suite changes
Grant scheme succession
Land registration
Won’t cover
• Phytopthora outbreak
C2
08/07/2015
New FC structure in England
Headlines:
• Grants & Regulations regional teams to merge
• England Regions reduced from 9 to 5, effective from April 2012
• Staff assimilation process underway
FC West Midlands:
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Merges with North West region
Regional Office – Penrith
Admin Office – Worcester
Subject to confirmation
Forest Enterprise:
• Reduces to 6 Districts
• Retains Beat offices
• Subject to confirmation
C3
08/07/2015
Felling Licence statistics
Felling Licence data 2008 - 2011
Licence numbers / Volume M3 (2008 - 2011)
350
300
250
167
155
168
Unconditional
200
75
Licences
Vol
'000m3
Licences
105
35
0
2008
143
2009
2010
66
66
37
Vol
'000m4
77
74
Licences
50
150
Licences
156
Vol
'000m3
100
Conditional
95
131
Vol
'000m3
150
2011 (to
date)
Correct as of 12 September 2011
C4
08/07/2015
EWGS budget update
West Midlands - EWGS 2011-2012 to 2014-2015
EWGS Grant
Type
2010/11 2011/12 £'000 2012/13 £'000 2013/14 £'000 2014/15 £'000
£'000 £'000 available £'000 available £'000 available £'000 available
Assessment
3
4
Planning
57
Management
10
10
10
10
10
10
57
75
54
75
75
75
75
238
233
203
46
215
74
240
140
Improvement
660
710
17
700
117
700
606
350
285
Regeneration
250
300
39.5
250
153
250
242
250
250
Creation
950
850
1
850
375
850
730
850
740
300
300
675
675
525
525
2,454
359
2,763
1,430
2,625
2,262
1,775
1,500
Wood Fuel
Total Value £
2,158
1.9
NB: Table does not include FWP, WGS Legacy, or old schemes
C5
08/07/2015
EWGS claims update 1
Applicant claims for 2011 – 2012
(WRG / WIG / WAG / WPG / WCG 1st Inst)
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All EWGS claims to be paid by March 29th 2012
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Some claims will need inspecting before payment
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Therefore, all claims need to be submitted by February 28th
Additional time required for those cases
Some work will not be completed by applicants
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Please advise FC as soon as possible
Applicant claims for 2012 onwards
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Where work is complete we will consider rescheduling to 2011 – 2012 claim year
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However, budgets are tight, so only limited opportunity
Annual EWGS payments
C6
(WMG, FWP)
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WMG / FWP payment round planned for October / November, 2011
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WCG 1st instalment claims not paid by May 15th will miss 2012 FWP payment
08/07/2015
Other claims update
FWPS / FWS Legacy payments
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Legacy claims due to be paid in November, 2011
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Remote Sensing inspections completed in August 2011
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If agreement holders have been asked to provide information, please respond as
soon as possible so that November claim window can be met
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Claims not paid in November must be paid by May 15, 2012
EWGS WCG 2nd Instalment claims
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25 WCG cases claimed 1st instalment in 2006
2nd instalment is due in November 2011 annual payment run
Claims will be invited using specific claim form
– FWP yrs 6-10 included in the claim
claims issued, returned signed and claim set up in GLOS
– NB: 2006 WCG agreements did not need SBI or RLR at the time
• Will need SBI / RLR now to complete the claim
– Cases with FWP should not be affected
• Claims not paid in November must be paid by May 15, 2012
C7
08/07/2015
Help the FC to help You
Significant EWGS funds remaining, but
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changes to FC structure and staffing from SR10 review
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New staff roles / merged regional structure
For funds to be allocated and claims paid swiftly, FC needs your support:
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plan ahead and collect all the information you will need
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register ALL the ‘owners’ land on the Rural Land Registry – and keep registered
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avoid obviously complicated sites for woodland creation
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e.g. archaeology, landscape, near neighbours
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application forms are complete; maps are of good quality
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use the information tools we provide to help you
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LIS / WIG Calculators / Map Requests / Guidance and Operations Notes
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don’t wait until EWGS deadlines to submit applications
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submit work programmes than can be achieved and within the time scales you propose
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don’t expect to be able to reschedule!!
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make claims in good time, in the claim year
Quality applications lead to quicker processing, speedier
agreements and better value for money
C8
08/07/2015
Other news …
E’applicants using GLOS – User improvements
• Can now upload multiple work areas using a new upload tool
• Can print off application prior to submission to FC
• Can copy existing owner / property details to a new case
Changes to EWGS in 2011 – An overview
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WPG guidance, documents and rules
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WPG & 10 year felling permission
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WRG rules
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WIG rules
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C9
Woodfuel WIG
WCG 2011/12 and beyond
08/07/2015
Sustainable forest management (SFM) plans
Sustainable forestry (e.g. UKFS) achieved by sound planning and application
Woodland Management Plans;
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collect relevant information
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record planning decisions
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record progress and completion of work
SFM options for the woodland owner / FC
• UKWAS: agreed / approved management plan and 10 year harvesting approval, with fully
independent certification
• CPET: EWGS WPG management plan and 10 year harvesting, approved by FC, with possible
independent verification
• 10 year harvesting approval: agreed / approved management plan containing appropriate
felling proposals. No independent verification
EWGS - Woodland Planning Grant provides a plan template to fit all these options
Alternatively, harvesting operations without a management plan;
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5 year harvesting approval limit with ‘conservative’ assessment of felling proposals
However, management plans must be kept updated
C 10
08/07/2015
Grants update – WPG 1
EWGS - Woodland Planning Grant (WPG)
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EWGS 2 form - minor changes
Now asks for area (ha) under 10 yrs old
WPG applicant guidance updated
Reprinted in paper and online
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Please use the latest version of the form
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Submit your plan for approval when written
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no need to wait for WPG claim year
obtain permissions earlier
obtain other grant funding earlier
Related to WPG is EWGS - Woodland Assessment Grant (WAG)
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C 11
No changes
08/07/2015
Grants update – WPG 2
WPG template updated - changes include
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C 12
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New woodland constraints added - Section 2
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Basic Inventory data collection for Woodfuel - Section 10a
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Management planning linked to CPET - Section 10b (Maximum of 100ha)
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Management planning linked to10 year felling rules - Section 10b
WPG template guidance also updated for
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Revised UKFS (due late 2011)
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Revised UKWAS (due late 2011)
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Template changes
Aide memoirs for use:
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For CPET – part of the compliance audit
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For general plan approval – improve plan quality consistently, across England
Update module (Due Oct 2011)
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Contains tables in Sections 7 – 10 only
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For use when updating programmes of work for grants / permissions
08/07/2015
Grants update – WPG & 10 year felling
10 year felling permission - process
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FC approved management plan template is agreed – preferably WPG
Management plan is written & submitted – including 10 yrs harvesting (Section 10, table B)
FC review & approve management plan – Claim paid when due
Option1 •
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FC set up a separate EWGS felling case in GLOS
(consultation etc as required)
New agreement, including 10 Yr felling, is issued
Option 2 - at a later date
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Applicant ensures management plan is up to date
– using Update Module
FC review & approve plan update
New EWGS felling case set up in GLOS
New agreement, including 10 Yr felling, is issued
With up to date management plans, new cases
can be linked at any time
For e’applicants using GLOS
On the new case Property Details tab - link to
• UKWAS section – 10 Yr felling
• CPET section – 10 Yr felling (Ops Note 22)
• Management plan section – 10 Yr felling
C 13
08/07/2015
Grants update – WRG 1
Changes to WRG grant rates and rules
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Introduced 16th May 2011 – but interim!
Reasons for changes:
– Simplify grant rates
– Phytopthora outbreak - introduction of Phytophthora supplement for affected sites
– To fit with current policy / practice
– Enable more flexible forestry
• productive potential
• Species resilience
Political aspects of the changes
Eligibility – applicants must comply with
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C 14
Broadleaved woodland policy – no net loss of broadleaved woodland area
UKFS and associated guidelines
Ancient and native woodland practice guidelines – species mixture and %ages
Grants must be claimed before 31st March 2014
08/07/2015
Grants update – WRG 2
Restock
species
Ancient
Woodland Site
Non-ancient
Woodland Site
Phytophthora
supplement
Previously native = restocking
Native
£1750
£1750
£1000
Previously non-native = restoration
Non-native
C 15
08/07/2015
£0
£1500
£500
Grants update – WRG 3
Key principles still apply
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C 16
UKFS, so no damage
Planting vs natural regeneration
Species:
– Up to 20% non-natives (provided not invasive), plus
– Up to 20% advancing species or honorary natives
– Conifer nurses acceptable, provided they don’t damage
Number of species – at least 2, preferably 3
Mixture percentages [over 80%, 60-80%, <60%]
Stocking density:
– Min 2500 / ha for conifers and quality hardwoods
– 1000-2500 timber desirable, quality less imp
– 500 – 1000 simply to establish native tree canopy (grant paid pro rata – stems / ha)
Agreed density should match management plan and existing site evidence
– FC encourages higher densities
Phytophthora sites: applicants must follow ON24 guidelines
08/07/2015
Grants update – WIG 1
National WIG priorities
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Biodiversity 50/80 - any ASNW/OSNW or HAP/SAP
Access 50/80 - where demand is demonstrated
Woodfuel WIG – afternoon presentation
West Midlands Region Priority WIG 80s
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Access 80 - in Quality of Place areas
Woodland Birds
Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI)
Local Wildlife Sites (NI197)
NB: All to be reviewed post new regional structure (2012)
Changes to WIG
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road support moved to Woodfuel WIG from August 2011
WIG BIO Calculator and other guidance updated
NB: Standard Costs reviewed, but no price changes made
C 17
08/07/2015
Grants update – WMG 1
Current WMG cases
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Annual payments due in November 2011
New cases / renewals – WMG deadlines
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applications to be submitted by December 31st
agreements must be approved by May 15 deadline
Year 1 annual payment made October / November
WMG Calculator
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introduced April 2011 to aid applicants demonstrate
‘enough work’
WMG funds
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C 18
limited, first come, first served
08/07/2015
Grants update – WCG 1
Woodland Creation Grant 2011 - 2012
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5 woodland types for creation
– Native, Small Standard, Standard, Community and Special Broadleaves
Additional Contributions still at £2000 / ha, based on
– Woodland Opportunity Mapping
– Quality of Place
Single Farm Payment remains eligible on land in receipt of SPS in 2008
Eligibility
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National score is 10 points - no closing date
– applications first come, first served (while funds remain)
Increased species flexibility & design (A&NWPG)
Increased P yr & FY flexibility
Prospective landowners – can apply, but cannot complete until ownership has changed
Claims
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2012 -13 claims must be submitted by 15th May to ensure FWP payment in autumn
Issues
Farmers proving 25% of income from farming
– Multiple applications occasionally have different answers
– Applicants requested to prove accounts
C 19
08/07/2015
Woodland Creation adding up?
Example - Broadleaf Woodland eligible for
WCG, AC, FWP and SPS / per hectare
Rate /
Ha
Rate /
Ha
Lowland
Improved
Woodland Creation
Grant
£1,800
£1,800
Additional Contribution
£2,000
£2,000
Farm Woodland
Payment
Single Payment Scheme
(estimated average*)
Total grant funding* per
hecatre
C 20
Lowland
Arable
08/07/2015
£300 x
15 yrs
£4,500
£200 x
15 yrs
£3,000
£200 x
15
£3,000
£150 x
15
£2,250
£11,300
£9,050
Grant agreement ‘Succession’
Operations Note 14
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Renewed July 2011
– suite of leaflets to reflect the rules for grant schemes past and present
– see July email alert
New ‘Succession’ application form
Ops note includes general guidance on
– Forestry and environmental regulations which protect woodlands
– importance of professional forestry and legal advice before buying or selling land
New principles:
– Must inform FC within 3 months of land sale
– Must succeed grant scheme within 12 months of sale
FC will enforce compliance of woodland cover through EIA
Death of an owner
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C 21
New process being put in place
Uses information already being collected by the RPA Probate Team
Avoids the need for two agencies contacting the family directly for the same information
08/07/2015
Customer and Land Registration 1
Customer and Land Registration
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Rural Payments Agency (RPA) requires all agri-environmental applications to have
– Single Business Identifier (SBI) number
• registers an agricultural business in order to receive RDPE linked payments
• is 9 digits long
– Rural Land Registry (RLR) entry
• registers individual land parcels on the RLR map
• links registered land parcels to an agri-business SBI
• allows RDPE linked payments to be made against land units
PLEASE REGISTER WOODLAND OWNERS’ LAND WITH THE RPA BEFORE YOU
APPLY FOR EWGS
C 22
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FC works with the RPA and applicants to resolve registration issues
FC will not accept applications that are not fully registered (Operations Note 19), but …
– continue to assist prospective applicants with registration difficulties
– continue to assist the RPA in getting land registered
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Currently, only 3 EWGS cases have an RLR issue to resolve
08/07/2015
Customer and Land Registration 2
Have a valid SBI number for the
farm business
Make sure the land is registered
with Rural Land Register before
making an application or claim
C 23
08/07/2015