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Guidance Updates

This table lists all updates which have been made to the guidance published on this website for Rural Priorities since 1 June 2008. The most recent version of the guidance will always be the one available on the website. However, if you have printed any pages, you may find this table useful to establish if there have been any updates made since the date of printing.

Page Title

Date of UpdateUpdate Made
Assessment Criteria - Meeting Demand28 November 2008Additional text
Assessment Criteria - Leverage28 November 2008Additional text
Assessment Criteria - Long Term Benefit28 November 2008Additional text
Assessment Criteria - Integration28 November 2008Additional text
Assessment Criteria - Collaboration28 November 2008Additional text
Landlord declaration form28 November 2008New form
Landlord consent form28 November 2008Revised form
Landlord notification form28 November 2008Revised form
Land Ownership, control and withdrawal28 November 2008Revised text
Rural Priorities - Contract27 November 2008Guidance change - Procedure for verification of signatures on RDC Rural Priorities contracts
Outcome Plan Claim Workflow26 November 2008New section to staff guidance for outcome plan claims
Outcome Plan Claims26 November 2008Revised text
Case Officer Proposal Assesment Template26 November 2008Definitive case officer proposal assesment template download added to the 'Guidance for Staff' webpage
Informing others26 November 2008Add new links to web page and include tracked changes
Conservation Management for Small Units25 November 2008Replace existing web page with amended guidance
Control of invasive non-native species - Grey Squirrels25 November 2008Clarification on the number of trapping sessions appropriate to the site

Moorland - Stock Disposal

25 November 2008Eligibility of continuing to maintain reduced flock size set under a legacy agri-environment scheme agreement
Watercourse Channel Enhancement13 November 2008Revised text
Control of invasive and non-native species - Grey Squirrels13 November 2008Clarification on the number of trap sessions per year
Open Grazed or Wet Grassland for Wildlife13 November 2008Confirmation that the area being managed under the Open Grazed or Wet Grassland for Wildlife option cannot be relocated during the 5-year period.
Management of Hedgerows13 November 2008Management of Hedgerows option - clarification on the ineligibility of a hedge which itself forms the boundary or march
Conservation Management Plan for Small Units11 November 2008

Clarification on timing of submission of Conservation management plan with special measures for small units

Standard Letter Templates10 November 2008The standard letter templates in the SoI Workflow and Records Management PDF have also been included as a separate PDF.
Claims for Outcome Plans and Funding for Outcome Plans10 November 2008Clarification that an applicant can claim one or the other type of specialist plan but not both.
Grass margins and Beetlebanks10 November 2008

Clarification: 0.5 m (minimum) sterile strip is included in the paid area under the management of grass margins option. Width of grass margin strip is 1.5 m (minimum) plus 0.5 m (minimum) sterile strip.

Skills Development and Skills Development to Improve Quality of Life10 November 2008Links have been inserted in each Option to the other Option to cross-reference the two Options
Cropped Machair5 November 2008

Clarification of the crop/fallow rotation and the application of payment rates under the Cropped Machair Option.

Internal Desk Instructions for Guidance31 October 2008Guidance rewritten to reflect system updates
Internal Online SOI Application Guidance31 October 2008Guidance rewritten to reflect system updates
Online Proposal Application for Applicants and Agents31 October 2008Guidance rewritten to reflect system updates
Online SOI Application for Applicants and Agents31 October 2008Guidance rewritten to reflect system updates

Land ownership, control and withdrawal

31 October 2008

Sentence added to guidance page to confirm that applicants cannot receive final approval from Scottish Ministers for their Proposal without first notifying the Landlord.

Funding for Outcome Plans31 October 2008

Changes made to advise that it is not yet possible for applicants to opt for Type (d) Outcome Plan funding until 2009

Claims for Outcome Plans31 October 2008

Changes made to advise that it is not yet possible for applicants to opt for Type (d) Outcome Plan funding until 2009

Management and repair of vernacular buildings

31 October 2008

Minor clarification of eligibility criteria and claims procedure.

Types of Breach and Applicable Penalties31 October 2008

Change of wording to cover further SRDP schemes in guidance on additional competitive penalties.

Introduction to Breaches and Penalties

31 October 2008

Change of wording to cover further SRDP schemes in guidance on additional competitive penalties.

Consultation and Public Register for Woodlands, Forest Planning and Short Rotation Coppice30 October 2008

Add additional text to heading Guidance on Consultation and Public Register to clarify that this is for woodlands only

How to Apply

30 October 2008

Add new sentence to page to clarify how to apply if you do not own or let land.

Who can apply

30 October 2008

Add sentence to guidance page to clarify whether or not Local Authorities can apply

Claims for Standard Cost capital and actual cost capital items: an overview

30 October 2008

Add sentence to guidance page to clarify the proportion of a proposal that can be made up of capital items

Highland Region - Biodiversity27 October 2008Highland regional priority 12 updated for clarity.
Assessing Microrenewables Agri/Forestry Proposals - Guidance for Case Officers23 October 2008

Section 'Determining whether the proposed installation could have planning, natural heritage, licensing or other issues ' has been amended.

Environment Outcome Plan22 October 2008Environmental Outcome Plan updated in locked word document and pdf to include new section for Woodland Creation Options
Environment Outcome Plan Guidance22 October 2008Guidance updated to include description of new section in Outcome Plan.

Soil and Water Management Programme

21 October 2008Guidance updated and 'Soils and Water Plan' added.

Stage 1: Assessment of a submitted Proposal

21 October 2008

'Consultation with other Public Organisations' updated to include more information about certain woodland Options.
Internal Users Back Office Desk Instructions Parts 1, 2 and 321 October 2008Guidance has been substantially upgraded and amended. Three pdfs replace the one 'Internal Desk Instructions for Approval, Assessment and Scoring'.
Moorland Grazings on Uplands and Peatlands

20 October 2008

'Eligibility Criteria' amended to allow combining this Option with the Muirburn and Heather Swiping Option.
Wildlife Management on Upland and Peatland Sites

20 October 2008

'What this will achieve' and list of requirements in 'What you can do' amended and 'Eligibility Criteria' amended to allow combining this Option with the Muirburn and Heather Swiping Option.
Claims for Outcome Plans17 October 2008Clarification of what payments are included in the £1,000 limit for Plan payments.
Manure/ Slurry Storage3 October 2008'What you can do' and 'What costs could be supported' sections amended.
Community Services and Facilities3 October 2008Inspection/ verification information amended to exclude quotes guidance, which is included in 'What costs could be supported'.
Sustainable Management of Forests2 October 2008

Eligibility criteria no longer excludes from support 'individual areas measuring less than 1 hectare'.

Woodland Creation2 October 2008

Eligibility criteria for the mixed conifer/broadleaf woodland updated and definition of agricultural land added.

Environmentally Sensitive Area (ESA) and Habitats Scheme leavers in 200929 September 2008Information about leaving the Environmentally Sensitive Area (ESA) Scheme or Habitats Scheme in 2009
Monitoring and Evaluation22 September 2008Guidance has been amended
Interim Claims17 September 2008Additional sentence included first paragraph to clarify text.
Ayrshire Regional Priority 917 September 2008Ayrshire Regional Priority 9 amended for clarity.
Setting up Young Farmers - Interest Rate Relief11 September 2008'Who can apply' section updated.
Assessing Microrenewable Agri/Forestry Proposals - Guidance for Case Officers9 September 2008PDF has now been uploaded in Staff Guidance Section
Assessing Microrenewable Non Land Based Proposals - Guidance for Case Officers9 September 2008PDF has now been uploaded in Staff Guidance Section
Quotes and Estimates9 September 2008Guidance has now been published. A sentence has also been included in appropriate Options.
SoI Workflow and Filing Procedure - Guidance for Staff8 September 2008New version of PDF uploaded
Manure/Slurry Storage8 September 2008Modification of text in 'What you can do' section for clarification.
Online Proposal Submission4 September 2008Removal of 'Helpful Hints' section. This infromation is now available in the Online Proposal Guidance For Applicants and Agents.
Mammal and Bird Control3 SeptemberEligibilty section has been updated
Support for Renewable Energy - Non Land Based3 September 2008Sections: What you can do, who can apply? and What technologies are supported? Have been updated.
Renewable Energy - Forestry3 September 2008Section:What technologies are supported? Has been updated.
Renewable Energy - Agriculture3 September 2008Section:What technologies are supported? Has been updated.
Proposal Assessment Criteria3 September 2008Outdated text removed
Online Proposal Guidance For Applicants and Agents26 August 2008

Reformatted document to landscape, added Helpful Hints and removed outdated text.

Internal desk instructions on submitted Proposal26 August 2008Reformatted document to landscape, added Helpful Hints and removed outdated text.
Value Added Processing26 August 2008Guidance for the Value Added Processing Package now published.
Treat Run-Off of Pollutants - Farm Wetlands26 August 2008Rate of support section updated.
Habitat Grazing Management26 August 2008Rate of support section updated.
Livestock Tracks, Gates and River Crossings25 August 2008Guidance on the funding of 2nd hand equipment added. Section on rate of support updated.
Assessment Criteria - Additionality25 August 2008

Guidance on how you can score a 'high' has been updated.

Assessment of a Sumitted Proposal13 August 2008Guidance wording amended.
Conservation and Management for Small Units13 August 2008Wording withing Option guidance amended.
Internal Desk Instructions for Assessment, Approval and Scoring of Proposal12 August 2008Staff guidance on assessing, scoring and approving Proposals is now available.
Inspections - Minimum Requirements for Fertiliser and Plant Protection Product Use12 August 2008The wording for what will be checked by inspectors with regards to fertiliser and plant protection product use has been amended.
Forest Plan Preparation12 August 2008Additional information has been included in the guidance for preparing Forest Plan as part of Woodland Improvement Grant.
Claims for Standard Cost Capital & Actual Cost Capital Payments: an Overview5 August 2008Paragraph added confirming that only Standard Cost Capital Items approved in a Proposal can be claimed for.
Guidance for staff24 July 2008The guidance for staff has now been moved to the bottom of the left hand menu under 'how it works'. There is still a link from the 'forms and further guidance' menu.
Claims guidance24 July 2008Figures within the outcome plan tables have been altered.
Mapping24 July 2008Guidance on mapping has now been published.
Consents and Licences Guidance21 July 2008Wording changed to incorporate changes in outcome plan templates.
Environment Outcome Plan Guidance21 July 2008Information relating to the constent section of the outcome plan template amended.
Business Outcome Plan Guidance21 July 2008Information relating to the constent section of the outcome plan template amended.
Outcome Plan Templates21 July 2008Consents section of all three outcome plan tempates amended.
Internal Desk instructions for submitted proposal18 July 2008Information relating to Annual Recurrent Options has been altered
Online Proposal Desk Instructions18 July 2008Information relating to Annual Recurrent Options has been altered
Consents and Licences Guidance18 July 2008Guidance on Consents and Licences has now been published.
Assessment and Scoring Guidance15 July 2008Guidance on Assessment and the Scoring Process has now been published.
Internal Desk Instructions for submitted Proposal14 July 2008The Internal Desk Instructions for dealing with a submitted proposal has now been published.
Online Proposal Desk Instructions14 July 2008The Online Proposal Guidance for Applicants and Agents has now been published
Open Grazed or Wet Grassland for Wildlife14 July 2008Wording for 'Inspectors will check' in the Inspection section of guidance has been altered.
Contracts guidance14 July 2008Guidance on Contracts has now been published.
Claims guidance10 July 2008Guidance for making claims has now been published.
Consultation and Public Register8 July 2008Case Officer guidance for Consultation and Public Register for Forestry Options has been published and is available as PDF.
SSSI and Natura sites capital item guidance8 July 2008Actual Cost Capital Item guidance for SSSI and Natura sites now added to appropriate Options
Erosion control Capital Item guidance8 July 2008Actual Cost Capital Item guidance for Erosion control now added to appropriate Options
Outcome Plan Template7 July 2008Outcome plan templates for Environment, Business and Woodland Creation now available to download in a printable PDF form, and an editable Word document.
Proposal Guidance7 July 2008Guidance on submitting proposal updated to include online proposal submission.
Online Proposal Guidance - for applicants and agents (pdf)7 July 2008Downloadable PDF desk instructions for submitting proposal online published.
Outcome Plan - Do you need specialist advice?3 July 2008Guidance on assessing the need for specialist advice as part of your Outcome Plan is now published.
Diversification Outwith Agriculture2 July 2008Wording for 'Who can apply' section has been altered.

Renewable Energy - Agriculture

2 July 2008Refinements made to Eligibilty Criteria and Technical Information sections.
Renewable Energy - Forestry2 July 2008Refinements made to Eligibilty Criteria and Technical Information sections.
Support for Renewable Energy - Non Land Based2 July 2008Refinements made to Eligibilty Criteria and Technical Information sections.
Supporting Biodiversity - Scottish Wildcats1 July 2008Option to control Grey Squirrels for Red squirrel conservation removed.
Supporting Biodiversity Package27 June 2008Guidance for the Supporting Biodiversity package now published
Northern Isles Region - Thriving Rural Communities17 June 2008Wording for priority 31a has been altered
Proposal Assessment Criteria13 June 2008Guidance on assessment criteria published
Area Access Management Option3 June 2008Section on 'rate of support' updated
Argyll Regional Priorities - Biodiversity3 June 2008Removal of Mink control from priority number 11


Page updated: Tuesday, December 2, 2008