Following approval of the Rural Development Contract:
- The Contract will be data captured to allow a computer-based validation of the Options and areas managed. This will involve cross checking against the Single Application Form, Legacy agri-environment and forestry schemes and Field Identification System for any eligibility or double funding issues.
- At inspection, the inspector will verify the areas under management are the same as the claimed areas, by measuring using precision equipment.
- The inspector will check the requirements of the option are being met (as detailed under 'what you can do') by visual assessment on the day of inspection.
For example:
Option - Management of Flood Plains.
One of the requirements - no cultivations within 12m of the water's edge.
The inspector will measure the distance between any cultivations and the water's edge.
- The inspector may ask to see records to ensure the requirements of an Option are being met, for example, pesticide records.
- Inspectors may also ask to see copies of any permissions granted, for example permissions from Scottish Natural Heritage.