CAAV Office Closure for Christmas and New Year
The CAAV office will be closed for the Christmas break from Wednesday 21st December, re-opening on Tuesday 3rd January 2017.
News
Letting Agents' Fees to Tenants to be Abolished
The Chancellor has announced in his Autumn Statement that a ban will be introduced to prevent letting agents from charging fees to tenants, bringing England into line with the position in Scotland. The Dept of Communities and Local Government is to publish a consultation on the proposals in due course.
New Shadow Minister for Environment Food and Rural Affairs
Mary Glindon MP has been appointed the new Shadow Minister for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. She is the Labour MP for North Tyneside and has served on the EFRA Committee since 2010.
Government gives go-ahead to fracking in Lancashire
The Government has overturned Lancashire County Council's decision on fracking, giving the go-ahead for Cuadrilla's site at Little Plumpton. A decision on the second Cuadrilla site is awaited.
CAAV meets Defra Ministers to discuss Brexit
Jeremy Moody of the CAAV is meeting with Defra's Secretary of State, Andrea Leadsom, and her Ministers today (8th September) along with other farming organisations, to discuss the challenges and opportunities created by Brexit.
CAAV meets with Scottish Rural Affairs and Connectivity Secretary
The CAAV has met today with the Scottish Rural Affairs and Connectivity Secretary, Fergus Ewing, in Edinburgh to discuss the implications of Brexit and progress with Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) 2015 payments. Further information is available on the Scottish Government website.
CAAV Young Valuers' Conference - 2nd September 2016 - BOOKINGS CLOSE TOMORROW
Booking close for tomorrow (Friday 19th August) for the CAAV 12th Young Valuers' Conference taking place at the University of Bath on Friday 2nd September. This is an excellent event which offers 6 hours CPD, drinks reception, black tie dinner and accommodation all for the inclusive price of £160 (inc. VAT). Don't miss out on attending this highly popular event for our younger members. This year the afternoon visit will take us to the Longleat Estate by kind permission of the Marquess of Bath...
Bank of England Base Rate cut to 0.25%
The Bank of England has cut its base rate from 0.5% to 0.25% today, 4th August 2016. It is the first change in the base rate since March 2009.
Defra Ministerial line-up confirmed
The final line-up of Defra Ministers has now been confirmed. Andrea Leadsom is Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs George Eustice is Minister of State for Food, Farming and the Marine Environment Therese Coffey is Parliamentary Under Secretary of State. At the time of writing there is no further detail on her roled, but it is likely that she will pick up the natural environment and flooding briefs from her predecessor. Lord Gardiner of Kimble is the Defra spokesman...
Therese Coffey appointed as junior Defra minister
Therese Coffey has been appointed as a junior minister at Defra to replace Rory Stewart, who has moved to the Department for International Development. Details of Dr Coffey's role have not yet been confirmed, but the post previously included responsibility for floods, the natural environment and rural affairs.
An Overview of the New Cabinet
Following the appointments made by the new Prime Minister, Theresa May, last night and today, the Cabinet has been confirmed as follows:- Chancellor - Philip Hammond Foreign Secretary - Boris Johnson Home Secretary - Amber Rudd 'Brexit' Secretary - David Davis Defence Secretary - Michael Fallon International Trade - Liam Fox Justice Secretary - Liz Truss Leader of the Lords - Baroness Evans Health Secretary - Jeremy Hunt Education Secretary - Justine Greening Transport Secretary -...
New Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
It has been announced that Greg Clark has been appointed Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, in charge of a new Department which merges the Department of Energy and Climate Change with the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills. Responsibility for universities moves from DBIS back to the Department for Education.
Leadsom appointed as Environment Secretary
Andrea Leadsom has been appointed as the new Environment Secretary, replacing Liz Truss. Other appointments made:- Work and Pensions Secretary - Damian Green Transport Secretary - Chris Grayling
Further Cabinet Appointments Made
Following last night's announcements, Theresa May has continued to form her Cabinet today:- Health Secretary - Jeremy Hunt Justice Secretary - Liz Truss Education Secretary - Justine Greening Chief Whip - Gavin Williamson Conservative Party chairman and Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster - Patrick McLoughlin
UK Interest Rates held at 0.5%
14th July 2016: The Bank of England has held UK interest rates at 0.5%, despite speculation that they may have been cut.
Cabinet Reshuffle - The Story So Far
The new Cabinet announcements made this evening have been:- Chancellor - Philip Hammond Foreign Secretary - Boris Johnson Home Secretary - Amber Rudd Brexit Secretary - David Davis International Trade Secretary - Liam Fox Defence Secretary - Michael Fallon remains in this role It is unlikely that there will be any further announcements made today in terms of Cabinet membership.
Davis appointed as new Brexit Secretary
David Davis has been appointed as the Brexit Secretary heading up a newly created Brexit department.
Former Energy and Climate Change Secretary, Amber Rudd, is new Home Secretary
Amber Rudd has been confirmed as the new Home Secretary. Her former role was as Energy and Climate Change Secretary
Hammond appointed as new Chancellor
Following Theresa May taking up the role of Prime Minister earlier today, she has begun to announce her new Cabinet and has appointed Philip Hammond, the former Foreign Secretary, as the new Chancellor following the resignation of George Osborne. Boris Johnson has been given the role of Foreign Secretary.
Leadsom withdraws from Conservative leadership election
Andrea Leadsom has withdrawn from the Conservative Party leadership election earlier today, leaving Theresa May as the only remaining candidate. The Conservative Party board will now be consulted before Mrs May is formally confirmed as the new party leader. Further information is available on the BBC News webpages.
Scotland has made BPS 2015 payments to more than 17,700 claimants
The Scottish Rural Economy Secretary has today confirmed that over 17,700 claimants have received their BPS 2015 payment. Further information is available on the Scottish Government website.
BVD Free Campaign launches in England
A voluntary scheme has been launched today in England to help with the eradication of bovine viral disease (BVD). Farmers are being encouraged to sign up to the scheme. Further information can be found on the BVD Free website.
Boris Johnson is not pursuing Conservative leadership role
Boris Johnson has given a speech earlier today in which he ruled himself out of the Conservative Party leadership role. Nominations for candidates closed at noon today and the five candidates are:- Theresa May Stephen Crabb Liam Fox Michael Gove Andrea Leadsom The first vote from MPs is due to take place next Tuesday (5th July 2016) with the candidate with the fewest votes being eliminated. A further vote should then take place next Thursday (7th July 2016) and if more than two...
Permanent Secretary appointed as head for new EU Unit
Oliver Robbins has been appointed as Permanent Secretary of the new EU Unit in the Cabinet Office. Further information is available on the GOV.UK website.
CAAV AGM 2016 elects new Presidential Team
The 2016 CAAV AGM, held at the Alton Towers Resort Hotel in Staffordshire, saw the election of a new Presidential Team for 2016/17. The new President is Nick Millard from Somerset, who works with Michelmore Hughes and lectures at Reading University. The Senior Vice-President, James Dick, is based in Aberdeen, where his runs his own consultancy business. Geoff Coster, of the Valuation Office Agency in Shropshire, was elected as Junior Vice-President.
New shadow Defra Minister announced
Labour has announced that the former Shadow Defra Minister, Kerry McCarthy, has resigned. She has been replaced by Rachael Maskell, MP for York Central, whose background is in health and the NHS.
Wales confirms success of BPS 'online-only' applications
The Welsh Government has confirmed that the first year of BPS 'online-only' applications has been a success with 16,252 applications received by 16th May 2016 deadline. Further information is available on the Welsh Government website.
Scottish Rural Affairs Secretary resigns in Cabinet reshuffle
The Scottish Rural Affairs Secretary, Richard Lochhead, has resigned from the Cabinet and First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has appointed Fergus Ewing as Cabinet Secretary for the Rural Economy and Connectivity and Roseanna Cunningham as Cabinet Secretary for the Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform. . A full list of the new Scottish Cabinet can be found on the Scottish Government website.
Carwyn Jones appointed as First Minister in Wales
Carwyn Jones has been appointed as First Minister in Wales. Further details of the election results can be found on the National Assembly for Wales website.
National Trust seeks farming tenant for Great Orme for £1 annual rent
The National Trust is looking for a farming tenant to take on a 10 year Farm Business Tenancy at Parc Farm, Great Orme in North Wales. The rent will be £1 per annum as the farm has to be managed with a specific focus on conservation. Further information about applying for the tenancy is available on the National Trust website. A shortlist will be drawn up during mid-June with interviews being held on 5th July 2016....
CAAV meets EU Commissioner Phil Hogan
CAAV Secretary and Adviser Jeremy Moody met the EU Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Phil Hogan, in Brussels yesterday and presented him with a copy of the CAAV text 'Tenancies, Conacre and Licences: Arrangements for Occupying Agricultural Land in Northern Ireland'. Jeremy had travelled to Brussels from Belfast where he had been meeting representatives of the accountancy profession to discuss the taxation implications for landowners of longer term tenancies for farms and land....
RPA confirms 82% of BPS 2015 claimants paid
The RPA has confirmed that, as at 29th February 2016, more than 71,700 BPS 2015 claimants (over 82% of the total 87,095 claimants). The total amount paid by then was £1.13 billion out of the total estimated fund of £1.43 billion. Payments have started to be made to those with common land as well as some inspection cases. The RPA has again stated that: "Almost all" farmers due a payment should be paid by the end of March 2016, but that "a few thousand of the more complex cases" will take...
RPA launches Rural Payments service for BPS 2016 applications
The Rural Payments service has been made available for farmers and agents to start online BPS 2016 applications. It is now possible to view and transfer land and entitlements, as well as check personal and business details and give permission for someone else to submit the BPS 2016 claim. It will not be possible to submit completed claims until around mid-March. Further details are available on the GOV.UK website....
RPA should have made BPS 2015 payments to "almost all" farmers by the end of March
The RPA has issued a further news release this afternoon confirming that "almost all" BPS 2015 claimants should have received a payment by the end of March 2016. As of today, 70,880 claimants had been paid £1.11 billion. The news release can be viewed on the GOV.UK website.
Environment Secretary delivers speech at NFU Conference
The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Elizabeth Truss, has delivered a speech at the National Farmers' Union (NFU) conference earlier today. Her speech is available on the GOV.UK website.
Scotland awards £2 million to projects under the Knowledge Transfer and Innovation Fund
The Scottish Government has awarded £2 million to fund farming projects under the Rural Development Programme's Knowledge Transfer and Innovation Fund (KTIF). Grants have been awarded to: QMS and AHDB Cereals & Oilseeds for the establishment of 9 innovative Monitor Farms in Scotland SAC Commercial for a project looking at improbving lamb survival and farm profitability SAOS for a pilot of an innovative and interative farm-focused lean management approach AHDB Potatoes to develop a...
Farmers urged to check stock for bluetongue symptoms
The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) is urging farmers to carefully monitor stock for any symptoms of Bluetongue. This follows an increased risk of the UK experiencing an outbreak this spring/summer as a result of midges being blown across from France where the disease is present. Further information is available on the GOV.UK website.
Scottish Government announces Farming Hardship Scheme
Scotland's Rural Affairs Secretary, Richard Lochhead, has announced the provision of a Farming Hardship scheme to assist farmers and crofters with accessing loans whilst awaiting their BPS 2015 payment. Whilst speaking at the National Farmers Union of Scotland annual conference last week, he confirmed that over 7,300 BPS 2015 claimants had been paid (out of a total of over 18,000 claims). Details of the Farming Hardship scheme are awaited. Please see the Rural Payments and Services website for...
RPA continues progress with BPS 2015 payments
The RPA has issued a further update about progress with making BPS 2015 payments. 68,572 (78.7%) farmers have now been paid a total of £1.043 billion (out of an estimated total fund of £1.43 billion). Further information is available on the GOV.UK website.
RPA issues another update on progress with BPS 2015 payments
The RPA has issued another update on progress with making BPS 2015 payments. As at 31st January 2016, 66,800 claimants (77% of the total claimant population) have received a payment. The amount paid is just over £1 billion of the estimated total BPS fund of £1.43 billion. RPA Chief Executive, Mark Grimshaw, has said that the aim is "to have paid almost all eligible farmers by the end of March with a few thousand of the more complex cases taking slightly longer". Further details can be found on...