Force Majeure on capital work for Stewardship

[Pan mixer]

I have a couple of agreements with NE for CS.

Almost all the capital work is hedge planting.

The first agreement began January 20 but I received no confirmation until March 20 and could not proceed with the planting plan that year because of the lateness of that.

That left me last winter and this autumn to finish the scheme which was a tall order.

Then along came Covid which meant that none of the people who had planned to help with the planting could come along.

Then I had cancer diagnosed and wasn't fit enough to do much planting last winter.

Any chance to get an extension from NE do you think?

I have a second CS agreement with more hedge planting one year behind the other, I haven't time to look at that one yet and the same problem will arise.

 

[Bongodog]

What can you do but try ? You might not succeed but the people at NE will surely love you for keeping them in employment. At least 6 months of case meetings both online and on site (on site involving mileage expenses and lunches out. They will spend more than the grant just talking about you.

 

[Princess Pooper]

Definitely try, we have had no problems postponing capital work in the past under HLS, not trying to claim force majeure, just spelling out reasons.

 

[Frank-the-Wool]

Presumably the CS agreement is 5 year agreement.
Talk to your local NE person first and explain the situation and also ensure you have a timetable in place to complete the work in a reasonable timescale.

 

[texelburger]

We are doing a bit of Stewardship and won't complete some of the capital work within the two year framework due to Covid and getting hold of materials.The person who has helped us with the paperwork said that NE are thinking about extending the deadline due to the reasons mentioned above.

 

[Pan mixer]

Talked to them (RPA) today, they have had a lot of people with Covid issues with the same request, had to send an email with details but sounds quite hopeful.

 

[Muddyroads]

We have CS agreements on 2 different holdings, 1 started in 2018 and 1 in 2019. We were offered an extension to the capital works deadline for the first block last year and the second one this autumn, didn’t even have to apply. Are there different rules for this in different parts of the country?

 

[Chae1]

I have a couple of agreements with NE for CS.

Almost all the capital work is hedge planting.

The first agreement began January 20 but I received no confirmation until March 20 and could not proceed with the planting plan that year because of the lateness of that.

That left me last winter and this autumn to finish the scheme which was a tall order.

Then along came Covid which meant that none of the people who had planned to help with the planting could come along.

Then I had cancer diagnosed and wasn't fit enough to do much planting last winter.

Any chance to get an extension from NE do you think?

I have a second CS agreement with more hedge planting one year behind the other, I haven't time to look at that one yet and the same problem will arise.

I think they would accept it. We are in Scotland, but I had a stroke and got a extension to a deadline by officer at department of agriculture.

 

[jackstor]

We have just been granted a year’s extension for our capital works for mid tier

 

[livestock 1]

I have the same sort of issue. One person working for us took ill and died. Agent reckons we will get an extension hopefully

 

[Pan mixer]

I got an extension today, only for the first agreement, not for the second. Some relief.