New interim Chief Executive announced for RPA

[Guy Smith]

Do you thnk that Paul Caldwell is well placed to pick up the baton? He's been involved in the RPA at a senior level for a while now.

Paul Caudwell is an interim appointment. No doubt they will advertise for a permanent replacement soon enough. I've met Paul and I liked his no nonsense style to getting the job done. But it's a big job.

We have expressed our concern and reservations that the CEO RPA position has been downgraded from Director General level with Mark Grimshaw to Director level with his successor. The RPA still has huge challenges to overcome. Now is not the time to downgrade the post.

 

[Guy Smith]

I and many neighbours have been subject to remote inspections, these inspections failed due to cloud cover. When the "unpaid 2016 team" ask question of the inspections team answers are "not forthcoming" and have "no idea when" it will all be sorted. This has been passed onto SW regional office.
Put the shoe on the other foot upon a cattle passport or other inspection and we get hit hard by financial penalties.
I've said it before @Guy Smith and you agree with me, we don't really mind when the payments come but a target would be great to allow us to budget for cash flow. I was told, but i don't believe it that part payment will be with everyone by end of March. Is this before the EFRA committee date to show how wonderful the RPA is?

Yes I agree. We've always said its not just the lack of money it's the lack of information about when you will be paid or about what you've been paid that causes problems on farm.

 

[llamedos]

The new permanent Chief Executive of the Rural Payments Agency has been confirmed.

Paul Caldwell will be the new permanent Chief Executive of the Rural Payments Agency it has been announced today.

It follows his appointment as Interim Chief Executive January 2017 after serving as the Basic Payment Scheme Operational Delivery Director at RPA form 2010.

Clare Moriarty, Defra Permanent Secretary, said:

I am pleased to confirm Paul Caldwell’s appointment as permanent Chief Executive of the Rural Payments Agency. He has already been instrumental in improving performance, delivering over 99% of BPS 2016 payments by the end of June 2017, first as Operations Director and then as Acting Chief Executive.

Paul is well aware of the challenges that lie ahead and his appointment will provide important stability, working alongside the RPA’s experienced leadership team.

I am confident Paul will continue to even improve performance, building on the Agency’s recent achievements for the benefit of our farmers and rural communities.

Paul Caldwell, Chief Executive of the RPA, said:

I am delighted to have been appointed as Chief Executive of the Rural Payments Agency after being given the opportunity to lead the Agency at the start of 2017.

Our work is vital to supporting our world-leading food and farming industry at such a crucial time.

My commitment to improving our service to farmers remains stronger than ever. I look forward to leading the Agency, providing stability and support to this vital sector as we prepare to leave the EU.

 

[Y Fan Wen]

The above press release says a 99% payout by the end of June. Anyone have the figures to work out how many individuals are in the 1%?
How many of these would be cross border farmers?

 

[matthew]

I'm not optimistic, if this bloke was in charge of payment delivery @RPA
We are still owed.

 

[craman]

The lauding, by the, senior staff of DEFRA, and of the NFU,TFA etc of the appointment of a Delivery Director, who failed to deliver the BPS Scheme, as RPA Chief Executive, beggars belief - or does it? snafu methinks.

Some of you I note, have trouble in getting SP and BP claims sorted. Accidentally I have come across the RPA's "Information Rights Team" (IRT). Following an issue which meant we had to go all the way through the RPA appeal procedures - ending up with the final panel of 3 farmers (including a female turkey farmer from Dartmoor) and an RPA executive from Exeter, who told them what their findings should be - we initiated Judicial Review protocol. At this stage the RPA had to pass the matter to the Government Legal Services. The issue was of a "dual use" nature worth some £50. The GLS were appalled and shut the matter down immediately with costs agreed for our side being met.

The field concerned is still an issue so I have requested full details of all the RPA activity with regard to failing to administer our entitlement payment on this field for 2 years. The information request is for :

"All information - vis correspondence, emails, telephone call notes, meeting minutes, I.T. system notes and formal documentation internal of, and between, the RPA, Natural England and other other Govt Agency/Office/Ministry and Single/Basic Payment Claimants since 15 May 2015"

The information has to be provided by RPA within 40 days of the request and the procedure is part of the Freedom of Information process. I have had to part with £10 to initiate the procedure.

So if any of you or your friends would like to find out precisely what the RPA has/has not been doing with your case it is worth trying to get the full picture this way.

I will post contact details separately.

 

[craman]

One correction to the above post - the procedure with the RPA is in fact under the terms of the Data Protection Act 1998.

Contact:

1 email : [email protected]

2. Information Rights Team
Rural Payments Agency
North Gate House
Reading
RG1 1AF

Tel : 03300 416502