Rural Payments and Services

Existing Rural Priority (previous Scottish Rural Development Programme funding scheme) contract holders will shortly be sent Management Diaries with a letter informing them they now need to record the management activities undertaken in relation to their RP contract.

Management Diaries were implemented for all new SRDP contracts issued from 2014. It was anticipated that there would be no need to introduce this requirement for existing contracts, however, due to continuing high levels of non-compliance found at inspection the requirement is being extended.

The diaries detail the agri-environmental management requirements which applicants must undertake to fulfil the contract. They are required to ensure that this diary is completed and presented when requested. Failure to do so may mean that they are at risk of losing some or all of their payment.

The diary must be completed and retained for the duration of the RP Contract. It does not need to be submitted to their local Area Office but must be made available on request by RPID or SNH staff. The information contained in the diary, may be used as evidence, should there be a breach of the scheme requirements identified.