News - April 2009

Welcome back to the official SEARS newsletter. As the project gears up for a busy summer, we hope to be able to illustrate some real SEARS success stories across the nine organisations and keep you up-to-date with the latest developments

Roseanna Cunningham in the SRG hot seat

The SEARS Strategic Reference Group met on March 25, chaired for the first time by Roseanna Cunningham in her capacity as Minister for Environment. The group heard from outgoing RPID Director Andy Robb – accompanied by his successor Valerie Macniven – and Rural Director Peter Russell and in summary agreed the following:

• Frontline Delivery activity would increase with reducing bureaucracy a priority alongside customer identifier and an added focus on biosecurity
  
• Further work would be carried out to join up promotions, events and websites
• Following the launch of Golspie, work would be progressed to co-locate offices in Oban and Aberdeen
• The Asset Land Management Review would be implemented

The meeting also including a brief look ahead to 2010 and beyond and how SEARS may be able to play a role in simplifying the public services, reducing the regulatory burden and respond to the current economic climate. The Minister acknowledged the efforts undertaken by staff across the board to date and is looking forward to hearing more as SEARS develops further.

SEPA/RPID collaboration saves cash for land managers

Annual savings of approximately £133,000 can be expected by land managers, as a result of efficiencies delivered by SEARS.

SEPA have announced that they are reducing Water Environment Scheme charges for disposal to land by 40% to reflect efficiencies made by the Scottish Government undertaking work they had previously carried out.

Ms Cunningham called the move ‘undoubtedly good news for land managers’ and said that it ‘provides further evidence of the benefits that the SEARS programme is bringing across Scotland.’

The announcement follows SEPA waiving the second instalment of 2008/09 Water Environment Scheme charges for disposal to land and it’s reduction in subsistence charges to £115 per annum, as well as introducing annual billing.

First SEARS annual review – in progress!

The first anniversary of the official launch of SEARS will be marked by the publication of its first annual review – at June’s Royal Highland Show.

The review will be a broad assessment of SEARS’ achievements since the idea to develop closer partnership working between nine of Scotland’s rural and environmental bodies, how SEARS has been received by staff and customers and will also look ahead to the future and how it can develop further.

Key achievements to be highlighted include:

• 2,000 fewer separate inspections or visits to land managers
• £150,000 saving to sheep farming industry as SEPA waive second instalment of annual groundwater licence charge for 2008-09
• SNH, SGRPID, and FCS, along with staff from Highlands & Islands Enterprise and Community Energy Scotland co-located in a new office Golspie in March 2009

The review is currently in draft and is expected to be signed off by the SEARS Programme Board shortly. This years Show will take place on June 25-28 and is once again expected to be the highlight of Scotland’s agricultural calendar.