New RPA boss promises to transform under-fire agency
The new boss of the much- criticised quango responsible for late payments of subsidies to farmers has staked his professional reputation on transforming the agency.
Mark Grimshaw, chief executive of the Rural Payments Agency (RPA), yesterday unveiled a five-year plan to solve outstanding legacy issues and prepare for the overhaul of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP).
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The RPA, which annually administers £2 billion of agricultural grants, has been fiercely criticised for bungling the hand-outs, which has left scores of farmers close to financial ruin.
Hundreds of millions of pounds have been wasted after being hit by a series of European Union fines for missing its targets.
But latest figures show a vast improvement in farmers getting the money they are entitled to on time since Mr Grimshaw took over a year ago.
Some 45 "projects" will improve the speed and accuracy of administration under the current Single Payment Scheme regime, and there will be separate preparations for buying new computer systems ahead of reform of the controversial CAP after 2013.
Ministers have warned that Brussels proposals to date are too "complex", leading to fears over more delays in the future.
Mr Grimshaw, who came to the body from the Child Support Agency, said he now had an expert management team in place and better technology available than in the middle of the last decade.
He told the Western Morning News that, while the RPA was making progress, there was still a "lot to do".
He said: "This is career- defining, whether we get it right or wrong.
"If we get it wrong then careers are limited. This is important work."
The five-year plan is funded by Defra with an additional £21.8 million in the next financial year, and a further £19.1 million provisionally earmarked for the following two financial years.
Farming Minister Jim Paice said: "The RPA's historical problems have been well documented, but the five- year plan sets out a clear path to deal with that legacy and ensure the RPA provides a high level of service in the future."
The Country Land and Business Association said it was vital the RPA was able to measure improvements in its performance.
Deputy president, Henry Robinson, who farms in Gloucestershire, added: "The RPA's past inability to make accurate and timely payments to farmers has cost the UK millions of pounds in European Commission fines and forced some businesses into financial hardship."
Comments
by poldice
Tuesday, February 14 2012, 9:21AM
“So he should stake his reputation on success if he fails he must pay the price, if he succeeeds he will have justified his more than adequate salary, any talk of a performance related bonus is an offensive red herring given the dire circumstances this inadequate organisation has created.
Quango's like the RPA must be made to perform to the highest standards at all times which has not been the norm, were they private businesses they would have failed in short order given the serial incompetence most seem to exhibit.
When civil servants fail they either get promoted or moved sideways to another gold plated post whereas in the private sector failure can involve the loss of everything including a family home which has been used as security in order to obtain finance.
This is particularly relevant when organisations like Mr Grimshaws through ineptitude and failure to perform push private businesses over the edge.
This has happened and will probably continue to happen unless there is a sea change in performance levels and accountability within the RPA and other such organisations currently more focussed on saving their own skins than delivering taxpayer value.”