Scottish Government

Financial guidelines for supporting the management of Sites of Special Scientific Interest Natura 2000 sites

October 2004

This document is also available in pdf format (296k)

Contents

Overview of the Financial Guidelines
Glossary and guide to terminology
Section 1 - Introduction
Legal status of the Financial Guidelines
Policy and legislative background
Further advice and guidance
Section 2 - Support for the voluntary management of SSSIs and Natura sites
Natural Care
Co-financed schemes under the Scotland Rural Development Regulation
• Rural Stewardship Scheme
• Scottish Forestry Grant Scheme
Which scheme should a land manager seek funding from?
Future developments
Section 3 - Entitlement to SNH compensatory management agreements
Situations in which compensation may be payable
• Operations Requiring Consent
• Nature Conservation Orders
• Land Management Orders
Disputes and appeals
Compensation - Key principles
Established management and new projects
Special circumstances - Uneconomic management
Section 4 - Land Management Orders - Payments
Entitlement to payment
Effect of non-compliance
Section 5 - Dispute resolution
Types of dispute resolution
Statutory and non-statutory provision for dispute resolution
SNH decisions and effect on deadlines for appeal
Effect of sections 18(3) and 18(4) - The 4 month rule
Admissibility of appeals
Land Management Orders
Role of the Scottish Land Court
Annex A - Rules applying to SNH management agreements
Income foregone
Additional costs
Incentive
Financial impact
Terms of the agreement
Alternative schemes
Transitional arrangements
Breach of agreement
Capital taxation
Land acquisition
Annex B - Management agreements: Reimbursement of professional fees
Introduction
Standard management schemes
• Scheme consultation
• Preparation of a management plan
• Negotiation of prescriptions
• Examination of agreements
Individually calculated and negotiated agreements
Abortive negotiations
VAT
Payment procedure
Dispute resolution
Further guidance
Annex C - Contact Details