Written evidence submitted by
Derbyshire Economic Partnerships Rural and Farming Network (RFN)
[RBB0072]
Champion rural economic issues
Raise the profile of rural economic issues and provide strategic direction to the Derbyshire
Economic Partnership Board on rural matters
Provide a basis for effective two-way communication between Defra ministers and rural
interests
Identify key issues and trends affecting rural economies and provide a forum for discussion
to develop appropriate responses from partners and the RFN
Raise awareness, advocate and represent national and local interest on rural affairs, food
and farming issues
Provide a link with and between other partnerships/networks addressing rural economy/ market
towns issues, identifying where partnership work with other Rural and Farming Networks can
address areas of common concern
and knowledge of new and existing activity to provide feedback
In addition to the concerns of broadband, the area suffers from variable mobile coverage which is affecting both business and the wider community and is predicted to become an ever increasing problem as 4G begins to be rolled out by mobile providers.
The combined lack of coverage of broadband and mobile is a serious issue not only to enable the building of the economic base and increasing productivity within businesses but is also a Health and Safety issue amongst the wider community.
Limited information on the roll out and timeframes of BDUK activity
Timeframe of improved broadband programmes and Digital by Default is not in parallel
Information on the test areas undertaken by RPA required urgently to assist in informing support required for the CAP online system
Digital access and skills to use the technology for on line systems variable across the area.
Information in the Peak District National Park highlights that 78% of businesses access broadband through ADSL. 8% of households in the Peak District National Park have no broadband technology available
The extent of the support required will not be evident until applications are required
Impact on support agencies is not predictable which will result in unacceptable pressure on agents and supporting organisations. Trusted local organisations will not have the staffing resources to meet demand
The information available is addressing the needs of those farmers not previously registered electronically, support will also be required for existing users as all new IT systems require some level of training and support
Extent of stress, anxiety and cost implications is not clear
Availability of local support to assist in the process is uncertain due to lack of knowledge of the extent of the support required
Lack of local resources to provide low cost/free IT training
Due to the understandable commercially sensitive nature of the BDUK rollout, partners have
limited data on the precise extent, speeds and access to broadband coverage within the area. The following estimated information has been provided by local NFU representatives:
No broadband coverage by members:
Ashbourne: 50%
Bakewell: 80%
Chesterfield: 15%
High Peak: 40%
Matlock: 20%
South Derbyshire: 20%
This does not take into account intermittent speeds and `drop in/drop out` rates which
anecdotally is experienced by a high proportion of rural residents.
At present, there are still large areas of Derbyshire and the Peak District National Parks more remote communities not covered by broadband connections over 2mbps. Some of the area still access connections via dial-up connection only.
Examples of areas that are poorly served at present and may not be upgraded or enabled until the final stages of the BDUK roll out before 2017;
Snake Pass / Upper Derwent Valley area
Manifold Valley area (Staffordshire)
Remote moorland areas - Eastern Moors towards Sheffield, Staffordshire Moorlands, High Peak Moors, Roaches
Edale valley and surrounding booths
Small villages across the County such as Flagg, Sheldon, Chelmorton, Blackwell, Froggatt, Abney, Bretton, Sheen, Butterton, Wincle, Wildboarclough
Digital Derbyshire is delivering a £27.67 million programme to deliver broadband transformation. Alongside BDUK the commitment is to make fibre broadband available to a further 88,000 premises across the county, bringing access to more than 95 per cent of homes and businesses by 2016 and to uplift speeds to a minimum of 2Mbpps. The programme has secured a further £4m to deliver the Superfast Extension Programme (SEP) extending broadband access to 99% of residents. l
Mapping available shows the current areas coverage and areas under review, a high % of the area covering remote rural communities and the farming sector are either under review or scheduled for 2015/16/17
An options appraisal study undertaken in November 2013 of a small community in the Peak District illustrates the issues and options for communities to consider where broadband access is an ongoing issue.
http://www.derbyshireeconomicpartnership.org.uk/websitefiles/Manifold_Valley_Options_Appraisal.pdf
As indicated previously access to broadband and mobile coverage is at best patchy across the area and concerns are raised about access to digital only programmes. As the timeframe is imminent for the online CAP application process this is of immediate concern to the rural farming community. Experience of digital only programmes is not available as no information is currently available in the area, on `testing` of the system.
An indicator of the pressure this may present is highlighted in information from the Peak District National Park Authority, however problems are not confined to this area of Derbyshire and many farmers across Derbyshire will have to consider how they are going to access the CAP system.
Most properties within the Peak District are connected to the internet through the existing copper phone line network. Properties some distance away from an exchange, such
as isolated rural farms, are still only able to get fixed-line broadband speeds of 1mbps or less.
Some farms have reported connections that are virtually unusable.
Direct contact has been made by farmers concerned about the implementation of the
online system in Edale, Manifold Valley and along the Snake Pass – areas unlikely to be part
of the rollout in 2015.
Broadband Technology Available at Household (Peak District National Park) level shows that 70% of households and 78% of businesses access broadband through ADSL only. 8% of households in the National Park have no Broadband Technology available. 3% of Households fall within a Cable franchise area.
A study conducted by DEFRA in 2012 found that 60% of farms were connected to broadband speeds of less than 2Mbps, while 32% could get speeds of above 2Mbps and 6% were still stuck on outdated dialup links (here).
Defra/RPA have committed to providing support to farmers requiring assistance to access CAP online however practical examples and the success of the support has not been evidenced in the area.
Many farmers are unaware and unclear on how they can check if current broadband availability is of the correct speed and confirm their systems are compatible with the requirements of CAP. Anecdotal evidence suggests that until they are required to complete the process, the extent of the problem will not be evident.
Letters have been sent to those farmers acknowledge by Defra and the RPA to have not previously had electronic communication however it is too early to see the response to this contact.
The understanding is that where on line applications and payments have been made previously these farmers will not experience difficulties. All new systems require some training and support as accessing unfamiliar systems can cause difficulties to even confident IT operators. The new system is not simply replicating the information previously required, new registration has to be undertaken. Evidence suggests this requirement and time factor has not been taken on board by many local farmers, all the registration documents and information will need to be inputted to the new system, incurring a significant time commitment.
Partners in the RFN have expressed concerns that the requirement to move to online only is causing stress and anxiety with the sector, however the extent of this will not be clear until the actual implementation is underway.
Advice has been given that farmers will be able to use agents to register and complete the process required. The impact on the numbers of farmers attempting to access support is not known, however there are concerns locally that agents within the area may struggle with increasing their resources to meet demand.
It must also be acknowledged that many of our farmers are experiencing cuts in income from the dairy crises and the low margins worked to by our upland farmers will make accessing paid external agents prohibitive.
The RPA has stated they will steer customers to local sources of support such as charities offering technical help or low cost/free IT training. Locally charitable organisations are scarce and under pressure to deliver a wide range of support with often diminishing resources. At the present time low cost/free IT training is not available in the area and as 2015 fast approaches it must be acknowledged that farmers need time to understand what their training needs may be and to access the training in time to complete the processes.
The farming calendar does not enable the sector to carve out time to acquire new knowledge without appropriate planning; the timeframe for information and the impact on farmers is now becoming critical.
The RPA has also advised that family, friend or business contacts may be able to assist in completing the on line processes this is in many cases unacceptable as the information requires the disclosure of sensitive information.
The RPA has stated that farmers will be able to access extra help in face-to-face sessions with a RPA representative at a local Digital Support Centre within 30 miles of the customer. Partners have not been made aware of the outcome of the trails at Exeter, Penrith and Carlisle and would request that this information is made available at the earliest opportunity.
A 60 mile trip and leaving a farm for a minimum of 4 – 6 hours to receive training and support has major cost implications for farmers on the more remote and low income farms in the area.
Partners experience is clear that information, support and training is best delivered at a truly local level and by trusted members of the community either through Local Authorities, NFU, Peak District National Park, Natural England, Local Voluntary Sector or Local Charities.
Experience shows that one off training events often do no deliver a solution, in particular where there is a totally new system. National IT systems have experienced `teething` problems in other Government Departments. Access to local training/support easily accessible and with an understanding of the area is the solution.
Further information made available on BDUKs roll out plans
Increase publicity on the awareness of the time and dates of the on line process, farmers not IT enabled and not members of the NFU require additional sources of information
Financial assistance to access the correct IT systems required to complete the process
Financial assistance to deliver local support solutions through local trusted partners
November 2014