SEMLEP RURAL INCLUSION PLAN 2015

Transcription

1 SEMLEP RURAL INCLUSION PLAN CONTEXT The Suth East Midlands Lcal Enterprise Partnership (SEMLEP) Rural Plan underpins the pririties identified in the Scial Inclusin Strategy, which supprts the SEMLEP Ecnmic Plan (SEP) and the Eurpean Structural Investment Funds (ESIF). There is a requirement f the Lcal Enterprise Partnerships t review ESIF strategies in line with cnfirmed utputs deadline 5 th Nvember The Rural steering grup has taken this pprtunity t refresh this strategy t ensure relevancy and t feed int the ESIF revisins. The rural ecnmy plays an imprtant rle in SEMLEP with 25% f peple and 35% f VAT registered enterprises based in areas defined as rural. Partners are keen t ensure that ur fund resurces (ERDF, ESF and EAFRD) are used effectively t maximise ecnmic impact, deliver value fr mney and supprt strategic interventins in ur rural areas t deliver ur visin. On a natinal scale, the rural agenda remains highly relevant particularly in light f the 10-pint plan annunced in September 2015 by the Cnservative Gvernment which aims t ensure that rural areas are fully cnnected t the wider ecnmy. This re-affirmed Gvernment s cmmitment t securing thriving and grwing rural cmmunities, with a fcus n three key pririties: ecnmic grwth, rural engagement and quality f life. As a result f the wrk that SEMLEP has undertaken six pririties have been identified within the SEMLEP ESI Fund Strategy cvering bth urban and rural areas acrss the whle f the Suth East Midlands. Our main ERDF and ESF funds, estimated 75.2m SEMLEP allcatin, will be deplyed acrss the whle SEMLEP area t deliver, innvatin, R&D, business supprt and expertise develpment. This is in cnjunctin with the labur market interventins already planned under ur Strategic Ecnmic Plan, skills strategy, apprenticeships plan and sectr specific strategies (e.g. lgistics), etc. Our apprach t the rural specific fund (EAFRD) meanwhile, has been t cncentrate ur allcatin f apprximately 4.2m n supprting investment in the mst imprtant and strategic rural issues that will cmplement and add value t ur ERDF/ESF funds namely; Where there is a particular need fr investment, Where alternative surces f funding are particularly scarce Where we can maximise the return n investment. Please refer t Appendix B fr the SEMLEP EAFRD call ff schedule. 1 P a g e

2 The aim f this dcument is t rural prf the varius SEMLEP strategies by setting ut the verarching pririties t ensure ecnmic, envirnmental and scial sustainability acrss the SEMLEP gegraphy. 2. RURAL PROOFING SEMLEP acknwledges the requirement t cnsider the rural impacts f their plicies and prgrammes and, where necessary, t make adjustments t achieve equally effective and successful utcmes fr individuals, cmmunities and businesses in rural areas. The SEMLEP area cntains a range f settlement sizes frm small and larger villages thrugh market twns t large urban settlements. It is well recgnised that peple and businesses in rural areas experience different challenges t thse in urban areas, even while sme bstacles apply similarly t bth urban and rural. This inclusin plan aims t ensure that SEMLEP s strategies and prject themes are rural prfed t ensure fairness. Rural Prfing des nt require exactly the same utcme r the prvisin f exactly the same level f service in rural as in urban lcatins. This wuld nt be practical in many cases, as the csts wuld be prhibitive, hwever, it is imprtant t cnsult and engage with rural cmmunities t ensure that an up t date clear picture f need is knwn. Plicies and prgrammes shuld be sufficiently flexible t apply fairly in rural areas and t deliver quality services that meet cmmunity s everyday needs. 3. RURAL PRIORITIES AND COMMUNITY ASPIRATIONS The specific challenges that face rural life are remarkably similar acrss the whle cuntry. In rder t develp an investment strategy that meets the needs f bth urban and rural areas, it is imprtant t develp a set f pririties that address these specific challenges, as fllws: Ecnmic Pririties Grw the lcal fd and drink ecnmy, turism, agriculture (and ther land based industries) including frestry as the heart f a sund rural ecnmy. Encurage rural business develpment t prvide sustainable lcal emplyment t meet changing demgraphic needs. Wrk with partners, rural businesses and cmmunities t supprt superfast bradband and digital cnnectivity thrugh extending the infrastructure, with ne example being via small scale innvative initiatives. Scial Pririties Supprt initiatives where pssible t increase affrdable scial husing Imprve access t rural business supprt, apprenticeships and training t meet lcal needs Supprt rural cmmunities t retain, imprve and develp the shps, rural services and cmmunity assets they need 2 P a g e

3 Prmte capacity t ensure that rural cmmunities have access t viable, effective and innvative cmmunity transprt. Envirnmental Pririties Encurage innvative carbn reductin and resurce efficiency initiatives Supprt the cnservatin and enhancement f the natural envirnment, particularly in areas f significant landscape and/r bidiversity value 4. KEY AREAS OF INTERVENTION Wrking with rural partners SEMLEP have identified a number f pririties within the ESIF which are supprted by the Scial Inclusin Strategy bjectives that tgether represent a cnslidated apprach t rural issues. Ecnmic SEMLEP will apply supprt and investment t help address the challenges rural businesses encunter t enable them t reach the wider business sectr. In the Suth East Midlands, the lcal fd and drink sectr and the visitr ecnmy are f grwing significance t the rural ecnmy and prvide excellent grwth pprtunities. There are als pprtunities t develp the knwledge ecnmy, particularly in rural hub twns and ther areas with the necessary bradband and 4G (and beynd) infrastructure. Key interventins under this pririty culd include: Supprt start-up and develpment f SMEs in rural lcatins t help strengthen and diversify the rural ecnmy. Facilitate the diversificatin f rural business and the re-use f redundant buildings Prmte the develpment f pprtunities fr purchasing and cnsuming lcally prduced fd and drink Develp the visitr ecnmy Intrduce new techniques and efficiencies t rural industry, and prmte interactin between business and Higher/Further Educatin Invest in skills and educatin, including access t agricultural apprenticeship schemes t encurage and increase the skill level f yung entrants int the industry; enabling high grwth cmpanies t develp their higher level skills by accessing management, leadership, entrepreneurship and innvatin training; and supprt t cver the training cst f initial certificatin, which incur cnsiderable ne-ff csts fr new entrants int rural industry Ensure that business supprt and innvatin prgrammes funded thrugh SEMLEP s ERDF allcatin reach ut t rural businesses and address their specific barriers t grwth On a strategic and business level these types f initiatives will ensure that the benefits stay in the lcal cmmunity rather than jbs ging elsewhere fr example a livestck farm culd decide t use the internet t start selling meat lcally, and will hence need t emply butchers, packers, 3 P a g e

4 distributrs, marketing and advertising staff. Withut the develpment f this lcal supply chain sme r all f this activity culd be transferred utside f the SEMLEP area. SEMLEP and partners have cnsidered the issue f bradband access within ur rural areas and understands that the funding f hard-wiring culd be difficult t invest given State Aid issues. We will therefre initially use sme f ur investment t prvide additinal innvative access and demand stimulatin supprt fr rural cmmunities that d nt have access t superfast bradband. Activity prpsed under this prgramme will align with any natinal activities like the BDUK pilt scheme, Rural Cmmunity Bradband Fund. Bradband and GPS access wuld have substantial benefits t Farmers ensuring prductive time management and enhance the ability f farms t act as hubs fr many ther SMEs. There are innvative wireless and satellite based slutins which can be the mst sustainable slutin fr islated wrk places and husing, again here activities will be aligned t any natinal prgrammes such as the Lcal Authrity/ BDUK satellite scheme fr premises with infrastructure nt able t prvide at least 2 Megabits Per Secnd. Scial Althugh funding cnstraints may nt enable SEMLEP t impact sme scial pririties it is imprtant t flag up these issues by saying that as a Lcal Enterprise Partnership we will; Prmte increased access t affrdable husing fr lcal peple in villages, where the husing mix is cntributing t a rapidly ageing ppulatin and raising cncerns ver sustainability Supprt the viability f lcal rural services where they prvide a benefit in terms f cmmunity chesin and helping mney t circulate in the lcal ecnmy, and supprt the develpment f service enterprises Ensure that skills, emplyability and back-t-wrk prgrammes funded thrugh SEMLEP s ESF allcatin reach ut t disadvantaged rural residents and address their specific barriers t participatin Encurage investment in cmmunity transprt enabling residents withut their wn transprt t access services t emplyment Envirnmental SEMLEP s publicatin It s the Ecnmy, Naturally highlighted that the natural envirnment is an enabler f ecnmic grwth. SEMLEP will ensure that the natural envirnment is cnserved and enhanced during the curse f this plan by investing in Green Infrastructure as part f an integrated apprach t sustainable develpment, and building the capacity f lcal cmmunities (including pririty grups) t care fr their envirnment. We will als supprt businesses and ther rganisatins t seek external funding fr envirnmental stewardship and Green Infrastructure in rder t maximise the value f ur investment. We will cmplement the activities identified in ur Lw Carbn Innvatin and Resurce and Energy Efficiency prgrammes by using investment t supprt small scale energy generatin prjects within rural areas. This culd include schemes that extend the existing natinal Rural Cmmunity Energy 4 P a g e

5 Fund. We will wrk with relevant stakehlders, such as the Frestry Cmmissin and Natural England, t identify a pipeline f suitable schemes. Fr example, this culd include schemes lking t maximise lcal bimass supply chains t supprt the multi fuel pwer generatin plans and investment in schemes t increase the uptake f renewable energy technlgies and resurce efficient practices within rural SMEs perating in the LEP s pririty sectrs. In cnclusin The pririties and aspiratins cntained within this rural inclusin plan are supprted by SEMLEP and we will wrk with partners t help prvide the signpsting and supprt needed t ensure a vital rural ecnmy. Hwever, sme f the aspiratins require a larger investment cmmitment than is pssible under the ESIF prgramme, namely transprt, scial husing and bradband. We will, therefre aim t invest, where pssible, in innvatin and n a smaller scale prjects, that add value t wider strategic investments and prgrammes.. It is imprtant t share best practice with regard t these pilt r prttype schemes and SEMLEP will endeavur t make infrmatin available within cnflict f interest guidelines. 5. LEADER COVERAGE ACROSS SEMLEP (Appendix A) The main rural develpment prgramme managed by DEFRA has allcated 138m t the next rund f the LEADER prgramme due t start in This prgramme has just been agreed and we estimate that 6-7m will be allcated t LEADER grups within the SEMLEP patch. The main pririties fr investment thrugh LEADER have been cnfirmed as: 1. Increasing farm prductivity 2. Micr enterprises and farm diversificatin 3. Rural turism 4. Increasing frestry prductivity 5. Rural Services 6. Cultural and heritage activity DEFRA expects that 70% f all DEFRA eligible areas fr EAFRD acrss SEMLEP area 5 P a g e

6 prjects must directly supprt the rural ecnmy (eg. thrugh creating and develping micr and small sized rural businesses). The remaining 30% f prjects will als need t demnstrate that they are cntributing t imprving the lcal rural ecnmy by, fr example, increasing visitrs t a particular area r prviding an essential rural service. It is likely that the LEADER Lcal Actin Grups (LAGs) will be pen fr business in Octber Cntinued investment will supprt land based agricultural businesses t increase the percentage f farm incme derived frm the marketplace; bst prductivity and sustainability; and cntribute t the lng term ecnmic grwth and emplyment creatin in the sectr. There is an acknwledged requirement by bth the LEP and the LAG that a clse cllabrative relatinship will be needed t ensure that prjects and initiatives are nt develped in islatin. In the lead up t the launch f the LEADER prgramme SEMLEP, via the rural steering grup, have been engaging with the six LAGs acrss ur gegraphy t ensure that prject develpment fr bth funding streams are aligned. All six LAGs are represented n the rural steering grup and there is a similar arrangement with a SEMLEP representative at LAG meetings. The prjects that will be funded thrugh the LEP ESIF prgramme are likely t be larger in value cmpared with smaller LEADER initiatives. EAFRD funds are t be released in tranches whilst LEADER funding is pen and available fr the duratin f the prgramme. S a netwrk f supprt and signpsting will be put in place t ensure that prject leads are directed t the mst apprpriate fund. All LEADER grups have set pririties that are pertinent t their lcale within their lcal develpment strategies, hwever, ne pririty is cmmn in all calling fr investment t escalate the develpment, grwth and enhancement f the Lcal Fd and Drink sectrs. Fr further infrmatin n the individual LAG pririties please cntact: Greensand Ridge LEADER Prgramme Cntact: Ian Campbell ianc@bedsrcc.rg.uk Website: The Bedfrdshire & Huntingdn Claylands LEADER Prgramme Cntact: Ian Campbell ianc@bedsrcc.rg.uk Website: The Clay Vales LEADER Prgramme Cntact: Mike Furness mike.furness@ngageslutins.c.uk Website The Chilterns Cntact: Mike Furness mike.furness@ngageslutins.c.uk Website 6 P a g e

7 The Nrth and West Nrthamptnshire LEADER Grup Partnership (N&WN LEADER) Cntact : Mike Furness mike.furness@ngageslutins.c.uk Website: Oxfrdshire LEADER Prgramme Fran Walker Fran.Walker@suthandvale.gv.uk Website 6. LOCAL NATURE PARTNERSHIPS ACROSS SEMLEP (Appendix C) 1. NATIONAL CONTEXT Lcal Nature Partnerships (LNPs) are partnerships f a brad range f lcal rganisatins, businesses and peple wh aim t help bring abut imprvements in their lcal natural envirnment. A key part f this rle invlves being a lcal champin fr the natural envirnment, influencing decisin making, and making sure that the value f the natural envirnment and its value t scial and ecnmic utcmes is taken int accunt in lcal decisins. 2. SOUTH EAST MIDLANDS Acrss the Suth East Midlands, there is a strng track recrd f lcal envirnmental activity and leadership, and an utward lking apprach by the envirnmental sectr. There are fur Lcal Nature Partnerships (LNPs) cvering the Suth East Midlands area: Bedfrdshire Lcal Nature Partnership Buckinghamshire and Miltn Keynes Lcal Nature Partnership Nrthamptnshire Lcal Nature Partnership Oxfrdshire Lcal Nature Partnership Since the publicatin f It s The Ecnmy, Naturally (Link: SEMLEP has cntinued t strengthen its relatinships with the fur LNPs including wrking tgether t cmplete Level 1 f the Lcal Envirnmental and Ecnmic Develpment tlkit t review and infrm SEMLEP s Eurpean Structural Investment Framewrk Strategy. This has resulted in the priritisatin f develping a lw carbn ecnmy, and f delivering green infrastructure t underpin grwth in SEMLEP s Eurpean Structural and Investment Fund Strategy, t ensure the natural envirnment plays a key rle in delivering ur pririties n skills, business supprt and jbs grwth in a sustainable way. SEMLEP nw facilitates quarterly meetings where all fur LNPs meet with the LEP t share infrmatin n current prjects and future plans. This prvides a platfrm fr sharing infrmatin and helping t shape the pririties and activities f SEMLEP. Please refer t Appendix C fr mre infrmatin abut the fur Lcal Nature Partnerships. 7 P a g e