Fieldfare LDS – some thoughts

Overview

•£140m LEADER budget - aim is to allocate this more evenly across LAGs. •Budget may allow slight increase/change in coverage, subject to approval of final applications. •LEADER will increase support for jobs and growth in rural areas. •Envisage 70% of projects directly supporting the rural economy, with the remaining 30% all needing to make a contribution. •Six priority policy areas and related measures •Open & competitive application process for new & existing groups. •All groups in place by start of next RDP 1st January 2015. •LAGs to work with LEPs to endorse their Local Development Strategies •Nationally consistent approach to implementation

The Framework sets out the overall policy priorities and budget split we expect Local Development Strategies (LDS) to be based upon in order to deliver the greater focus on jobs and growth

Policy Priority National Budget split %

Support for increasing farm productivity 20%

Support for micro and small enterprises and farm diversification

40%

Support for rural tourism 20%

Provision of rural services 5%

Support for cultural and heritage activity

5%

Support for increasing forestry productivity

10%

No formal application form to be provided – however, the NDF will set out the necessary/obligatory requirement that any application for

LEADER must cover. This will include, amongst other things:

The structure, constitution of the Local Action Group itself

Details about the geographical area and population covered by the LAG

The LAGs strategy including SWOT analysis of local needs priorities and subsequently expected Programme activity including any cooperation activity

Its management and administration of project activity, claims work and dealings with Accountable Body

Financial Plan which will breakdown expenditure by measure and give funding profile over the life of the Programme.

Phase 1 – now to March/April • Offer of preparatory support to new groups/top up to existing ones.

 

Phase 2 – April - May • All potential LEADER groups (existing + prospective) to define their

geographic coverage and submit mapping information to Defra (used for allocation purposes).

• All informed of indicative budget allocation.

 

Phase 3 – May – September • Prospective LEADER groups to develop and submit a full Local

Development Strategy. • Deadline early September 2014. • Defra national selection Panel.

 

Phase 4 – October – December • LEADER groups informed of outcome of Panel. • Programme allocations/adjustments based on LDS. • Contracting arrangements put into place by 31 December 2014.

Progress so far

2013:VisionStakeholder analysisTransition fund applicationAlresford workshop – analysis of the operating environment ----- SWOT

Progress so far

2014Building understandingQuob: Defined the areas and model to work withMeon Springs: Developed thinking around needsWatching the defra space

• Vision:

To act as a catalyst for supporting the development of a vibrant and interdependent rural economy and community that encourages and facilitates growth, prosperity, well-being and environmental benefit.

Landscape and Environment (Rural resources)

Rural Economy

Visitor Economy

Food & Drink

Economy

Wood Economy

Business (Enterprise)Economy

Community (Social

Enterprise) Economy

Moving onThe challenge for the Fieldfare LAG is to gain an understanding of the “economies” identified to inform the LDS. In order to do this, for each economy then there is a need to:

  define each economy, within the Fieldfare LAG, in terms of its

structure and development needs.

  identify how the Fieldfare LAG should engage with each

“economy” to inform the LDS

  develop an action plan (the what? when? where? who? and

how?) for each “economy” in order to achieve the timely preparation of the LDS.

More to do