Fens LEADER Rural Development Programme Funded through the Rural Development Programme for England & Local Partners Minutes of Inaugural Meeting Date: 27th March 2014 Time: 9.30-13.00 Venue: Oliver Cromwell Hotel, High Street, March, Cambridgeshire. PE15 Type of meeting: Chair: Attendees: In attendance: Apologies: Inaugural Steering Group Guy Mills (GM)- Cambridgeshire County Council Michael Barnes (MB) GCGP LEP Vicki Whittingstall (VW)- Fenland District Council Isabel Edgington (IE)-Fenland District Council Philip Bradshaw (PB) - Flegcroft Farm Roger Goy (RG) - Farmer Kirsten Bennett (KB) - Cambridgeshire Acre Darren Hill (DH) - East Cambridgeshire District Council Ed Tabner (ET) -County Farms Estate Tom Philp (TP) - Laurence Gould Chris Nye (CN) - CN Seeds Nikki Williamson (NW) - RSPB David Hoccom (DH) -RSPB Edward Gowler (EG) -Farmer/Skylark Garden Centre Fiona Taylor (FT) Natural England Jo Finlow (JF) Fens for the Future Kate Carver(KC) Wildlife Trust /The Great Fen Mike Carter (MC) Cambridgeshire Acre Mark Nokkert (MN) Cambridgeshire Acre /Ouse Washes Sara Hind (SH) Defra Martin Collison (MCo) - Collison & Associates Joan Childs (JC) - National Trust Hannah Padfield (HP) - National Farmers Union Claire Wright (CW) - CLA-East David Fountain (DF) - Fountain & Partners Jennifer Millard (JM) - Cheffins Suzanne Willett (SW) - NWES George Munns (GM) - LA & E Munns David West Lloyds Bank plc Paul Separovic Environment Agency Ben Hooson Huntingdonshire District Council Jeff Clarke Farmer Keith Leddington-Hill (KH) Laurence Gould 1.Welcome Mike Carter, as Fens LEADER Development Manager welcomed everyone and handed over to Guy Mills to introduce the day 2. Introduction to LEADER
GM introduced himself as the current Chair of the former Fens Adventurers Local Action Group and went through the power point presentation which sets out the basis of LEADER programmes, with a focus on looking ahead to the new potential programme. This LAG has a critical role, initially in considering, testing and endorsing the Local Development Strategy(LDS) but later on in monitoring the programme and deciding which applications for funding should be supported. MC asked all interested parties to sign up to be new LAG Members and indicate areas of interest as these will form part of the LDS which has to be submitted to Defra in September. SH reminded us all that a strong application to become a LAG under the next programme will need a strong Local Action Group(LAG) partnership in place that has a broad mix of who can represent the area. The LAG should be the driving force behind the design and implementation of the Local Development Strategy. 3. Some learning from the Fens Adventurers programme MC gave a brief overview of the former successful programme which ran from 2008-13.The programme had committed 2.6 million to 66 projects with grants varying from 1,000 to 170,000 but with an average of around 40,000 in the main. In addition the applicants themselves put in around 6 million giving a total programme investment of over 8.5 million. MC explained that it had been a slow start as all gained confidence in understanding what was a complex programme but with the support of the LAG and Defra a successful programme had been delivered with almost all targets exceeded. MC stressed that the programme required promotion and that applicants generally needed support and encouragement to go through the two stage process and access funds. As delivery progressed word of mouth was helpful in bringing forward applications to enable full spend and deliver some very positive business benefits across the area. 4. New Opportunities - Local Action Group Membership MC outlined the role of the Local action Group with an emphasis on the amount of time and work required from members of an average of 5 meetings a year, mainly mornings and with a light lunch provided to enable networking. The decision was made to support mileage but beyond this no payment was possible. PB remarked that he had found it to be an enjoyable and very worthwhile involvement that included some lively discussion and learning experiences for all. MC was pleased to note many attendees had signed up to be LAG members to take the programme forward. 5. Geographical and population coverage MC went through some key issues (as per the earlier paper sent out) which are: The Regulations sets out that each LAG geography is limited to a population limit of 150,000 people (Defra is seeking a derogation from the Commission to increase the upper limit for LAGs where there is justification to do so) The LAG geography identified should be of an appropriate scale to support a viable strategy and should also represent a coherent area for example one that has common characteristics socio-economic and environmental as well as need Defra is using the 2011 Census data to identify rural areas census output areas with a population of less than 10,000 are classed as rural
Defra is undertaking some academic research to identify hub towns those Market towns over 10,000 in population which could be included within the LAG area) LAG boundaries cannot overlap hence excluding everything over the border in Norfolk, Lincolnshire, Peterborough 6. Determining Needs and priorities: Investing to make a difference MC circulated a paper setting out the context of other European Funding programmes which in a very significant way address in part the Fens area identified needs of poor skills and at best patchy broadband. The Investment Context paper is attached but with almost 13 million addressing skills and 50 million addressing broadband it was generally accepted that these two areas should be left to other funding programmes. MC outlined there will be some decisions that need to be made around definitions of innovation which lead on to what support is given to those investing in new technology most of which will not create jobs, early adopters of new technology as opposed to late entrants making a leap in investment and learning terms. Similarly the extent of collaboration required and the levels of formality sought will be almost on a case by case basis. Business plans will be needed for all applications. It is clear that priorities for investment are jobs and growth with a strong economic focus, very similar to how the Fens Adventurers programme was shaped. With a likely 2-2.5 million for LEADER (a best guess at present) the suggested split of local spend was set out as follows for discussion: Measure %share Possibilities 4-Investment in physical assets 35 Improving the performance of the farm holding Improvements to support animal health & welfare Establishment of workspace and facilities Accommodation upgrades; use of IT and e-booking systems 6-Farm and business development 7-Basic services and village renewal Visitor attractions and promotion 50 Processing, marketing and development of agricultural products Modernisation or adaptation of agriculture, including access to farmland and the supply and saving of energy and water Business start up grants 15 Setting-up, improvement or expansion of essential services Creation, improvement or expansion of sustainable small scale infrastructure Feedback was that this was seen as a reasonable division for now, pending additional information. For instance if Measure 4 only applied to members of farm households it may be sensible to reduce this notional split as the demand by the market may be much smaller than hoped. Table discussions were also around the size of business to be supported. Many wished to include small businesses to be inclusive but it was recognised that a business either turning over or worth 10 million Euros with 50 employees would need to make a very good case for any grant support. Similarly the question of grant size to be awarded was discussed. Most felt the 10,000 minimum limit was about right although one table thought a grant limit of about 3,500 could be more helpful. As to the maximum most felt the State aid limit of 170,000 was again more inclusive, again recognising the need to appraise needs very thoroughly. The issues around innovation, modernisation, collaboration and the environment are all linked to some degree and it was hoped that either Defra Guidance would help inf orm
judgements or the LAG would develop some working customs to help make sensible judgements as applications come forward. 7.Ideas for The Vision and Key Objectives MC had tabled some draft thoughts around The Vision and some Objectives with some questions to stimulate discussion. Having married up the responses from the three different groups the broad consensus was seen to be as follows: Vision To support the development of the Fens economy by investing in proposals which optimise the unique assets of the Fens, offer good value for money and strengthen the sustainable economic, social and environmental well-being of local communities. Similarly the four draft objectives became 5 Objective 1: To support land based businesses to collaborate and invest in economic growth through innovation, diversification, modernisation and added value supply chains; including other non-agricultural activities Objective 2: to develop the range and quality of tourism and recreation opportunities by enhancing the offer and growing the economy through building on the area s cultural heritage and natural environment Objective 3: To raise the aspirations of local people and to develop a culture of enterprise and innovation, through the development of new and existing micro and social- enterprises which can grow and create jobs Objective 4: To support sustainable investments which address gaps in basic-services and open up local markets and improve the quality of life for communities Objective 5: To support investments which are innovative and help mitigate climate change with a focus on making optimum use of natural resources This led on to a discussion of a name for the programme and The Fens 2020 LEADER programme emerged as a contender. 8.Some Indicative Key 2014 dates & planned events 23 rd May LEADER groups submit mapping 9 th June informed of indicative budget 5 th September submit Local Development strategy 14 th May LEADER open event to businesses and social enterprises E Space North, Littleport 20 th May LEADER open event to businesses and social enterprises, Pidley 11 th June- LEADER open event to businesses and social enterprises, March 9. Next Steering Group Meeting: 16 th July 2014
European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development: Europe investing in rural areas.