Rural Development Programme for England 2007-13 (RDPE) In the North West - New Programme Q & A BACKGROUND On 1 October 2006 the Rural Development Service ‘Project Based Schemes’ – which include the Rural Enterprise Scheme, the Processing and Marketing Grant, and the Vocational Training Scheme – transferred to the NWDA. This scheme closed on 30 June 2006. Existing schemes that are not transferring to NWDA include Environmental Stewardship Projects, covering agrienvironment funding, the Energy Crops Scheme Establishment Grants, the Hill Farm Allowance. Responsibility for these schemes will rest with Natural England which was formally established on 1st October 2006. The Forestry Commission will lead on woodland and forestry and will be responsible for delivering the English Woodland Grant Scheme. Q. What is the Rural Development Programme for England? A. The next Rural Development Programme for England will run from 2007 to 2013. The Rural Development Programme is jointly funded by the EU, through the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development, and the Government. Defra cannot finalise budgets for the new programme until negotiations are completed at the EU level on the detailed rules on the operation of voluntary modulation (i.e. transfers from CAP Pillar 1 direct payments to Pillar 2 Rural development). These negotiations are unlikely to be completed until towards the end of the year. Defra intend to finalise the Programme as soon as possible after that and submit it to the Commission, though it could take some months to obtain the necessary EU approval, making a January 2007 start unlikely. Start is likely to be late summer 2007. Q. National Budget - When will we know how much money is available? A. Defra do not expect to have this clarity until late autumn 2006. Q. Will this European funding be matched with domestic money? A. We expect that in England, approximately 20% of EAFRD funds will be directed to Axis 1 and 3 measures and will be match-funded pound-for-pound with exchequer money. It is also expected that 80% of EAFRD funds will be directed to Axis 2 measures and are likely to be match-funded at the ratio of 45% Exchequer money to 55% EU money.
Q. Regional budgets - How much money will the North West receive? A . We do not yet know the overall EU budget for the next Rural Development Programme in England. As a planning assumption, each RDA have been guaranteed a minimum budget for Axis 1 and 3 measures of at least £4m for each of the 7 years of the new programme. Q. Who will deliver the next Rural Development Programme? A. Following the recommendations of the Haskins Review of Rural Delivery, and the Government’s response as set out in the Rural Strategy 2004, delivery of socioeconomic measures funded under the regulation will be the responsibility of the Regional Development Agencies. Responsibility for delivery of agri-environment schemes (such as Environmental Stewardship) and forestry schemes will be the responsibility of Natural England (a new agency incorporating most of the current Rural Development Service, English Nature and elements of the Countryside Agency) and the Forestry Commission. Q. How will the three delivery bodies work together to deliver an integrated Programme? A. Each region is producing a regional implementation plan, setting out the priorities for the Rural Development Programme in their region, and how the next Programme will be delivered in their region. There will be one, single plan per region. The RDAs, Natural England and the Forestry Commission are writing the plan together, with Government Offices helping to facilitate the process. The plans will enable these Agencies to identify opportunities for cross-cutting, mutually supportive activity, which helps meet the agreed regional priorities. Q. What kind of information will the Regional Implementation Plans contain? A • • • • • • • • •
Defra has provided regions with guidance on Regional Implementation Plans, these will broadly cover: Evidence about the needs of rural areas Information about other funding sources The priorities for the next Programme in the region How the region will manage RDP funding and other EU funding sources to avoid duplication The regional delivery strategy Which Rural Development Regulation measures will be used and the balance between them How the Leader approach will be used The process for achieving integrated delivery across the Programme Regional Communication Plan
Q. Are Draft Regional Implementation Plans being discussed with stakeholders?
Q. What are the EU requirements for the Leader approach in the next Programme?
A. The regional plans currently being discussed are drafts, and will be developed further to take account of any changes to the national priorities for the next Programme.
A. The regulation states that the Leader approach must involve: • Area based local development strategies intended for well-identified sub-regional rural territories • Local public-private partnerships (called ‘local action groups’) • Bottom-up approaches with a decision-making power for local action groups concerning the implementation of local development strategies. At the decision-making level, non public sector representation must make up at least 50% of the partnership. • Multi-sectoral development of partnership group • Implementation of innovative approaches • Implementation of co-operation projects • Networking of local partnerships
Q. Can I contribute to the NW Regional Implementation Plan? A. The NW Plan will be available for consultation on the GONW web-site from 16 October for a period of 4 weeks. Q. What shape will the socio economic measures under the new programme take? A. In the North West, the NWDA is working closely with sub-regional partners to develop programmes of work at a local level. These partners are well placed to identify local need and develop tailored solutions. The NWDA is currently working with partners to develop a clear picture of the needs and priorities for the regions and sub-regional areas under the Rural Development Programme. Q. When will I be able to apply for funding from the socio economic measures under the new programme? A. Not for some time. We cannot begin to approve funding under the new programme until the European Commission has approved the plans. Please get in touch with your sub-regional contact – details at the end of this Q & A. Q. Will any funding be available between the closure of the current schemes and the start of the new? A. There are no plans for any interim funding for new projects between the closure of the current schemes and the new programme. However, there are funds available to cover all the required funding for projects already approved made under the Rural Enterprise Scheme, Vocational Training Scheme and Processing and Marketing Grant.
Q. How will the Leader approach be managed in the next Programme? A. The Leader approach will be managed by the RDAs. The NWDA has given each sub-regional partnership the opportunity to consider delivery using the Leader approach. Q. When will the current Leader + programme close? A. The current Leader + Programme continues until 31 December 2008. It is a separate programme to the England Rural Development Programme and has different arrangements for closure. Q. If the Programme Document is not going to be approved until after the next Programming period starts (January 07), what will happen to Environmental Stewardship Scheme? A. Defra is discussing possible contingency arrangements for late approval with European Commission officials. They hope to be able to fund new agreements under currently approved schemes being carried forward into the new programme, in advance of formal programme approval. Q. Will the English Woodland Grant Scheme continue under the next Programme?
Q. What is Leader? A. Leader is a community based bottom-up approach that provides opportunities for local communities to identify their needs and devise appropriate, sustainable, solutions. The Leader approach involves establishing Local Action Groups, which will receive a budget to support projects to implement their local development strategy.
A. Yes, subject to EU approval, although some changes to the detail of how the Scheme operates may be necessary.
Q. Will there be one single Environmental Land Management Fund in the next Programme? A. Following a prioritisation of Defra’s IT resources, in April 2006, key IT work on the ELMF project can not now be funded. Therefore, a re scoping exercise is currently underway which is looking at what it is still possible to do with this project to achieve its original aims (e.g. an improved customer service, better outcomes and efficiency savings). Q. Will the Energy Crops Scheme continue in the next Programme? A. Government response to the Biomass Taskforce gave agreement in principle for support for energy crops under the new Rural Development Programme, closely integrated with bio energy market development. Defra are currently considering how best to take this forward. The nature of the support may be different to that provided under the current Programme and we need to assess current costs. Q. Is it true that there will not be support for Miscanthus after the end of this year? A. Defra have agreed in principle to support energy crops under the new Rural Development Programme, and are currently considering how best to take this forward. Detailed European rules about what will and won’t be eligible for support are still in the process of being negotiated. Q. What is happening with the Hill Farm Allowance next year? A. The existing Hill Farm Allowance will continue in 2007. This will help farmers plan ahead and will also minimise change to IT systems at the RPA Q. What happens after 2007 to the Hill Farm Allowance? A. We are currently reviewing the future of uplands support (including the Hill Farm Allowance), as we are committed to moving towards rewarding upland farmers for the environmental benefits they provide. We are considering the responses to our recent consultation on this issue, and will announce the outcome later this year. The consultation, which closed in May, can be found at www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/consult/rdp-uplands200713/index.htm
Q. Why maintain financial support in the uplands? A. Farming has played a key role in shaping the upland landscape, which is internationally recognised for its biodiversity and as a highly valued part of our national heritage. England’s uplands contain a high proportion of designations, such as SSSIs, National Parks, and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Q. Who gets the Hill Farm Allowance? A. It provides dedicated support to beef and sheep producers who farm in upland areas, in recognition of the difficulties that farmers face in these regions and the vital role they play in maintaining the landscape and rural communities of the hills. Contact points in the North West for enquiries about the new Socio Economic Measures under the Rural Development Programme for England Cumbria:
Geoff Brown, Fells and Dales Leader geoffbrown@fellsanddales.org.uk
Lancashire: Janet Barton, Lancashire Economic Partnership janetb@lancashire-ep.org.uk Cheshire:
Fil Prevc, Cheshire County Council filip.prevc@cheshire.gov.uk
Merseyside: Jonathan Jackson, ICEP jonathan.jackson@knowsley.gov.uk Manchester: Christine Westcott, Manchester Enterprises christine.westcott@manchester-enterprises.co.uk Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA) Jennifer Wilson Jennifer.Wilson@nwda.co.uk North West Environmental Stewardship Help Line 0845 602 4093 For details on Woodland Schemes please go to www.forestry.gov.uk/ewgs For specific enquiries relating to the environmental (Axis II) measures in the regional implementation plan please contact: Forestry Commission: Penny Oliver penny.oliver@forestry.gsi.gov.uk Natural England: Ruth Prinold Ruth.Prinold@naturalengland.org.uk A national Q and A, prepared by Defra, is available for viewing on www.defra.gov.uk/erdp/pdfs/rdp07_13/rdpqa.pdf
NWDA G11-21