Transcript PPT - Kent Nature Partnership

The 4 Schemes of the Rural
Development Programme
Jacquie Middleton, Area Lead , SE
Date: 9th October 2015
Kent Local Nature Partnership
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Why is RDPE important?
Supports all 6 of Defra’s objectives…
• A cleaner, healthier environment which benefits people and the
economy
• A world-leading food and farming industry
• A thriving rural economy, contributing to national prosperity and
wellbeing
• A nation protected against natural threats and hazards, with strong
response and recovery capabilities
• Excellent delivery, on time and to budget and with outstanding value
for money
• An organisation continually striving to be the best, focused on
outcomes and constantly challenging itself
•Rural Development Programme more focused and will target
taxpayer’s money where it makes the greatest difference
•Aiming to protect the natural environment on 2.5m ha of our
farmed land, create around 6,750 jobs and fund planting of 11m
trees.
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RDP is part of the Common Agricultural Policy
Pillar 2
CAP
Pillar 1
Pillar 1 provides
direct payments
to farmers and
market control
measures
Pillar 2 promotes
rural development
through
programmes in
each Member State
or region
7 year programme cycles:
From 2007 to 2013 [2015] and 2014 to 2020 [2023]
Pillar 2
Rural Development Programmes can support:
• the environment;
• farming, food and forestry sectors; and
• economic and social development in rural areas
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… but not just part of the CAP
EU Rural Development funds (EAFRD) now part of a wider set of
European Structural and Investment Funds (ESIF), alongside:
• the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF);
• the European Social Fund (ESF); and
• the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF).
Set within the framework of the EU 2020 Strategy for smart,
sustainable and inclusive growth
Rural Development Priorities outlined above are linked to this.
New Common Provisions regulation applying to all funds
Partnership Agreement at UK level and across all Funds
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The new RDP consists of four schemes with
complementary objectives…
Countryside
Stewardship
£3.1bn
Improving the
environment
Priority is
biodiversity, but
maximise
opportunity to
deliver
biodiversity, water
quality and flood
benefits together.
Around £2.1bn is
for ongoing agrienvironment
agreements from
current RDP.
Countryside
Productivity
£141m
Growth
Programme
£177m
LEADER
£138m
Total Socio-economic budget £456m
Supporting farm
and forestry
productivity, new
enterprises and
technology
Funding to help
farmers and
foresters to
innovate, use the
latest research, for
skills and training,
and for young
entrepreneurs to
start up a
business.
… running till 2020
Rural business
development
Funding to help
rural businesses
to start or grow
their businesses
or improve skills
and training.
Funding to invest
in broadband,
renewable energy
and to promote
rural tourism.
Mainly smaller
projects in rural
areas.
Funding to
support jobs and
growth in rural
areas.
Funding will
include help for
farming or forestry
businesses and to
help businesses in
rural areas.
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Overview of RDPE
RPA – Rural
Development
Natural
England
Countryside
Stewardship
Forestry
Commission
Rural
Development
Programme
2014-2020
Local
Action
Groups
LEADER
RPA – Rural
Development
Countryside
Productivity
Local
Enterprise
Partnership
Growth
Programme
RPA – Rural
Development
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Countryside Productivity
Rural Development Programme 2014 - 2020
Countryside
Stewardship
€3.875bn
(£3.1bn)
Countryside
Productivity
€176m
(£141m)
Growth
Programme
€221m
(£177m)
LEADER
€172.5m
(£138m)
Funding is available to help farmers and foresters to innovate; to utilise new
technology and latest research in their business; to start-up a business or to improve
skills and training.
Capital grants offer
• Small capital grants of between £2,500 and £35,000
• Large capital grants of between £35,000 and £1,000,000.
• The current rounds of CP small and large grant schemes have now closed.
•
European Innovation Partnership - EIP-Agri will open formally in September 2015
Further support for farm business start up and support for training, knowledge
exchange and demonstration activity will be available by late 2015.
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Countryside Productivity
Overall aim:
Increase the productivity and enhance the competitiveness of the
farming and forestry industries
Specifically:
• increase ratio of output to inputs;
• increase innovative practice and technology
• improve resource efficiency
• improve skills through continued professional development
• improve animal health and welfare
• improve environmental sustainability
• increase net income
• create new employment opportunities
• improve succession planning and business transition
• increase resilience to volatile climate, pricing and other pressures
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CP Capital Grants (continued)
• Capital grants under this offer can support eligible items
under these themes:
–
Arable and horticultural productivity
–
Animal productivity, health and welfare
–
Forestry productivity
–
Resource management
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Countryside Productivity – Capital Grants
• An initial offer of £5m to provide large and small capital grants
was launched on 09 March 2015 and closed on 30 June.
• For small grants there is a one-stage application process.
• For large grants, there is an initial outline application process.
If at that stage applicants are successful they are invited to
submit a full application.
• Grant rate of up to 40% on all eligible investments
• RPA has received around 600 applications for small grants and
outline applications for larger grants, with a total value of
£25.7million
• Assessments of the projects have begun and decisions will be
communicated to applicants in the Autumn
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Countryside Productivity – European
Innovation Partnership (EIP)
• The European Innovation Partnership was launched on
September 9th
• EIP for Agricultural Productivity and Sustainability (EIP-Agri) is
intended to foster competitive and sustainable agriculture and
forestry by bringing together researchers, farmers and forest
managers to apply new approaches and to exchange
knowledge.
• Delivery of the EIP-Agri aims will be primarily through
Operational Groups (OGs) running projects.
• Over 90 ‘Notifications of Ideas’ have been received from
partnerships interested in establishing groups to undertake
innovative Knowledge Transfer activities
• RPA and Defra have been running EIP workshops in
September and October 2015
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Other CP activity
In 2016, planned activity includes:
• Support for industry-led projects that bring businesses
together across England to address priority issues. These
are expected to initially focus on tackling livestock
disease, improving nitrogen efficiency and developing
wood-fuel supply chains.
• Support for training, knowledge exchange and
demonstration activity through a new skills offer.
• Farm Business Start-up Grants for young farmers aged
40 and under to support them in setting up as a holding
for the first time.
.
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Growth Programme
Rural Development Programme 2014 – 2020
Countryside
Stewardship
€3.875bn
(£3.1bn)
Countryside
Productivity
€176m
(£141m)
Growth
Programme
€221m
(£177m)
LEADER
€172.5m
(£138m)
Aim: To grow the rural economy in England
Key outcomes: Creation of growth and jobs
Minimum grant: £35,000
National priorities:
1. Building knowledge and skills in rural areas
2. Funding and developing micro, small and medium-sized rural
businesses
3. Funding small scale renewable investments in rural areas
4. Funding superfast broadband investment in rural areas
5. Supporting tourism in rural areas
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Growth Programme
There are 39 LEPs covering England; 37 have an allocation of EAFRD accounting
for €221m. SOLENT’s allocation is €1.764m (£1.412m)
5 LEPs had early adopter calls launched in March 2015 focussed on supporting
business development and food processing. The calls have now closed and the
applications have been processed by RD operations colleagues and have been
through the relevant ESIF committees. 42 outline applications were received. 41 of
these have been appraised and reviewed by ESIF Committees resulting in 31
being invited to full application, representing £5.7m grant funding request.
10 calls were launched on Monday 27 July
13 Calls were published on 28 August
19 calls were published on 30th September.
Total value of the above 42 calls was £21.3m . Most calls are open for 3 months.
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Growth Programme – Project
Application Principles
• The minimum size for business development grants will
usually be £35,000.
• Typically projects will receive approximately 40% funding
of the total eligible costs.
• Project applicants must demonstrate that they can make
the financial contribution required. This must come from
private means and not other public funding.
• 2 stage application process – outline followed by full
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Growth Programme
• The following additional types of support will be
added to the Programme in stages from 2016
related to:
• Small-scale rural renewables project grants
• Skills and business advice for rural businesses
• Rural broadband grants
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LEADER
Rural Development Programme 2014 - 2020
Countryside
Stewardship
€3.875bn
(£3.1bn)
Countryside
Productivity
€176m
(£141m)
Growth
Programme
€221m
(£177m)
LEADER
€172.5m
(£138m)
Aim: To grow the rural economy in England
Key outcomes: Creation of growth and jobs
Minimum grant: £2,500
National priorities:
•
•
•
•
•
•
Support to increase farm productivity
Support for micro and small businesses (non-agricultural) and farm diversification
Support for rural tourism
Provision of rural services
Support for cultural and heritage activity
Support for increasing forestry productivity
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LEADER
• 80 LAGs have been selected and their details have been
published on GOV.UK
• LEADER Local Action Groups (LAGs) have been issued with a
standard applicant handbook template to which they can add
their contact details and any specific LAG selection criteria
• The handbook will cover how to apply for funds, eligibility and
technical details of each of the 6 priorities.
• There has been a substantial training programme for the LAGs
over the Spring & Summer of 2015
• LAGs have developed delivery plans highlighting how the
activity required within their areas addresses the six strategic
priorities identified at a national level
• LAGs are now receiving contracts for managing their
programmes
• LAGs will start to open their programmes shortly
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Countryside Stewardship
Rural Development Programme 2014 - 2020
Countryside
Stewardship
€3.875bn
(£3.1bn)
Countryside
Productivity
€176m
(£141m)
Growth
Programme
€221m
(£177m)
LEADER
€172.5m
(£138m)
Countryside Stewardship has three main elements:
Mid-Tier – multi-year agreements for environmental improvements in the wider
countryside
Higher-Tier – multi-year agreements for environmentally significant sites, commons
and woodlands where more complex management requires delivery body support
and
Capital Grants – a range of one to two year grants for hedgerows and boundaries,
improving water quality, developing plans, woodland creation (establishment), and
tree health.
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Further information on the 4 Schemes
Further information and guidance for applicants for the 4 schemes can
be found on https://www.gov.uk/
• Countryside Stewardship
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/countryside-stewardship
• Countryside Productivity
https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/countryside-productivityscheme
• Growth Programme
https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/growth-programme-grantsfor-the-rural-economy
• LEADER
https://www.gov.uk/rural-development-programme-for-england-leaderfunding
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