Transcript Scotland Rural Development Programme What is it?

Gordon McConachie
Land Management Support Officer
Cairngorms National Park Authority
05th May 2010
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
Established 2003 – extending in 2010
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One of only 2 National Parks in Scotland
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A Special Place
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Covers 3800sq km - 5% of Scotland
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Around 16,000 residents
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Around 400 registered agricultural holdings
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1.4 million visitors each year
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Home to 25% of the UK’s rare and threatened
species
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Conserving & Enhancing Biodiversity &
Landscapes
Integrated Public
Support for
Land Managers
Supporting
Sustainable Deer
Management
Providing High Quality Opportunities for
Outdoor Access
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
CNP Board
20 members currently – subject to Review
Directly appointed from SG
Nominated from Councils
Elected by Public Vote
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Cairngorms National Park Authority (CNPA)
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Based in Grantown and Ballater
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Around 65 staff
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Experts on Access, Tourism, Biodiversity, Planning
issues
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Contrary to public belief
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Authority doesn’t have huge budget but,
 Can access funds elsewhere
 Can provide coordinating role
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£1.6bn programme of public funding for Rural
Development 2007 to 2013
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Buying benefits for the people of Scotland
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Key outcomes;
○ Business Viability and Competitiveness
○ Environmental improvements;
 Water
 Climate change
 Landscape and Biodiversity
○ Thriving Rural Communities
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
Amalgamates and replaces most of the other schemes for agrienvironment, forestry and capital grants.
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SRDP includes;
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LFASS - £427m
Leader - c£80m
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Rural Development Contracts – LMOs – c£90m
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Rural Development Contracts– Rural Priorities – c£500m
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Processing & Marketing - £70m
Crofting Counties Scheme – £35m
Forestry Challenge Fund (WIAT & Woods for People) - £14m
Training Scheme – £12m
Legacy scheme payments (RSS, CPS, SFGS etc.)- £330m
Doesn’t include;
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Single Farm Payment – Pillar 1
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11 regions
Each region has a
Regional Proposal
Assessment
Committee (rPAC)
(Meeting as we
speak)
Budget not
Regionalised
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1 Statement of Intent
(SOI) (Now Optional)
 2000 character summary of Proposal
 The 5 W’s
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2 Outcome Plan
 Expands on SOI
Need BRN, RP online passwords and plenty time and
patience
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2008-2009
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To April 2010:
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£ 250m – (Half the budget gone !)
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3600 projects approved across Scotland
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£ 69k average
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Agri Environment Schemes
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Forestry
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Business Development
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Rural Businesses
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Communities
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98 Successful applications
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12 rejected
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£ 10.2m in total funding
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Agri-environment – Axis 2
Organic conversion
 Open grazed grassland
 Management of Wetland
 Moorland grazings
 Hedgerows
 Woodland creation and management
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Business Development – Axis 1
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Restructuring Agri businesses
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Manure/slurry storage
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Renewable Energy
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Skills Development
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Rural Communities – Axis 3
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Area access Management
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Community Services
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Rural Landscapes
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Essential to help them improve their businesses
Retain young people in Rural
areas
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New and innovative projects
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Sustainability
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Land Managers, Agents, SG, CNPA
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Targeted action
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Value for money
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Less Favoured Area Support Scheme (LFASS)
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Land Managers Options (LMO)
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Crofting Grants
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Food Processing & Marketing
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LEADER
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Launched in August 2009
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Sharing experiences
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Site visits, exchange visits
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Working together to improve the industry.
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2 Meetings to date
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Animal Health
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Brian Pack Report
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Need to get farmers etc involved.
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Training and guidance
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Dee , South Esk & Spey Catchment Plans
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Wood fuel events
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Landscape Scale Projects
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Biodiversity
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Access issues
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Group/community projects
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Forest Habitat Network project
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Guidance is available on-line - SRDP website www.scotland.gov.uk/srdp
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Programme of support in Cairngorms National Park
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Senior Land Manager – Fiona Chalmers
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Experts on Access, Tourism, Biodiversity, Planning issues
Land Management Support Officers
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Gordon McConachie
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Zoë Taylor
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Questions ?
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