Arun, Chichester and Hayling LEADER Local Action Group

LEADER Workshop

Friday 4 July 2014

Chichester

Workshop Aims

• To explore how LEADER grants could help businesses and communities in the future.

• To contribute to the development of the Local Development Strategy by:– agreeing the distinctive characteristics of the Arun, Chichester and

Hayling rural area– identifying priorities and potential activities

• To help develop a successful bid to Defra for more LEADER funding.

Workshop Programme

13.00 - 13.10 Welcome & introduction 13.10 - 13.40 The LEADER Experience 2008-2013 13.40 - 13.50 LEADER 2015-202013.50 - 14.00 Arun, Chichester & Hayling LEADER Area 14.00 - 14.30 Round Table Discussion (1) - Local Characteristics

and Priorities14.30 - 14.45 Feedback14.45 - 15.30 Round Table Discussion (2) – The LEADER Ten

Project Challenge 15.30 – 15.50 Feedback and Questions15.50 – 16.00 Next Steps and Close

The LEADER Experience 2008-2013

•Councillor Ricky Bower – Chairman Sussex Downs & Low Weald Local Action Group

•Richard Chalk – LEADER Project Officer

LEADER 2008-2013A local business and community led rural development programme.Aims:•Improve the competitiveness of farming and forestry•Support a diverse and successful rural economy•Develop vibrant and thriving rural communities

Part of the Rural Development Programme for England

Defra – Managing Authority

Budget delegated to Local Action Group – public, private and civil society representatives - to deliver a Local Development Strategy.

Sussex Downs & Low Weald and Three Harbours & Coastal Plain LEADER 2008-2013

LEADER 2008-2013Three Harbours & Coastal Plain Priorities•Local food links•Rural enterprise and heritage•Addressing climate change and managing resources•Upgrading and regenerating infrastructureSussex Downs & Low Weald Priorities•Supporting farmers and growers to modernise and diversify•Revitalised woodlands•Local food and produce•Successful micro businesses and a thriving visitor economy•Community hubs•Connected rural communities

Awarded capital grants up to £50,000

LEADER 2008-2013

Population (2001 census)

Total grant awarded

Number of projects

Average grant

Sussex Downs & Low

Weald145,000 £1.6m 83 £19,782

Three Harbours &

Coastal Plain111,000 £1.2m 70 £17,429

Total 256,000 £2.8m 153 £18,729

Total value of projects = £9.1m

OUTPUTS FOR THE RURAL ECONOMY

New jobs created 142

Existing jobs sustained 320

Existing businesses supported

125

New business start ups 13

RURAL COMMUNITY BENEFITS

Population benefiting from improved services/facilities

70,919

New & existing village halls & community centres

19

New community shops 5

New & existing recreational & educational facilities

22

About LEADER

LEADER 2015-2020

Bruce Nairne, Nairne Ltd

Focus of Activity

The National Pot£138 million

– Possible allocation around £1.6m (including admin)– Allocated on rural population & rural challenges– Not all LAGs will necessarily be funded

70/30 Split– 70% of projects must directly support the rural economy– Remaining 30% must also contribute to improving the local rural

economy

Jobs and Growth

Policy Priorities

1.Increasing farm productivity2.Support for increasing forestry productivity3.Support for micro and small enterprises and farm diversification4.Support for rural tourism5.Provision of rural services6.Support for cultural and heritage activity

Sussex Downs & Low Weald and Three Harbours & Coastal Plain LEADER 2008-2013

Proposed LEADER Areas 2015-2020

The Local Development Strategy

•Key determinant of who gets funded– Locally determined needs– Proposed activities and example projects– Clear programme management arrangements– Aligned to LEP rural priorities– Competitive bidding process

•Also needs to demonstrate– Integration– Innovation– Co-operation & Networking

Arun, Chichester and Hayling LEADERArea profile, needs and opportunities

Hilary O’Sullivan, Nairne Ltd

What is included in the Arun, Chichester & Hayling LEADER area?

The Importance of the Environment

Farming and Food

Strengths and opportunities

•Varied farming sector•Strong, sophisticated and innovative horticulture•Excellent examples farm diversification •Exploitation of renewables to promote productivity•Growing networks/brands for local food brands •Scope to grow local purchasing by hospitality/retail sector•New sectors such as viticulture

Agricultural Assets

Farming and Food

Weaknesses and threats:

•Some tensions between environment and farm development•electronic and mobile communications•Flooding/flood defences and supply/extraction of water•Farm succession/lack of younger farmers•Weak IT and marketing skills in portions of land-based sector•Viability of small growers/farming enterprises

Forestry

• Area contains extensive areas of woodland• Includes broadleaf, coniferous, coppice and ancient forest• Significant woodland bio-diversity• Great scope to extend economic use of woodland• Costs of providing access for effective exploitation and management• Some innovative examples of wood-fuel usage

Woodland and Forestry Assets

Micro and Small Business

Strengths and opportunities

•Highly qualified, entrepreneurial and innovative local residents •Small business culture with excellent niche businesses•Robust manufacturing sector with some high quality employers •Strong, specialised marine engineering •Centres of excellence for ‘traditional’ skills and crafts•Local wealth/potential for local spending

Micro and Small Business

Weaknesses and threats

•High proportion of seasonal and part-time employment•Limited opportunities for business premises•Balancing employment development with environmental concerns/planning constraints •Retail sector in market/small towns challenged by e-purchasing•Economics of providing access to work in a tight funding environment, particularly affecting less well-off residents

Tourism, Culture and Heritage

• High quality rural environment supports a well-established visitor economy• Significant historic, archaeological and cultural assets • Coast plus South Downs plus Market towns• Un-met demand for good quality visitor accommodation• Promotion of ‘whole area’ offer as well as ‘place-based’ offer• Sectors with particular scope for further development:

- Sport and active recreation (water based/nautical; equine sport; automotive)

- Environment linked visitor activities – walking, cycling, bird watching- Sustainable development/promotion of South Downs Way- Public transport-based visiting

Rural services and communities

• Strong community spirit supports festivals/arts events; interest in local food projects; neighbourhood plans

• Older age profile• High housing costs; pockets of deprivation • Public transport network impacts access/affordability of access to work • Challenge of sustaining village and market town services • Poor broadband and mobile connectivity, with some connectivity ‘non-

spots’

Arun, Chichester and Hayling Island

DISCUSSION 1LOCAL CHARACTERISTICS AND PRIORITIES

SWOT – Are these right? Have we missed anything?Local Priorities – Are these the right ones?

Arun, Chichester and Hayling Island

DISCUSSION 2The TEN Project Challenge

Farming/Forestry Productivity & Farm DiversificationMicro and Small Enterprises

Rural Tourism, Culture and HeritageRural Services

Next Steps

• Draft Local Development Strategy (LDS) - end of July 2014• Further consultation - early August 2014• LDS submitted to Defra - 5 September 2014 • Defra announces outcome - November 2014• New LEADER programme launched - January 2015

• We will keep you informedKeep the project ideas comingTell us if you are interested in joining the Local Action Group.

• Letters of support – will be useful

Richard.Chalk@westsussex.gov.uk