RURAL PERTH and KINROSS LEADER LOCAL DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY (2014-2020) Draft
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6 PERTH AND KINROSS COUNCIL Enterprise & Infrastructure Committee 4 June 2014 RURAL PERTH & KINROSS LEADER DRAFT LOCAL DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY Report by Executive Director (Environment) The purpose of this report is to ask the Committee to note the draft Rural Perth & Kinross Local Development Strategy. It also seeks approval for the Council to be the Lead Partner organisation. The report also outlines that the final strategy and business plan will be submitted to the Scottish Government by 30 September 2014. 1. BACKGROUND/MAIN ISSUES 1.1 European funding programmes run on 7 year programming cycles, the next of which will cover the period from 2014-20. Draft Scottish programmes have been developed within the framework of Regulations on the Structural Funds - European Regional Development Fund and European Social Fund and European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development. 1.2 The Scottish Government has recently consulted on the new Scottish Rural Development Programme which would include support to LEADER programmes. LEADER (Liaison Entre Acteurs de Development de l’Economie Rurale - Links between development agents in the rural economy) is a bottom-up partnership based approach to rural development. It will be delivered in Scotland by Local Action Groups implementing Local Development Strategies for their area. 1.3 Since February 2013, a series of reports have been submitted to the CPP Executive Officer Group highlighting the Community Led Local Development approach and the options for its implementation in Perth and Kinross, particularly to support the future LEADER Programme. In that context, the Group agreed that the creation of a rural Perth & Kinross LEADER Local Action Group (LAG) with a Local Development Strategy for Rural Perth & Kinross would be the best option. The LAG will link to the Community Planning ‘Economy and Lifelong learning’ Outcome Delivery Group. 1.4 On behalf of rural Perth & Kinross, Perth & Kinross Council submitted an expression of interest to the Scottish Government in August 2013 to establish a Local Action Group and develop a LEADER Local Development Strategy to address rural issues and develop opportunities over the period 2015-2020. In September 2013, the Scottish Government confirmed that we could proceed to stage 2 and guidance was issued in December 2013. 55 1.5 The Rural Perth & Kinross LEADER LAG membership includes private and community organisations and public agencies: - Perth & Kinross Tourism Partnership - National Farmers Union - Scottish Lands and Estates - Highland Perthshire Communities Partnership - Kinross-shire Partnership - Crieff and Upper Strathearn Partnership - Coupar Angus Regeneration Trust - Perthshire Chamber of Commerce - Voluntary Action Perthshire (Perth & Kinross Association of Voluntary Services) - Perth College UHI - Scottish Enterprise - Visit Scotland - Forestry Commission Scotland - Federation of Small Businesses - Perth & Kinross - Perth & Kinross Council. 1.6 The LAG had to prepare a draft Local Development Strategy (LDS) to be submitted to the Scottish Government by 31 March 2014. The Scottish Government is using an iterative process for the development of the LDS to offer greater opportunities to engage at all level. This included the production of an area profile, undertaking a SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats) analysis and identifying priorities. The process had to involve a broad range of interests including communities, businesses, third sector, individuals and public bodies. The LDS had to provide evidence of the community engagement process. 1.7 By the deadline, the LEADER Local Action Group had to achieve two main outcomes: - agreement on key priorities and outcomes for rural Perth & Kinross through the production of the Rural Perth & Kinross LEADER Local Development Strategy - building the capacity of stakeholders as partners in the Rural Perth & Kinross LEADER Local Action Group to sustain engagement and deliver the Local Development Strategy. 2. PROPOSALS 2.1 The LAG met on 27 March 2014 to approve the draft LDS which has been submitted to the Scottish Government by the deadline. A copy is attached in Appendix 1 and a summary is provided below. 2.2 With a population of around 96,000 people, rural Perth & Kinross covers the vast majority of the Perth & Kinross area (with the exception of Perth and Scone and areas of the Cairngorms National Park). Our rural communities have difficult challenges, but they have also strengths, and are able to maximise opportunities. 56 2.3 Social and economic development is rarely uniform geographically and such variations in socio-economic wellbeing operate at different scales, from households, to neighbourhoods, to districts, to regions. Rural Perth and Kinross is relatively prosperous compared to some other parts of rural Scotland, but some communities face more significant challenges. 2.4 A further factor in rural wellbeing is the strength of social capital and the capacity for bottom-up community activity. There is very good evidence of existing community development activity in many rural Perth & Kinross communities. 2.5 The challenge for rural Perth & Kinross is to focus on reducing the existing divide between individuals, organisations and communities. The Rural Perth & Kinross LEADER Local Development Strategy should support our rural communities to rise to that challenge. 2.6 The overarching aim of the strategy is:- To support individuals, organisations and communities in rural Perth & Kinross to be stronger, more confident and inclusive and to lead or contribute to local economic and community development. 2.7 To deliver the strategy, the Local Action Group will focus on two key strategic objectives: - Promoting a prosperous, inclusive and sustainable economy - Creating a safe and sustainable place for future generations 2.8 The emphasis will be on enabling individuals, particularly young people, and organisations to develop the confidence, understanding and skills required to lead or contribute to the development of their rural communities. This process will be supported by public, private and third sector partners working collectively to create better conditions for economic growth and employment generation. 2.9 By mid-July 2014, the Local Action Group has to prepare a Business Plan detailing arrangements for how the Local Development Strategy will be delivered. The final strategy and business plan will have to be submitted by September 21014 and it is expected that the Scottish Government would approve the Strategy and budget by November 2014 for a start in January 2015. It is estimated that the Rural Perth & Kinross LEADER Local Action Group could bid for around £2m to £3m. 2.10 The Committee is asked to agree in principle that the Council acts as the Lead Partner for the submission and the delivery of the Rural Perth & Kinross Local Development Strategy and Business Plan. 57 3. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS 3.1 A number of different European programmes are being developed including the Scottish Rural Development Programme and LEADER. A draft LEADER Local Development Strategy (LDS) has been developed for Rural Perth & Kinross which will be complemented by a Business Plan for approval by the Scottish Government in November 2014, with a view to delivery from January 2015. 3.2 It is recommended that the Committee: i) Notes the Rural Perth & Kinross LEADER Draft Local Development Strategy. ii) Agrees that the Council acts as the Lead Partner for the submission and the delivery of the Rural Perth & Kinross Local Development Strategy and Business Plan. iii) Requests for a further report to approve the final strategy and business plan at the next Committee meeting on 3 September 2014. Author(s) Name Designation Contact Details Serge Merone Senior Regeneration Pullar House – 35 Kinnoull projects Officer Street Perth - Ext. 75536 Approved Name Designation Date Barbara Renton Depute Director 6 May 2014 (Environment) If you or someone you know would like a copy of this document in another language or format, (On occasion only, a summary of the document will be provided in translation), this can be arranged by contacting the Customer Service Centre on 01738 475000 Council Text Phone Number 01738 442573 58 ANNEX 1. IMPLICATIONS, ASSESSMENTS, CONSULTATION AND COMMUNICATION Strategic Implications Yes / None Community Plan / Single Outcome Agreement Yes Corporate Plan Yes Resource Implications Financial Yes Workforce Yes Asset Management (land, property, IST) No Assessments Equality Impact Assessment Yes Strategic Environmental Assessment Yes Sustainability (community, economic, environmental) Yes Legal and Governance Yes Risk Yes Consultation Internal Yes External Yes Communication Communications Plan Yes 1. Strategic Implications Community Plan / Single Outcome Agreement 1.1 The activities contribute to the Community Plan’s strategic objectives of ‘Promoting a prosperous, inclusive and sustainable economy’ and the outcomes of ‘a thriving, expanding economy’ and ‘employment opportunities for all’ as well as and ‘Creating a safe and sustainable place for future generations’ and the outcomes of ‘Attractive, welcoming environment’ and ‘resilient, responsible and safe communities’ encouraging and supporting community led economic development initiatives, to create more vibrant places. Corporate Plan 1.2 Perth and Kinross Council Corporate Plan 2013/2018 set out five strategic objectives: (i) Giving every child the best start in life; (ii) Developing educated, responsible and informed citizens;