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Aggregates Levy Sustainability Fund
FFORWARD with LLEICESTERSHIRE AAGGREGATE GGRANTS
Bardon Quarry
Leicestershire County Council
Annual Report for DEFRA 2002 – 2003
October 2003
MAPS® aerial photography copyright of UK Perspectives. For further information please contact UK Perspectives c/o Infoterra Ltd, Arthur Street, Barwell, Leicestershire LE9 8GZ Tel: 01455 849207
Foreword
Welcome to the first FLAG annual report covering the 2002/2003 financial year.
Leicestershire County Council was very pleased to have been chosen by DEFRA as one of the Aggregates Levy Sustainability Fund (ALSF) distributing bodies last year, since, as you will read later on, this county is one of the major aggregate producing areas of England. As such, many communities in Leicestershire have in the past, and still are, experiencing both the benefits and disadvantages of having aggregate sites on their doorstep. For them, the opportunities provided by FLAG in mitigating the impact of these substantial sites, has been most welcome.
I think it is fair to say that for all concerned with FLAG during its first year of operation, it has been an exciting and rewarding time. To go from zero to a fully operational scheme within a few months was a challenge for potential applicants as well as for Leicestershire County Council.
The majority of the applications have come from community groups and parish councils and I must commend them for both their foresight and dedication – preparing a grant aid application, organising the fund-raising and overseeing the works is a mammoth task.
Sadly, there has been insufficient grant aid to assist every applicant and I am aware of a large number of potential projects that are still being developed and have yet to surface as applications.
I hope that having read this report you will not only be impressed by what has already been achieved, but will support Leicestershire County Council in their bid to extend the current ALSF programme for at least a further 3 years after its current closing date of March 31st 2004. There is still much work to be done.
Ernie White CC Leicestershire County Council Lead Cabinet Member for Community Services
1. Introduction
FLAG (Forward with Leicestershire Aggregate Grants) was launched by Leicestershire County Council in September 2002, supported by money from the Aggregates Levy Sustainability Fund (ALSF), the overall management of which rests with DEFRA (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs).
The ALSF itself was launched in April 2002 by the then Environment Minister Michael Meacher, with the aim of helping to offset some of the environmental damage caused by aggregate extraction. It was designed to run as a two-year programme, with its funding coming from part of the income generated by the newly introduced Aggregates Levy.
It will perhaps surprise those of you who don’t know Leicestershire well, that it is one of the three largest aggregate producing counties in England – over 16 million tonnes produced in 2001. As you can see from the map overleaf, aggregate sites are found across the whole county. Granite, limestone, ironstone, sand and gravel are extracted and many of the quarries lie close to residential areas, where the impact of these operations can sometimes be significantly felt.
FLAG grants have specifically targeted those communities and areas most affected by aggregate extraction. The response from these communities has been so positive that the scheme is over- subscribed with a wide range of inventive and worthwhile grant applications.
2. Background Information
Leicestershire has a long history of aggregate production, stretching back well into the 1800’s. The eastern side of the county has many ironstone quarries, many of which are now disused. In the central Leicestershire area along the River Soar, Wreake and Trent valleys, there have been and still are, extensive sand and gravel extraction sites. Similar mineral deposits are found elsewhere to the south and west of the county. Large quantities of granite are quarried in and around the Charnwood Forest and as far south as Sapcote, whilst substantial limestone quarries are found close to the Derbyshire border.
Many of these sites, and especially those in the centre of the county, are found close to towns and villages. In some instances, there are strong links between the development of the aggregate sites themselves and the adjacent settlements. These aggregate sites have had, and are still having, a physical and visual impact on the surrounding communities.
3. Developing FLAG
When developing FLAG, Leicestershire County Council officers drew on their many years of experience of initiating and running a wide range of environment-orientated grant programmes. Within the East Midlands region, Leicestershire has always been one of the leading grant aiding local authorities. Its SHIRE Grant programme currently provides over £550,000 for environmental and community based grants. It is interesting to note that the FLAG application form, grant aid conditions and assessment system have been adopted by at least one other ALSF distributing body as the basis of their operations.
As well as complying with DEFRA’s requirements, FLAG was developed to complement rather than duplicate the SHIRE Grants programme, and in financial terms, plugs the funding gap below the ALSF schemes run by national distributing bodies like the Countryside Agency.
In addition to its grant aid experience, the County Council is the Mineral Planning Authority for Leicestershire. This position provides it with a unique local knowledge of past and current aggregate extraction, contact with mineral operators, quarry liaison groups, parish councils, community groups and similar organisations. All of this experience was put to good use when developing FLAG and targeting potential applicants.
4. Administering FLAG
The Environmental Action Team, within the County Council’s Community Services Department, manages FLAG’s day to day operation. This is the same team that helps to administer the SHIRE Environmental Grants programme and thus its staff are skilled in this type of work.
Another advantage of this arrangement is that the Environmental Action Team is set within the same branch of the Community Services Department as the staff overseeing Minerals Development Control, Sport and Recreation, Village Halls and Historic Buildings. This working relationship assists potential applicants to develop their projects, assess applications and oversee the final work.
Staff also have access to a huge range of professional expertise elsewhere within the Community Services Department and across the authority as a whole, including ecologists, archaeologists, quantity surveyors, building surveyors, civil engineers and solicitors. This helps to ensure that applicants are given the best advice, that their applications are assessed thoroughly and accurately, and that a high standard of work is achieved.
4.1 Marketing FLAG
From the outset, it was clear that, because of the tight financial timetable set by DEFRA, the marketing of FLAG would need to be targeted at those communities and sites where there was the greatest likelihood of applications meeting the ALSF’s
goals. To achieve this, officers undertook an internal consultation exercise that generated an initial short-list of 30 potential schemes. This exercise was progressed by contacting the organisations linked to the potential schemes so the benefits that FLAG might provide could be fully explored.
In addition, press articles were written for the Leicestershire daily and weekly newspapers and the County Council’s own newspaper, “Leicestershire Matters” (circulated to over 260,000 households and also available on the LCC website). Elected members, officers and quarry liaison groups were briefed about FLAG, and every opportunity was taken through the many partnership organisations with which the County Council works, to publicise the scheme.
This work paid off, with 57 enquires being received by the FLAG administrative officer.
The marketing of FLAG does not stop when an application has been approved, since the FLAG administrative officer liaises with the applicant about ongoing publicity, an opening ceremony and the formal hand-over of the specially commissioned FLAG plaque.
4.2 Assessing FLAG applications
To ensure that all applications were dealt with in a fair, consistent and systematic manner, a points based assessment scheme was developed. It should be stressed that the final assessment of any application takes place only after detailed discussions with the applicant and a visit to the site of the potential scheme. This contact aims to ensure that the application is as well considered and developed as possible – including exploring all potential funding avenues - and is ready for it’s final detailed assessment.
The following criteria are used during the final assessment.
• Demonstrable environmental impact – any application failing to reach the minimum score for demonstrable environmental impact cannot be considered for FLAG support. This aspect of the assessment system is also used to determine whether prospective applications will be eligible for FLAG support, thus saving the potential applicant’s time and effort in preparing something that might ultimately fail.
The following factors are considered when assessing the extent of environmental impact:
proximity of the potential scheme to aggregate sites the level of visual intrusion direct effects such as noise, dust and vehicle movements whether the aggregate sites have affected the development of the settlement whether the site is still active, has been tipped or restored whether other exchequer funding is aiding the project
whether the project can be completed within the ALSF timetable deadlines
• Value for money
whether professional advice has been taken when developing the scheme use of appropriately skilled contractors whether quotes are reasonable how much work the applicant will be doing themselves the level of involvement by volunteers the percentage of the total cost being met by the applicant the percentage of the total cost being met by other sources of grant aid whether other sources of grant aid are confirmed
• High quality of design, materials and workmanship
comprehensiveness and feasibility of the design the scheme’s viability in 10 years’ time
• Practicality of implementation and maintenance
whether the applicant controls the site whether there is a suitable maintenance plan whether the applicant is able to maintain the site for at least 10 years
• Community and environmental benefit
support from local Parish/Town Council/ local County Councillor/ voluntary groups involvement of local schools links between the application and village appraisals or similar exercises support from the local quarry liaison committee proximity of the works to footpaths, roads and other public areas whether all community members have reasonable access to the project in terms of opening times, physical accessibility for those with mobility problems, availability to those with particular religious beliefs etc.
• Compliance with Leicestershire County Council objectives
The County Council’s medium term corporate strategy Leicestershire Community Strategy Leicestershire Rural Strategy Leicestershire Landscape and Woodland Strategy Leicestershire & Rutland Bio-diversity Action Plan
4.3 Determining FLAG applications
The County Council has delegated the approval and/or refusal of FLAG applications to the Director of Community Services in consultation with the Cabinet Lead for Community Services.
When an application has been assessed it is formally reported to the Director during one of his regular meetings with the Cabinet Lead member.
Thereafter, the FLAG administrative officer formally writes to the applicant stating the decision made, the reasons for the decision and the conditions of the grant offer. This offer letter also gives the applicant a deadline by which to accept the grant offer and its conditions. It can sometimes be difficult for an applicant to reply by this deadline, as they may still be chasing confirmation of other funding. As far as is practical, given the DEFRA timetable, some flexibility is given to the applicant at this point, so that other sources of funds can be secured.
5. The Future of FLAG
Although this report only covers the first year of FLAG’s operation, the response to this new grant scheme was so overwhelming that a sufficient number of high quality applications were known about by the end of April 2003 to easily exceed the full two years’ ALSF funding.
As mentioned previously in this report, developing a project concept, applying for grant aid to support it and then overseeing its implementation is a daunting prospect for many organisations. Time never seems to be on their side, and in this respect, the understandably tight deadlines set by DEFRA made life very difficult for both the applicants and the distributing body.
Leicestershire County Council hopes that this report illustrates how valuable the FLAG scheme has been not only to the successful applicants but also to the county's environment as a whole. The demand is proven, the systems are operating successfully, but the full benefits which the ALSF can bring, cannot be accessed within the current 2-year period. To achieve these, the present programme needs at least a 3-year extension.
GRANT % ESTIMATED 6.1 Financialsummary2002–2003 GRANT of FLAG 6. Finance APPLICANT SCHEME TITLE SCHEME OFFER £ BUDGET COSTS £ (£266,000) Access improvements at Watermead Leicestershire County Council 43,591 49,573 16.39 Country Park Purchase and restoration of Wanlip Leicestershire & Rutland Wildlife Trust 47,565 52,850 17.88 Meadows
Meadow Lane Young Childrens' Play Area Birstall Parish Council 44,836 49,818 16.85 and Playing Field Improvements
Thurmaston Parish Council Thurmaston Doorstep Green 10,000 142,261 3.76 Refurbishment of Side Ley and Whatton Kegworth Parish Council 50,000 105,000 18.80 Road recreation grounds Husbands Bosworth Skate Park Group Creation of Skatepark and Ball-Games area 30,000 35,000 11.28
TOTAL ESTIMATED SCHEME COSTS 434,502 TOTAL GRANT OFFERS 225,992 84.96 ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS 18,620 7.00 TOTAL SPEND 244,612 TOTAL % of FLAG BUDGET 91.96 UNDERSPEND * 21,388 8.04
* We have not been permitted by DEFRA to carry forward the underspend into the 2003/4 financial year
GRANT % ESTIMATED GRANT of FLAG APPLICANT SCHEME TITLE SCHEME REQUEST £ BUDGET COSTS £ 6.2 Financialprojection2003–2004 (£266,000) Huncote Methodist Church Disabled access project 50,000 80,000 18.80
Watermead Country Park (North) - wildlife Leicestershire County Council 50,000 391,400 18.80 and access improvements Refurbishment of Newtown Linford Village Newtown Linford Village Hall Committee 25,000 200,000 9.4 Hall Repairs to the Church of Saint Mary and The Priory Church, Breedon on the Hill 21,426 50,000 8.05 Saint Hardulph Environmental and access improvements to Syston Town Council 25,000 79,942 9.4 Central Park St Michael and All Angels Church, Croft Repairs to parish church 30,000 50,615 11.28
Quorn Parish Council Improvements to Jubilee Gardens 25,000 75,837 9.4
Environmental and access improvements Hinckley & Bosworth Borough Council 29,000 73,730 10.90 to Hill Hole Quarry, Markfield
TOTAL ESTIMATED SCHEME COSTS 1,001,524 TOTAL GRANT REQUESTS 255,426 96.02 ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS 18,620 7.00 TOTAL POTENTIAL SPEND 274,046 POTENTIAL % of FLAG BUDGET 103.02
Due to high demand and commitment of funds, the FLAG scheme was closed to new applications in May 2003. In addition to the above, there are a further 3 applications in reserve, requesting a total of £91,430 from FLAG. The applicants are: Midland Quarry Products, requesting £44,241 towards nature conservation and access works at their Whitwick site; Blaby District Council, requesting £37,189 towards access improvements along Whistle Way, which is a trail based on an old aggregates railway line; Markfield Parish Church, requesting £10,000 towards disabled access improvements and building repairs .
SCHEME 1 - LEICESTERSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL
Access improvements at Watermead Country Park
Project Category Community Environmental Grant request £43, 591 Grant awarded £43, 591 Estimated final costs £49,573 % of funding 87.93
Watermead Country Park to the north of Leicester City, is one of Leicestershire County Council’s main country parks. Until the early 1980's, the site consisted of derelict sand and gravel pits. These have now been reclaimed to provide an important site for recreation and wildlife.
Visitors to the Park can use a network of surfaced tracks for walking and cycling. The National Cycle Network passes through the Park and links with other cycle paths in the county.
The main aim of this scheme was to increase access for all, and Mosaic (formerly the Leicestershire Guild for Disabled People), have supported this project, which includes the provision of surfaced paths, Radar gates and dedicated disabled parking areas. Other work included the provision of safe turning areas for service vehicles.
Another aim was to reduce maintenance costs, as the previous stone paths would scour badly during flooding. Future maintenance proposals will be incorporated into the Watermead Country Park Management Plan.
A cyclist enjoying the resurfaced route. Improved access for users of Watermead Country Park.
SCHEME 2 - LEICESTERSHIRE and RUTLAND WILDLIFE TRUST
Purchase and restoration of Wanlip Meadows
Project Category Community Environmental
Grant request £47,565
Grant awarded £47,565
Estimated final costs £52,850
% of funding 90.00
Wanlip Meadows consists of 3 fields and is a 16 hectare site on the northern outskirts of Leicester. The Meadows form part of an important 400 hectare wetland area, which includes Watermead Country Park. The site is currently part of a quarry owned by Lafarge Aggregates and has been restored following recent gravel extraction.
Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust are purchasing the Meadows as freehold with the aim of undertaking a demonstration project that creates a multipurpose wetland for biodiversity, recreation, environmental education, flood plain management and that will be fully accessible to the public.
The proximity of the Meadows to Watermead Country Park will result in a consolidated wetland area, and the Trust will work with the Watermead Park Rangers to share expertise and maximise benefits in the area as a whole. This should result in high quality green space for local people, access for disabled people and an area in which to hold a programme of events and activities, as well as improved wildlife habitat.
The future maintenance of Wanlip Meadows will form part of the Trust’s reserve management plan, and will include maintenance of access, paths, fences, hedges, and ditches.
Summer grazing will be established in co-operation with a local grazier, to protect and enhance the range and abundance of plant species, and to ensure safe and effective grazing practices.
Wanlip Meadows looking north east towards Syston
Photograph courtesy of Leicestershire & Rutland Wildlife Trust
SCHEME 3 - BIRSTALL PARISH COUNCIL
Meadow Lane Young Childrens' Play Area and Playing Field Improvements
Project Category Community Environmental Grant request £44,836 Grant awarded £44,836 Estimated final costs £49,818 % of funding 90.00
Meadow Lane Playing Fields in Birstall, is adjacent to Watermead Country Park and an active sand and gravel extraction site is nearby. Neighbouring residents have previously requested the provision of a play area for young children on the playing fields. Visitors to Watermead Country Park also access this area.
This scheme enhances facilities for local people and visitors by providing safe and attractive play equipment, improving access and providing wheelchair-friendly pathways. Metal motorcycle barriers also prevent intrusion thus enhancing the safety and enjoyment of the site.
Consultation has taken place between the Parish Council’s play committee, local parents and teenagers, and regular contact is maintained with Charnwood Borough Council with regard to landscaping and wildlife issues. Local schools have been involved with environmental and wildlife projects on adjacent land.
Site of the young children’s play area before work began. There were previously very few facilities on offer.
The play area is already well used.
SCHEME 4 - THURMASTON PARISH COUNCIL
Thurmaston Doorstep Green
Project Category Community Environmental Grant request £10,000 Grant awarded £10,000 Estimated final costs £142,261
% of funding 7.00
Thurmaston Doorstep Green is the title of the scheme proposed by Thurmaston Parish Council working in conjunction with Charnwood Borough Council. The Doorstep Green area is adjacent to Garden Street in the centre of the old village. Doorstep Greens are a Countryside Agency led lottery funded project. There are active sand and gravel quarries to the north of the Thurmaston and quarry traffic passes through the village.
The project’s inception dates back to 1999 when the Parish Council sought local residents’ views on the future of the Garden Street site. This survey showed that the site was identified by local residents as a central focal point and was
popular with old and young alike. Soon after this survey was conducted
Charnwood Borough Council assigned funding to the village for environmental
enhancements – including the Garden Street site.
The first phase of works for this site saw the play area upgraded and repositioned. Local schools were involved with this process and the works were completed in 2000. In June 2001 a visioning event took place in the village. This received strong support and various local residents came forward to get involved with community affairs, fund-raising etc.
In May 2002 as part of the launch of a village “health-check” the idea of creating a Doorstep Green on the Garden Street site was proposed. This was followed, in June, by more public consultation and from its findings a brief was prepared for the preparation of a Doorstep Green plan.
The project site as it is now. Local facilities and environment will be much improved when work is completed.
SCHEME 5 - KEGWORTH PARISH COUNCIL
Refurbishment of Side Ley and Whatton Road recreation grounds
Project Category Community Environmental Grant request £50,00 Grant awarded £50,000 Estimated final costs £105,000 % of funding 47.62
Side Ley and Whatton Road Recreation Grounds in the north and south of Kegworth respectively, were in need of refurbishment in order that children can play in a safe environment away from traffic. Kegworth is bisected by the A6 which carries quarry traffic and causes disturbance, pollution and noise. The infilling of old quarries with pulverised fuel ash (PFA) from a local power station, in the adjoining River Trent valley, has caused the water table to rise, resulting in flooding and the village occasionally being cut off.
The proposals should provide an attractive focal point for young people that will also help to address anti-social beaviour and crime. The sites are open at all times and have level, tarmacced paths for easy access. This project includes play equipment, safety surfacing and fencing, and the provision of an area in which people can skateboard away from the pedestrian areas of the village.
The Parish Council employs a qualified inspector who will check the condition of equipment, safety surfaces, paths, seats and litter bins, on a monthly basis. Professional contractors will maintain the scheme over the next 10 years. The scheme has been designed with the assistance of K.O.P.A. (Kegworth Outdoor Play Appeal), a group consisting of local parents.
Above – The Whatton Road site before work began.
Left - a wide range of play equipment is now available at Whatton Road.
Right - Local children now have a state of the art play area at Side Ley.
SCHEME 6 - HUSBANDS BOSWORTH SKATEPARK GROUP
Creation of Skatepark and Ball-Games area
Project Category Community Environmental Grant request £30,000 Grant awarded £30,000 Estimated final costs £35,000 % of funding 85.71
Husbands Bosworth Skatepark Group is a non-profit community group formed to address the lack of safe play facilities for local youngsters. The village of Husbands Bosworth, in the far south of the county, has a growing population yet few amenities for young people and limited public transport links. Children have been using roads
and communal areas for recreational activities, endangering themselves and other
road users, and encouraging anti-social behaviour. Local parents and children have petitioned in favour of the skatepark and ball games project, and the Parish Council and school is supportive of this scheme.
The project site is a neglected area screened from houses and the road, next to a young children’s play area. The proximity of a Scout hut, tennis courts and playing field means that there is already safe pedestrian access. The Parish Council donated the land and has agreed to maintain the site, equipment and ball games area.
The village is 600m from an extensive Lafarge sand and gravel quarry, which includes some tipping activity. The project area is bordered by two designated lorry routes, and quarry traffic causes noise and dust pollution, and sheds mud on roads. An increase in traffic is expected when weight restrictions through Welford village are effected. Gravel mounds are highly visible from some parts of the village, and extraction activity has recently increased.
Right – the skatepark was developed on this neglected site.
Left - the half-pipe is one of the most popular pieces of equipment .
1. Initial staff briefing note about FLAG
A Brief Introduction to the Aggregates Levy Sustainability Fund
What is the ALSF and what will the money raised go towards?
The Government recognises that certain activities, in this instance raw aggregate production, have an environmental cost. One way of reducing this cost is by lessening the production of raw aggregates and offsetting this reduction by encouraging the use of recycled materials.
The 2001 Finance Act introduced the principle of establishing a fund to address the environmental costs of aggregate extraction and encourage recycling.
Last autumn the Government produced a consultation paper on some more detailed proposals on how such a fund might work, methods of distribution etc. Leicestershire County Council responded and, amongst other things, suggested that using local authorities, like the LCC to help deliver change on the ground, could bring advantages.
We weren’t the only local authority to think this way – Somerset and Derbyshire also did. Together we are the 3 biggest aggregate producing counties in England and Wales.
Nationally from 1st April 2002 a new tax has been levied on aggregates and crushed rock - £1.60 per tonne. This tax will provide £29.3m per year for the ALSF over the next two financial years.
For information the typical annual aggregate production in Leicestershire and Rutland would raise in the order of £26.6m through the new tax.
Of the £29.3m, a total of £6.5m will go on reducing the demand for primary aggregates, £6.0m on promoting environmentally friendly extraction and transport and £16.5m on reducing the effects of local aggregate extraction.
The £16.5m will be split between the following:
Countryside Agency – About £5.0m English Nature ditto English Heritage ditto Leicestershire/Derbyshire/Somerset - £800,000 per year (approx. £266,666 each)
Who is doing what around the Country?
Countryside agency – local and wider landscape benefits, increased informal recreation opportunities and other benefits for communities adversely affected by aggregate extraction.
English Nature – projects that aim to increase biodiversity and/or conserve and enhance the geological and geomorphological features in areas affected by aggregate extraction.
English Heritage – projects linked to historic landscapes, sites and buildings impacted by aggregate extraction
Leicestershire C.C. – FLAG (Forward with Leicestershire Aggregates Grants)
The purpose of FLAG
FLAG is designed to assist local communities and private landowners plan and implement environmental works, which will mitigate the adverse environmental impact of past and current aggregate extraction in their area.
Any applicant must be able to show that aggregate extraction has had/is having a demonstrable environmental impact on their area. This could come in many forms, including:
• Visual intrusion • Noise and dust • Dereliction • Social
Note: there are no distance criteria – but clearly the closer you are to an aggregates site the higher the chance on you being able to demonstrate and adverse impact.
The FLAG grant categories are as follows:
• Community environmental improvements – typical schemes include public open spaces; biodiversity works; public access to the countryside, village centre improvements, land purchase etc • Community building Improvements – typical schemes include repair to the fabric of village halls/community buildings (including churches); imps to the surrounds of these buildings etc • Private environmental improvements – typical schemes include biodiversity works; safeguarding landscape heritage, improving public access; improving the public’s awareness and appreciation of the countryside etc
How big are the FLAG grants?
Just a normal cheque size! FLAG Grants are aimed below what we expect the national agencies will be offering. The maximum grant we will offer is £50,000 and the minimum £10,000 (comes in just above the SHIRE Grant cut-off). However, applicants must be looking to undertake at least £30,000 worth of work.
Grants can cover up to 90% of the cost of the approved works and can be used as match funding – subject to certain conditions.
When does it all start and when will it end?
It ought to have started some months ago, but there was a delay in gaining parliamentary approval. So, all being well, it gained it yesterday (27th August). We now await correspondence from DEFRA accepting our Memorandum of Understanding. Once received it will provide us with the financial authority to proceed.
At the moment all we know is that the money is available until 31st March 2004. DEFRA originally required that all works offered during the current financial year be completed by 31st March 2003 but with the delay launching the scheme we don’t know yet if that will be the case. However, all works must be completed and claimed for by 31st March 2004
How will the scheme be run?
DEFRA will delegate the day to day running of FLAG to Leicestershire CC and all grant aid decisions will be taken by the Director of Community Services, in conjunction with the Lead Cabinet Member for the Environment.
Application forms, Guidance and Technical Notes and a flier are currently under production. They, plus the assessment methodology applied to each application, will be very similar to those used for Environmental SHIRE Grants.
Applications will take about 8 weeks to process. This includes the time taken to seek the views of the Local Member(s).
We will be appointing a part-time admin assistant to help run FLAG. The DEFRA ceiling on support costs is insufficient for a full-time professional officer.
Where can applicants get advice?
In the first instance, staff in the Environmental Action Team can provide general advice. However, LCC staff won’t normally be able to develop schemes in detail for applicants so, they will be directed to appropriate consultants. A FLAG Grant can cover up to 15% of consultant’s fees.
Can the County Council apply for a FLAG Grant?
We believe this will be permissible.
Can applications be accepted for sites in Leicester City and Rutland?
No.
Can mineral operators apply?
Yes, they would be classed as a private landowner. But, we would not consider grant aiding any work they were required to undertake as part of any planning approval.
Can schemes be grant aided retrospectively?
No, any work already started at the time the application is made is ineligible. Applicants can start work once the application has been registered by the LCC, but it is entirely at their own risk. We give no guarantee of grant aid.
What’s happening to SHIRE Grants?
They stay exactly as they are. FLAG grants may relieve some of the pressure, which the SHIRE Grants budgets are under.
Do you already have a list of potential schemes?
Yes we do. Because of the tight DEFRA timetable, we needed to have some banker schemes in position. However, many on our list are long shots and will get replaced by other and better schemes as time goes by. So please encourage potential applicants to contact us.
We also need to show DEFRA that we can meet their spend targets and still demonstrate there is a long-term demand for further assistance after March 2004.
2. FLAG plaque
3. Members Information Service – document about FLAG