DATA LABEL: PUBLIC

FAULDHOUSE AND THE BREICH VALLEY LOCAL AREA COMMITTEE

WEST LOTHIAN VILLAGES IMPROVEMENT FUND

REPORT BY HEAD OF PLANNING AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

A. PURPOSE OF REPORT

This report informs the Local Area Committee of the proposal for the delivery of the Villages Improvement Fund (WLVIF) in 2013/14.

The fund is spilt over two elements:

1. a rural shop front improvement scheme; and 2. a scheme of small scale village improvements and initiatives. B. RECOMMENDATION

It is recommended that the committee notes the contents of the report, and specifically, the amount of money allocated to the ward.

C. SUMMARY OF IMPLICATIONS

I Council Values Focusing on our customers' needs; Making best use of our resources; Working in partnership.

II Policy and Legal (including To be assessed on an individual project basis Strategic Environmental but it is not anticipated that any proposals will be Assessment, Equality the subject of specific assessments. Issues, Health or Risk Assessment)

III Implications for Scheme of None. Delegations to Officers

IV Impact on performance and None. performance Indicators

V Relevance to Single Outcome 1 – We make West Lothian an Outcome Agreement attractive place to do business.

Outcome 10 – We live in well-designed, sustainable places where we are able to access the services we need; and

1 Outcome 12 - We value and enjoy our built environment and protect it and enhance it for future generations.

VI Resources - (Financial, A total of £1.65m Capital Fund is available to be Staffing and Property) split over five years.

VII Consideration at PDSP The proposal was reported to the Development and Transportation PDSP on 18 April 2013. The panel supported the proposal although there was some debate about the involvement of Community Council’s in the development of the scheme. In response the panel was reminded that there will be an opportunity to review the operation of the scheme after the first year if necessary.

VIII Other consultations Finance.

D TERMS OF THE REPORT

D1 Background

West Lothian Council has agreed to establish a West Lothian Villages Improvement Fund (WLVIF) of £1.65m, phased over five years. In order to progress with implementation of the scheme a number of matters had to be agreed. Notably these included the eligible areas, level of funding for specific projects and the means of assessing projects, including where bids exceed the available funding. Proposals on each of these matters are set out in this report.

D2 Basic Principles

It is important that the fund operates in a streamlined and non-bureaucratic way and that ; x Projects should align with ward action plans, the local plan and other established plans (information on current ward action plans will be made available to groups developing proposals). x Projects should be bottom-up and developed through local consultation before being considered by the relevant Local Area Committee (LAC). x Projects should demonstrate how they contribute to specific local outcomes. x Multi-sector involvement is supported and project applications can be developed by local businesses, community based organisations and local partnerships involving council services. x Projects should be revenue neutral or, where this is not the case, full provision should be made for the revenue consequences of the proposal.

Development of proposals will be supported by the Community Regeneration Officers and Lead Officers with responsibility for each village, within their LAC.

2 D3 The Fund

The fund will have the following two workstreams:

1) A shop frontage/shop improvement scheme, to which local independent retailers can apply. This will operate in a similar way to the shop frontage improvement schemes for traditional town centres i.e. a grant of up to £750 and no more than 50% of the cost of the shop front improvement.

In , Enterprising Bathgate operates a premises improvement scheme which provides a similar level of grant support to general improvements to include the interior of shop premises. However, state aid rules preclude the use of council funds for a scheme of this nature.

The total number of village shops which could be eligible is estimated to be between 210 and 250 (source: WL business database).

The shop frontage scheme, based on the model developed in respect of traditional town centres, will typically enable shop proprietors to undertake improvements to the façade, facia, signage and window. Detailed design guidance will be provided to applicants.

It is proposed that a total budget allocation of £60,000 for shop front and/or shop premises improvements is made. This could support around 80 businesses over the five year period.

2) Small scale village improvements and initiatives, this can include a number of types of investment, including both physical improvements to the streetscape and investment in community provision:

Physical Improvements

x Provision of street furniture such as seating, cycle stands and direction signs. x Improved village gateways (e.g.; through planting, landscaping and/or signage). x Improved sense of place in village centres through hard landscaping, planting and soft landscape improvements. x Tidying and landscaping of gap sites within villages. x Access improvements in and around villages.

Community Provision

x Investment in projects that engage and support young people. x Investment in other local community facilities.

This support complements the current activity within the traditional town centres capital programme. An update on the activity of this programme will be brought to the D&T PDSP.

Scale of Awards

Total budget for small scale village improvements and initiatives will be £1,590,000 (assuming £60,000 over three years spend on shop/shop-front improvements).

3 With 26 eligible communities identified, the fund will be split as follows in the first year:

x £35,000 each for the top five villages per population x £15,000 each for the middle 15 villages x £5,000 each for villages with less than 500 population

D4 Assessment Criteria for Capital Grants

Based on the current town centres capital programme the following criteria will be used to assess projects:

1. Basic eligibility. 2. Value for money and of robustness of costs. 3. Fit with ward action plans and other strategies. 4. Justification of why funding is needed. 5. Leverage. 6. Evidence of demand. 7. Level of community involvement. 8. Objectives, targets and local impact. 9. Contribution to wider council objectives. 10. Longer-term sustainability and durability (ensuring that no additional maintenance burden will fall on council).

Proposals linked to, or able to provide, employability and training opportunities for young people will be prioritised. However, it is recognised that this might not be practical for all small scale projects.

D5 Eligible Communities

Appendix 1 below identifies the settlements which fall in scope for the WLVIF. Twenty- six defined communities in total are covered – none of these settlements obtained support through the Town Centre Regeneration Fund package. The list is restricted to defined villages (settlements with a population of less than 10,000) and does not include hamlets or scattered collections of dwellings.

Seven villages within the Fauldhouse and the Breich Valley ward are eligible under the scheme.

In 2013-14 the following allocations will be made:

Fauldhouse £35,000 £35,000 Longridge £15,000 Stoneyburn £15,000 £15,000 Polbeth £15,000 Breich £5,000

The Community Regeneration Officer (CRO) for each ward will be the initial point of contact for groups wishing to apply. The CRO will also work to raise awareness of the scheme, help identify local proposals and facilitate applications.

4 D6 Decision making

Shop front improvements which meet the defined criteria will be delegated to officers once qualifying criteria has been approved by Council Executive. This delegation will not override the need for matters to be referred to the Development Management Committee should planning consent be required.

Shop front applications will be considered on a rolling programme basis, and on a first come first served basis until such times as all available funding has been allocated.

All small scale village improvements projects will be brought forward to and approved at the local LAC. This will require a timescale to be set for the submission of bids.

E. CONCLUSION

To deliver a successful Village Improvement Fund the scheme will consist of two elements; the shop front improvement scheme and small scale village improvements. The shop front scheme will be administered in exactly the same way as the current schemes operating within the traditional town centres, with the improvements scheme administered through the LAC. The fund will complement the work on going within the traditional town centre’s allocation of capital monies.

F. BACKGROUND REFERENCES

None

Appendices/Attachments: Appendix 1: WLVIF Guidance and application form

Contact Person: Alice Sinnet, Economic Development Manager Tel. 01506 283079, [email protected]

Craig McCorriston Acting Head of Planning & Economic Development Date: 20 August 2013

5 Appendix 1

Mid-2010 Population Estimates - Localities in order Multi Member Ward of size (as defined by Scottish Govt) Villages with more than 500 residents

East Calder 5,480 E Livingston & E Calder Blackburn 5,250 Whitburn and Blackburn Fauldhouse 4,880 Fauldhouse & BV West Calder 3,110 Fauldhouse & BV Mid Calder 2,830 E Livingston & E Calder

Broxburn, Uphall & Winchburgh 2,430 Winchburgh Polbeth 2,400 Fauldhouse & BV Stoneyburn and Bents 2,020 Fauldhouse & BV Kirknewton 1,930 E Livingston & E Calder Blackridge 1,840 Armadale & Blackridge Uphall Station 1,810 E Livingston & E Calder Addiebrownhill and Loganlea 1,550 Fauldhouse & BV Pumpherston 1,380 E Livingston & E Calder Seafield 1,360 Whitburn and Blackburn East Whitburn 1,170 Whitburn and Blackburn Greenrigg 1,020 Whitburn and Blackburn Longridge 990 Fauldhouse & BV Bridgend 790 Broxburn, Uphall & Dechmont 670 Winchburgh Torphichen 570 Armadale & Blackridge Villages with less than 500 people Breich Fauldhouse & BV Broxburn, Uphall & Ecclesmachan/Oatridge Winchburgh Newton/Woodend Linlithgow Philpstoun/Threemiletown Linlithgow Westfield Armadale & Blackridge Wilkieston E Livingston & E Calder

* Note: Livingston locality as defined by GRO(S) includes Pumpherston and Uphall Station as contiguous urban area. Figures shown above for Pumpherston and Uphall are based on GRO(S) datazone estimates for 2010. Source: Scottish Government GRO(S) and WLC Economic Development

6 Appendix 2

Scheme guidance

West Lothian Villages Improvement Fund - Guidelines

1. Background

West Lothian Council has agreed to establish a Village Improvements Fund of £1.65m phased over five years. This is split between two schemes:

x Rural shop front improvement scheme; and x Small scale village improvements and initiatives fund.

For the improvement and initiatives element initially each village or village area has been allocated a specific amount depending of population size, which will be either £35k, £15k or £5k in the first year. Details of the allocation are set out in appendix 1.

2. A shop frontage/shop improvement scheme

Local independent retailers can apply. This will operate in a similar way to the shop frontage improvement schemes for traditional town centres i.e. a grant of up to £750 and no more than 50% of the cost of the shop front improvement for further information please refers to premises improvement design guidelines. For information on this part of the scheme contact:

Yvonne Shaw Economic Development, West Lothian Council, The Civic Centre, Howden Road South, Livingston, EH54 6FF

Tel: 07824343291 e-mail: [email protected]

3. Small scale village improvements and initiatives fund

This could include a number of types of investment that provide physical improvements to the village streetscape or other capital improvements identified by the community:

Examples of physical improvements might be:

x Provision of street furniture such as seating, cycle stands and direction signs. x Improved village gateways (e.g.; through planting, landscaping and/or signage). x Improved sense of place in village centres through hard landscaping, planting and soft landscape improvements. x Tidying and landscaping of gap sites within villages. x Access improvements in and around villages. x Investment in projects that engage and support young people. x Investment in other local community facilities.

7 4. Developing Projects

In considering projects community based organisations should consider how:

x Projects should be bottom-up and developed through local consultation before being considered by the relevant Local Area Committee (LAC). x Projects should demonstrate how they contribute to specific local outcomes. It may be that your village projects align with ward action plans, the local plan and other established plans which will help develop your application. x Multi-sectoral involvement – projects applications canbe developed by local businesses, community based organisations and local partnerships involving council services. x Projects should be revenue neutral or, where this is not the case, full provision should be made for the revenue consequences of the proposal.

Developing proposals will be supported by the Community Regeneration Officer and Lead Officers with responsibility for each village, within their LAC.

The Community Regeneration Officers to contact in the first instance are:

x Douglas Benson (Ward 8 Armadale & Blackridge and Ward 9 Bathgate); tel: 01506 281970 or e-mail [email protected] x Douglas Grierson (Ward 1 Linlithgow and Ward 2 Broxburn, Uphall and Winchburgh); tel: 01506 281088 or e-mail [email protected] x Laura Machnik (Ward 6 Fauldhouse and Breich Valley); tel: 01506 281085 or e-mail [email protected] x Scott McKillop (Ward 7 Whitburn and Blackburn); tel: 01506 281092 or e-mail [email protected] x Claire Pattullo (Ward 5 East Livingston and East Calder); tel: 01506 281031 or e-mail [email protected]

5. Decision making process All applications will be considered by the relevant Local Area Committee (LAC) for the Ward. These can be submitted at any time but must be received no less than four weeks prior to the date of the LAC meeting for consideration by that committee.

Dates of the individual LAC meetings can be found at http://www.westlothian.gov.uk/Council_and_government/locality-mmw/

8 Mid-2010 Population Estimates - Localities in order of size (as defined by Scottish Govt)

Multi Member Ward Villages with more than 500 residents (£35,000 or £15,000)

£35,000 WARD x East Calder (5,480) E Livingston & E Calder x Blackburn (5,250) Whitburn and Blackburn x Fauldhouse (4,880) Fauldhouse & BV x West Calder (3,110) Fauldhouse & BV x Mid Calder (2,830) E Livingston & E Calder

£15,000 x Winchburgh (2,430) Broxburn, Uphall & Winchburgh x Polbeth (2,400) Fauldhouse & BV x Stoneyburn and Bents (2,020) Fauldhouse & BV x Kirknewton (1,930) E Livingston & E Calder x Blackridge (1,840) Armadale & Blackridge x Uphall Station (1,810) E Livingston & E Calder x Addiebrownhill and Loganlea (1,550) Fauldhouse & BV x Pumpherston (1,380) E Livingston & E Calder x Seafield (1,360) Whitburn and Blackburn x East Whitburn (1,170) Whitburn and Blackburn x Greenrigg (1,020) Whitburn and Blackburn x Longridge (990) Fauldhouse & BV x Bridgend (790) Linlithgow x Dechmont (670) Broxburn, Uphall &Winchburgh x Torphichen (570) Armadale & Blackridge

Villages with less than 500 people £5,000 x Breich Fauldhouse & BV x Ecclesmachan/Oatridge Broxburn, Uphall & Winchburgh x Newton/Woodend Linlithgow x Philpstoun/Threemiletown Linlithgow x Westfield Armadale& Blackridge x Wilkieston E Livingston & E Calder

* Note: Livingston locality as defined by GRO(S) includes Pumpherston and Uphall Station as contiguous urban area. Figures shown above for Pumpherston and Uphall are based on GRO(S) datazone estimates for 2010.

Source: Scottish Government GRO(S) and WLC Economic Development

9 West Lothian Villages Improvement Fund

Application form

x Please refer to the guidance notes when completing this form x Please complete in BLOCK CAPITAL LETTERS and use black ink x No project should start or commit expenditure before receiving the approval of grant

1. Applicant Organisation Details

Organisation Name

Project title

Contact person

Position

Address

Telephone number

Email Address

Type of organisation

What date was your organisation formed? Are you a charity, please quote your number What are the main activities of your organisation?

(please answer in no more than 100 words)

Do you have an equal opportunities policy or statement? Yes / No If yes please provide a copy

Does your organisation take account of equality issues around Yes / No age, disability, gender, race, religion or belief?

10 Are you applying for other funding, if so, please detail Approved Anticipated

2. Project details

Council Ward

Project location

Project start date

Project finish date

Estimated Outcome

Project description Describe fully the project for which grant is being sought (background and context of the project, description of works).

11 Partners involved (other local organisations you are working with)

Evidence of need What evidence is there that your project is needed? It is vital that you show that you have identified the need for your project, eg letters of support, or local survey.

Outcomes Describe what your project will deliver.

Village Improvements; e.g Number of sites improved Area of landscaping

12 Community Facilities: e.g number of facilities improved -Projected usage

3.Project Costs

Amount of funding requested

Item of expenditure Cost

Project management Describe how your project will be managed and administered including details of any: - Design / plans - Implementation arrangements e.g contract tenders - Planning Approval

4. Declaration

13 We wish to apply for a Village Improvement Capital Grant. The above is an accurate outline of the proposed project. We have read and understood the guidance notes for applicants and agree to the conditions therein. We understand that the grant may be modified or withdrawn, if all the conditions are not adhered to. We are willing to co-operate in the monitoring of the grant scheme and to meet with their representatives if required to do so. We will acknowledge the support of the Fund in any related PR activities.

Name

Position

Organisation

Date

Please send your completed forms to:

Catherine Duffin Administration Assistant Regeneration & Employability Area Services West Lothian Council 2nd Floor North West Lothian Civic Centre Howden South Road Livingston EH54 6FF

Tel: 01506 283275 E-mail: [email protected]

Attachment checklist - as applicable Please Indicate (x) Constitution or Articles and Memorandum Committee Members or Directors List

Bank Statements - three statements

Annual accounts

14 SHOPFRONT IMPROVEMENT SCHEME - APPLICATION

Name of Applicant: ______

Company Name (cheque should be made payable to): ______

Address of Rateable Property: ______

______

______

Have you checked with Planning Services on the need for a Planning Application and/or Building Warrant? YES/NO (delete as appropriate)

Is a Planning Application required? YES/NO (delete as appropriate)

Is a Building Warrant required? YES/NO (delete as appropriate)

Cost of Planning Application/ Building Warrant where required £

Are you VAT registered? YES/NO (delete as appropriate)

Estimated Start Date of Works: ______

Estimated Completion Date of Works: ______

I acknowledge receipt of the Design Guidelines issued by Planning Department, West Lothian Council, and confirm that I will endeavour to comply with these where possible.

I confirm that, where required, I have applied for all relevant consents or permission, statutory or otherwise (copies attached).

I attach two detailed estimates for the Shopfront Improvement Works, including a full description of the works to be undertaken.

Signed: ______

Date: ______

Applications should be returned to:-

Rebecca Boyd, Economic Development, West Lothian Council, The Civic Centre, Howden Road South, Livingston, EH54 6FF. ------For internal use only

Total Expenditure (incl. VAT) £ Grant claimed: £ 15