Tyne Esk LEADER Programme 2014-2020* Local Development Strategy Tyne Esk LEADER LAG and Forth Fisheries LAG Original - August 2015 Last Updated August 2020 *Extension to 2021 applies to all references to the 2014-2020 Programme throughout the document 2 CONTENTS Page Executive Summary............................................................................................. i 1 Introduction ............................................................................................... 1 2 The Tyne Esk LEADER eligible areas: population and socio-economic description ................................................................................................. 2 3 The process of engagement ..................................................................... 24 4. The development needs and opportunities for the area .......................... 26 5 The wider context .................................................................................... 30 6 The Local Development Strategy .............................................................. 35 7 Forth Fisheries - To come ....................................................................... 47 8 Implementing the strategy: structures and processes ............................. 52 Appendices Appendix 1: Programme Management Structure Appendix 2: LAG membership Appendix 3: Bibliography Appendix 4: Programme Datazones for the eligible area Appendix 5: Consultation meeting dates Executive Summary This document sets out the Local Development Strategy (LDS) for the Tyne Esk LEADER programme 2014-2020 which has been developed by the shadow Local Action Group (LAG) through consultation throughout the area with geographical communities and target groups (social enterprises, small and medium sized enterprises, farmers, the third sector and young people). The LDS includes the strategy for implementing LEADER funding in the Tyne Esk area and in addition includes a separate section (7) focused on the implementing the European Maritime Fisheries Fund (EMFF) 2014-2020 which will be undertaken in collaboration with Scottish Borders and Fife coastal areas under the heading of the Forth Fisheries Local Action Group (FFLAG). The process of creating the Local Development Strategy has highlighted the difficulty of bringing together important information about the Tyne Esk LEADER area. This is because most statistics are created at local authority level making it sometimes difficult to identify the main profile characteristics of the area. The LEADER community consultation focussed on undertaking a strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT) analysis and asking participants to identify potential projects. The SWOT analysis identified some key strengths and weaknesses. For example the Tyne Esk area has a growing population partly due to recent house building, with some “new” communities being developed. This brings advantages as well as tensions. The local economy has a number of strengths: notably tourism, agriculture and food and drink, as well as a world class research centre based in and around the Easter Bush Estate Midlothian. There is a strong social enterprise sector and in general a diversity of active businesses. However key weaknesses identified relating to the economy included the lack of local employment for young people, the lack of affordable childcare and public transport that links different communities together. The consultation process has identified three key themes for the strategy for the next five years: Community, co-operation and cohesion Economic development i Enhanced environment to support our communities and businesses The values underpinning these themes and the processes that will be adopted are transparency, innovation and inclusion. The LEADER funding will include a minimum of 20% for farm diversification and rural enterprise development (originally 10% respectively). 5% (originally 10%) will also be made available for projects which facilitate cooperation. The fisheries local development funding will support the development of the maritime economy, underpinned by economic growth, social inclusion and job creation in fisheries areas. The Local Action Group will draw its membership from local businesses, organisations and will have a minimum 51-49% split between the non-public and public sector. It will be independent in its decision-making about applications based on the strategy set out in this document. The strategy itself will be revised at the mid-point of the programme to ensure that it remains fit for purpose. There will be a small staff team to support implementation including a co-ordinator, project development officer and finance support officer. The role of the project development officer will be to help foster and “animate” projects, stimulating projects in areas that the LAG wishes to see developed in line with the strategy and supporting those with ideas that fit with the overall strategy. In terms of governance and accountability, Midlothian Council will be the accountable body for the LEADER funding and will employ the staff on behalf of the LAG. The LAG will report on an annual basis to the two Community Planning Partnerships (CPPs) in Midlothian and East Lothian. The CPPs do not have any formal role in directing the activities of the LAG but it is essential to ensure that the LEADER programme complements the work of the CPPs. The CPPs in East Lothian and Midlothian have both been invited to nominate a representative to be an observer on the LAG. Acronyms CAP - Common Agricultural Policy CPPs – Community Planning Partnerships EFF – European Fisheries Fund EMFF – European Maritime Fisheries Fund FFLAG – Forth Fisheries Local Action Group FLAG – Fisheries Local Action Groups FSB – Federation of Small Businesses GVA – Gross Value Added LAG – Local Action Group LDS – Local Development Strategy NRS – National Records of Scotland OECD - The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development ONS – Office of National Statistics SES - South East Scotland ScotPHO – Scottish Public Health Observatory SIMD – Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation SMEs - Small and medium-sized enterprises SRDP – Scottish Rural Development Programme SRUC - Scotland's Rural College SWOT – Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats Glossary of terms Communities The word “communities” used in this document is taken to include the following: Geographical communities: the place people feel they belong to in terms of where they live Communities of interest: communities/groups of people who come together because they share a particular interest, for example sports communities or those with shared life experience such as physical disability Virtual communities: these are likely to overlap with the second example above and refer to the way a community of interest mainly keeps in touch by the internet/social media In a sustainable way This means that development takes place in a way that allows for the continuation of the natural, human and built resources used into the future. LEADER Programme The LEADER programme (an acronym in French meaning Links between actions for the development of the rural economy) is a European Union initiative to support rural development projects initiated at the local level in order to revitalise rural areas and create jobs. Resilience The ability within a community to deal with change and continue to develop in a positive way. 1 Introduction The River Tyne rises in the Moorfoot Hills in Midlothian near Tynehead to the south of Edinburgh. It continues for approximately 48 km in a north-eastern direction, and it empties into the North Sea near Bellhaven. The River Esk has two main tributaries: the North Esk and South Esk. The North Esk rises near East Cairn Hill, in the Pentlands, and passes through the North Esk Reservoir and the village of Carlops. The South Esk has its source in the Moorfoot Hills near Bowbeat Wind Farm and passes through the Gladhouse and Rosebery Reservoirs as it travels out towards the sea. The rivers converge 2 km northeast of Dalkeith and travel a further 7.8 km to the sea at Musselburgh. Map of the Tyne Esk area Source: Midlothian Council 1 The rivers are similar in that they pass through relatively rural areas, small villages and more urban, built-up areas. Although the Tyne Esk area lies close to the city of Edinburgh it faces some of the issues that other more remote rural areas face: difficulties of transport and connections within the area; pockets of deprivation; low levels of local employment; issues of financial and digital exclusion. Part of the area is coastal and the harbour towns of Port Seton, Cockenzie, North Berwick and Dunbar will form part of a newly formed Fisheries Local Action Group along with harbour towns in Berwickshire and Fife. The area covered by the rivers Tyne and Esk is served by two local authorities: Midlothian Council and East Lothian Council. East Lothian Council was the accountable body for the last two LEADER programmes, the accountable body for this new Local Development Strategy 2014-2020 is Midlothian Council. Tyne Esk has successfully delivered two previous LEADER programmes between 2002-2007 and 2007-2013. During this period it has funded a wide range of community projects. The LAG membership has evolved over this period to meet the needs and priorities of the programme. In this new strategy there will be greater emphasis on the community development aspects of the programme with staff resource available to support and stimulate community activity in line