MID DEVON AREA LEADER LOCAL DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY 2015 - 2020 Mid Devon Leader Local Development Strategy 2015-2020 The REALDevon Local Development Strategy has been approved by: Mid Devon Leader Local Development Strategy 2015-2020 REAL (Rural Enterprise And Livelihoods) Devon LEADER Local Development Strategy Contents 1. Introduction ................................................................................................................................................................ 1 2. The Local Action Group Partnership ......................................................................................................................... 2 2.1 Membership ....................................................................................................................................................... 2 2.1.1 The Local Action Group (LAG) .......................................................................................................................... 2 2.1.2 Executive Group ................................................................................................................................................ 2 2.2 Structure and Decision Making Process ........................................................................................................... 3 2.2.2 Structure ............................................................................................................................................................ 3 2.2.3 Decision Making ................................................................................................................................................ 4 2.3 Local Action Group Staff ................................................................................................................................... 4 2.4 Equal Opportunities statement (the public sector equality duty) ....................................................................... 5 2.5 Involvement of the community and consultation activity undertaken ................................................................ 5 2.6 Training requirements ....................................................................................................................................... 6 3. The LAG Area ........................................................................................................................................................... 7 4. REALDevon – Our Strategy ...................................................................................................................................... 8 4.1 The National Context ........................................................................................................................................ 8 4.2 Analysis of our Challenges ................................................................................................................................ 8 4.2.1 REALDevon – Our Businesses ......................................................................................................................... 8 4.2.2 REALDevon – Our People .............................................................................................................................. 12 4.2.3 REALDevon – Our Place .................................................................................................................................... 14 4.3 ‘SWOT’ analysis of the local area ......................................................................................................................... 17 4.4 REALDevon Local Priorities ............................................................................................................................ 18 4.4.1 Strategic Objectives .................................................................................................................................... 18 4.5 Programme of Activity ..................................................................................................................................... 19 4.5.1 Supporting new and existing businesses to be more productive and competitive to enable growth and job creation ........................................................................................................................................................................ 19 4.5.2 To realise sustainable economic potential from our location, environmental and heritage assets ................. 21 4.5.3 Supporting Thriving and Sustainable Communities ........................................................................................ 23 4.6 Evidence of Alignment with Heart of the SW LEP activity .............................................................................. 24 4.7 Provisional Outputs ......................................................................................................................................... 25 4.8 Sustainability appraisal ................................................................................................................................... 26 4.9 Proposed co-operation activity ........................................................................................................................ 27 5. Management and Administration ............................................................................................................................ 28 5.1 Accountable Body ........................................................................................................................................... 28 5.2 Project development and assessment procedures ......................................................................................... 28 5.2.1 Project Development ....................................................................................................................................... 28 5.2.2 Assessment Procedures ................................................................................................................................. 28 5.3 Claims and payments ...................................................................................................................................... 28 5.4 Communications and publicity ........................................................................................................................ 29 5.5 Monitoring and Evaluation ............................................................................................................................... 30 5.6 Action plan ....................................................................................................................................................... 30 Mid Devon Leader Local Development Strategy 2015-2020 6. Financial Plan .......................................................................................................................................................... 31 6.1 Overall Funding Profile .......................................................................................................................................... 31 6.2 Expenditure for each year, by policy Priority ................................................................................................... 31 6.3 Use of grants, procurement or other type of financial support ........................................................................ 32 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The creation of this Local Development Strategy has been a true collaborative effort, reflecting all that is good about the LEADER approach to local development. Thanks go to the many people have committed time and passion to the ideas and substance that follow, especially the Shadow LAG members who steered the process; all those who came to consultation events, submitted projects or spoke with us as we developed the bid. Cllr Richard Chesterton, Acting Chairman, REALDevon LAG Mid Devon Leader Local Development Strategy 2015-2020 1. Introduction This REALDevon (Rural Enterprise and local Livelihoods) Local Development Strategy (LDS) has been developed in response to the opportunity from DEFRA to establish a new LEADER Local Action Group in the Mid Devon area. REALDevon shares many of the same characteristics as its neighbours, which have benefitted from previous rounds of LEADER funding, so the opportunity to benefit from the LEADER approach in this new area is very much welcome. REALDevon is under-performing economically – with lower than average levels of enterprise, poor productivity and a low skills base. It is seen as being ‘off the beaten track’ and loses out to neighbouring Exeter, whilst potential visitors drive through on their way to holiday destinations across the South West Peninsula. The area does however have huge ‘untapped potential’, which through this opportunity for LEADER funding, can be utilised for economic growth. This Local Development Strategy has the support of the public, private and voluntary sectors in the REALDevon area, with the possibilities really capturing people’s enthusiasm, as the following quotes illustrate: “Small rural businesses in Mid Devon have never before been able to access LEADER funding. This strategy, with a strong emphasis on enterprise and business growth, provides an exciting opportunity to help new and existing businesses thrive in the area.” Niki Lathwell, Director, Lathwell & Associates. Chair, Business Forum Mid Devon. “Our agri-food sector is renowned for producing high quality, authentic food, benefitting from our unique Culm grassland. LEADER funding provides an exciting opportunity to support this important