FIELD WORK Summer 2018 Rural-proofing Local Enterprise Partnerships p.1 Tackling the plastic waste problem p.5 Supporting parish campaigns p.10 Improving wildlife in National Parks p.12 Giving communities a say on fracking p.14 The case for greener farming p.16 Shutterstock Why Local Enterprise Partnerships must do more for rural England survey published by CPRE in June shows that Local transport. This lack of housing and infrastructure for those who Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) are perceived, by almost work for and support rural businesses could hinder the growth Atwo-thirds (60%) of respondents, as having a negative of those economies. impact on issues affecting the countryside. Rural areas falling behind Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) are business-led partnerships between the private and public sector, designed to The absence of investment in rural economies, which provide support and promote growth in economic areas defined by local 13% of England’s employment, exacerbates issues facing much business interests and local government, and agreed with central of the country, such as the need for more regeneration, housing, Government. To inform our Next steps for LEPs report, CPRE asked sustainable transport, broadband connectivity and support its local groups (a total of 44 survey responses were received from for new entrants into farming. It also contributes to a growing 34 CPRE branches, covering 32 out of the 38 LEPs) how these inequality, which leaves many rural areas behind economically business-led partnerships were affecting rural communities and and socially. Furthermore, only 21% of LEP websites that were the countryside. While designed to support and promote growth surveyed appear to clearly provide evidence of their economic in their areas, the research found that LEPs may be entrenching activity and less than one quarter of LEPs hold public meetings. inequalities within and between English regions rather than CPRE believes that LEPs should be expected to produce and removing them, with investment three times more likely in an publish Rural Plans, particularly to help support and encourage already economically buoyant area than one in social need. smaller farms and land-based enterprises. The results demonstrate that many LEPs are failing rural Paul Miner, Head of Strategic Plans and Devolution at the communities by ignoring their economic potential, as well Campaign to Protect Rural England, said: ‘Local enterprise as social and environmental needs. Despite having a key partnerships are supposed to be more sensitive to the needs of responsibility in administering the Rural Development rural communities, businesses and economies than the regional Programme for England, only 21% of LEPs featured in the development agencies they replaced. But our local groups are survey were perceived as aiding the development of affordable telling us that too often LEPs are remote, back developments rural housing and just 14% work to address or improve rural that will happen anyway, and are not doing enough to support Continued on p.2 CONTACTS COVER STORY FIELDWORK Why Local Enterprise “LEP's should provide for Volume 15, Issue 2 Partnerships must do meaningful representation Editor: Oliver Hilliam more for rural England of the environmental sector ([email protected] ) Continued from p.1 on their boards” Contributors: Lizzie Bannister, Faye Morgan, Paul Miner, CPRE Lancashire, rural regeneration. Rural businesses, including Next steps for LEPs small farms, account for almost a quarter of CPRE Surrey, Christine Drury, all registered businesses in England – their CPRE are making 12 policy recommendations, Matt Thomson, Daniel Carey- importance to our economy cannot be ignored both for government and LEPs, based on the Dawes, Graeme Willis, Maddy any more.’ survey results. We believes that though taking sure Haughton-Boakes, Wildlife measures, rural areas will be better supported, and and Countryside Link. A lack of accountability their economic potential utilised. Firstly, we’d like LEPs matter because they are gaining to see a requirement for all LEPs covering rural Fieldwork is the newsletter of increasing responsibilities for public spending areas to produce and publish a Rural Inclusion the Campaign to Protect Rural on regional development across England. or Productivity Plan, setting out how agricultural England, published in April, Over the period from 2014 to 2020 they have and rural development fund money is spent, and how the LEP is contributing to the roll out of rural August and November. been given, in total across the 38 LEPs, £6.5 billion of European funding and £7.2 billion broadband connectivity and improved speeds. We also believe LEPs should provide for meaningful CPRE works locally and nationally across three successive rounds of Growth Deals concluded with the UK Government. representation of the non-statutory environmental to stand up for the countryside: The European element of the funding partly sector in their programmes and on their boards, to protect it from the threats it covers rural development, and LEPs are so that landscape and biodiversity concerns are faces, and to shape its future for also encouraged to work closely with Local considered in decision-making. the better. Nature Partnerships (LNPs) on delivering We called for LEPs to prioritise the most environmental improvement. sustainable development that will benefit most ISSN 1744-8905 (Print) But great concerns have been raised people, such as regenerating communities with ISSN 1744-8913 (Online) about the failure of LEPs to take rural and large areas of brownfield land and empty homes countryside issues into account, as well and buildings before investing in greenfield as their governance, transparency, and development. We argued that more investment accountability. All LEP boards are chaired by in sustainable public transport (including bus, a senior business figure and at least half (and cycle and pedestrian links to railway stations) over often more) of the boards consist of people road building projects could revitalise transport from the business sector, with the balance links in rural areas. Finally, to ensure continued coming from local government and few if progress, we suggested that performance on the any members from environmental groups or key environmental and social indicators for the other NGOs. This was borne out by findings LEP area are measured, and published, based that suggested LEPs take little interest in standardised output metrics. sustainable transport options, preferring The report prompted an encouraging reaction instead to promote damaging and expensive from the Chairman of the Local Enterprise road building schemes. Partnership for York, North Yorkshire and the East Riding, David Kerfoot, who spoke of its potential “Great concerns have to help farmers and rural communities boost their long term sustainability: ‘Whilst many LEPs may 5–11 Lavington Street been raised about LEPs have a focus on cities, as the largest rural LEP, our London, SE1 0NZ governance, transparency, focus is firmly on our agenda to build recognition Tel: 020 7981 2800 of the area as a rural powerhouse.’ The Sheffield Fax: 020 7981 2899 and accountability” City Region also responded by highlighting their [email protected] support to the ‘hundreds of exciting small rural On rural and countryside policy issues, businesses in this region [with] lots of talent and www.cpre.org.uk there is a clear feeling that LEPs are having fresh ideas.’ a negative impact (60% of responses). Confirming that CPRE’s report had raised an A company limited by guarantee, Many LEPs appear to lack a rural reach and important issue, we welcomed the LEP Network’s registered in England, number need to do more to address this deficiency. 4302973. Registered charity number Coverage of environmental and social issues statement that ‘LEPs are acutely aware of how 1089685. is inconsistent: we are aware of only 50% vital it is that all areas benefit from economic working with their equivalent LNP; only 21% growth, and have initiated a raft of programmes All the articles and features within on rural affordable housing; and just 14% to help boost rural economies.’ We hope that all this publication are copyright of the rural LEPs will build on such statements, and other CPRE and may not be reprinted or on rural transport. A potential example of good practice includes the work of LEPs in recent signs of progress, in order to both create distributed without the prior written thriving rural economies and help safeguard consent of the publishers. the South West to set up a Rural Productivity Commission, which reported in 2017. The our countryside. Fundamentally, we need LEPs Commission has come up with a number to become more sensitive to the needs of rural of exciting ideas for investing in affordable communities, businesses and economies than the housing, small farmers and natural and regional development agencies they replaced. cultural heritage and we look forward to the Find out more: Read CPRE’s full survey and report sponsoring LEPs taking these up. at www.cpre.org.uk/resources 2 Fieldwork Summer 2018 SUCCESSES IN THIS ISSUE featured BREAKthrough contents How our work is making a difference Next steps for LEPs p.1 Opposing the A victory for local democracy Arundel bypass p.4 Our response to the CPRE Sussex were celebrating in the other’, while the information a vast 95m chimney which, said food and farming June after plans for a damaging and assessment on pollution CPRE Sussex Director, Kia Trainor, consultation p.5 incinerator development in provided by the applicant was ‘would blight the natural beauty Horsham were rejected. ‘found wanting’. Local West Sussex of vast areas of rural landscape Sustainable rural West Sussex County Council County Councillor Peter Catchpole within Sussex and Surrey.’ motoring p.6 planning committee decided, described the proposal as a No Incinerator 4 Horsham said: in an 8 to 4 vote, to dismiss ‘visually colossal ugly incinerator’, ‘Democracy is alive and kicking.