Scotland: National Rural Network
From 1st January 2010, LEADER Local Action Groups will have the facility to award up to 90 percent of eligible project costs instead of the current 50 percent intervention rate.
This increase in intervention rate will be for a trial period of one year and applies to new projects awarded grant support from 1st January 2010.
Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and Environment Richard Lochhead made a statement in Parliament addressing the background to the change in intervention rate saying, "I wish to address some of the match funding concerns of applicants during the current economic position and help get more good projects off the ground. I have therefore decided to increase the potential funding support available from LEADER for new projects from up to 50 percent to up to 90 percent from 1 January 2010. LAGs will still maintain the discretion to vary the rate as they see fit. Projects that have already been approved will not be able retrospectively to apply for an increased rate. I have decided that, initially, this increase should operate for a trial period of one year."
The statement also covered other proposed changes in the way that Community Services and Facilities projects will be considered. These changes are all part of a desire to enhance local decision making, Cabinet secretary in his announcement on 18th November outlined that "The Scottish Government supports the LEADER approach of local projects determined by local decision making. In relation to the proposed change to the delivery mechanism for community facilities support to LEADER, Local Action Groups (LAGs) support the strategic direction but have made representations concerning certain practical issues."
Transitional arrangements were outlined on 18th November on this website in the article Community Services and Facilities funding to stay with Rural Priorities - for now and further updates will be provided on this particular element.
Appropriate procedures for handling these applications are currently being worked up by officials.
To find out about the policies applying in your local area, contact your LEADER Local Action Group. Contact details can be found here.
Join the Network Now!
del.icio.us
Digg
Facebook
Google
StumbleUpon
Technorati
Twitter
Comments
This will be welcome news for
This will be welcome news for many communities, although we must not underestimate the practical challenges for the LAGs as the start of the changeover process begins.
As a Rural Leader I go to lots of meetings all of which involve matters rural. My interest in this particular developmental journey began in February 2008 with the Village Halls Summit which I attended on behalf of my community. Like others we faced challenges of community cohesion and sustainability through lack of facilities which we knew we could overcome with upgrading and refurbishment of our hall. The summit was held at Aviemore and it was the outcome of an SCVO campaign to raise awareness to the dire situation of communities struggling to keep their Village Halls and community facilities as the hub of the community and prevent them from literally falling apart. SCVO had recognised the value of Village Halls and the people who manage, support and use them. They are the cornerstones of our communities yet they were crumbling fast, and at crisis point.
The gathering was inspiring and impressive. Supporters of Village Halls undertook journeys the full length and breadth of Scotland utilising every form of transport available, boat, bus, car, taxi, train, bicycle to listen to presentations from those who had found a way to make their halls become sustainable. The workshops identified many common threads of challenge.
The Minister listened, encouraged and most importantly, acted. He included funding for Village Halls and Community Facilities within the Rural Priorities part of the Scottish Rural Development Programme. SCVO were brought in to provide training to community supporters. They produced an excellent online users guide, to help us access funding on what was by then proving to be a problematic online application process.
At the summit securing match funding had been identified as a major barrier and the recession has brought this into sharper focus.
LEADER, another bottom up mechanism for delivering community projects was also recognised by the Minister as being more locally accountable. However, LEADER required 50% match funding along with "innovation" which is a fundamental requirement. Once more the Minister has responded by making possible the potential for 90% funding. The decision on the percentage of funding of individual projects will be left entirely to the discretion of the local LAGs.
Like Rural Priorities, it will be up to the applicant to demonstrate that the project will provide wide rural benefit worthy of any potential 90% funding.
Innovative projects should be shared and encouraged to develop and spread. The Rural Network is a tool that we can use to share our innovative ideas.