Scotland: National Rural Network
This is the first part of the event report from the Scottish National Rural Network regional event in Moray. Here, you can find details of the opening remarks from Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment Richard Lochhead, and information updates from the SNRN, LEADER and Rural Priorities. In Part Two, you can find information on two inspiring project presentations, Wild Things! and the Farm to Work project.
The Moray regional event of the Scottish National Rural Network took place on 29th January 2010 at the Inchberry Hall, Fochabers. Despite snow, icy road conditions and a traffic diversion, around 75 delegates turned out for the event, which was also attended by Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment Richard Lochhead.
Priscilla Gordon-Duff, Chair of the Moray LEADER Local Action Group chaired proceedings and welcomed delegates before handing over to Mr Lochhead who gave the opening address.
Mr Lochhead began his address by congratulating delegates on managing to get to the event despite the weather conditions. He said there were many familiar faces in the audience, and that being kept well abreast of local issues in his Moray constituency helped him in his role as Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment.
He said the day's event was an chance to hear about successes in Moray and look at opportunities for the future.
Mr Lochhead recognised and applauded the projects that are being undertaken in the area. He highlighted the work of Moray LEADER and in particular the Archiestown Village Council's planned 250th anniversary celebrations. The community and neighbours will be getting together to rekindle community spirit.
And community spirit was evident in Moray recently during the heaviest snowfall for thirty years, he said. He had heard many anecdotes about people helping each other out during these challenging times. For example, volunteers of the Community Off-Road Transport Action Group (COTAG), who were represented at the event, delivered meals on wheels, got nurses to hospitals and helped stranded motorists. Mr Lochhead said we owe a huge debt to "snow heroes" such as these volunteers.
Turning to the purpose of the day's event, Mr Lochhead said the Scottish National Rural Network aims to get rural people speaking together and working together. The regional events will facilitate local and best practice and galvanise local and regional projects. They are an opportunity to enjoy successes and achievements, to find out what's working well and to encourage good practice.
Rural Scotland is a good place to live, said Mr Lochhead, referring to the Rural Scotland Key Facts 2009 document. Over three quarters of people said remote rural Scotland was a good place to live, with 66 percent in accessible rural saying the same about their area. This compared to 49 percent in the rest of Scotland.
Mr Lochhead also referred to the recent Community Empowerment Action Plan, and said empowerment was about helping people to tackle real world issues. He said the Scottish Government had taken a number of actions in this area. The Rural Funding Opportunities Guide brings contact information for Scottish Government rural grants and schemes together in one place. It's the first attempt to have one publication for people looking for funding.
The Scottish National Rural Network regional events and website aim to connect rural Scotland and promote rural growth. Mr Lochhead said he wants to see an online community building up on the website. He also highlighted the Rural Gathering which saw 300 people from many sectors and organisations come together in Perth. Feedback had been very positive, and he said there would hopefully be another Rural Gathering in the future.
Mr Lochhead then talked about the Scotland Rural Development Programme. Steps have already been taking to help simplify the programme, and he said they were always looking for ways of simplfying it further.
Looking to the future for rural Scotland, Mr Lochhead said we've got a lot of the solutions to a lot of the big challenges. He talked about the three ingredients of life: energy, food and water. As the population increases dramatically over coming decades, a shortage of these vital resources will be a global challenge. Rural Scotland has the capacity to produce more energy, grow more food and we have no shortage of water.
Mr Lochhead concluded by saying that the biggest resource in rural Scotland is our people.
Participants then had the opportunity to put their questions to Mr Lochhead, and Bruce Beveridge from the Scottish Government. Perhaps unsurprisingly, there were two questions questions about the Rural Priorities scheme, one to do with cash flow and applicants having difficulty spending money in order to claim it back, the other about transaction costs. A question about harbours was also asked - harbours are at the heart of many communities in Moray, however the questioner said there seemed to be no support to these harbours.
Mr Lochhead and Mr Beveridge responded to questions, and said they would look into these issues further.
Beverley Maclean, Regional Coordinator of the Scottish National Rural Network gave delegates an overview of the Network, its aims and objectives and the series of regional events that are currently taking place. Norette Ferns, Scottish National Rural Network Website Editor gave an overview of the website, what information is available and most importantly how everyone can get involved. She highlighted two step by step guides to adding content and adding photos to the gallery.
David Watson, LEADER Coordinator for Moray gave an interesting presentation on LEADER, what it can fund and some of the successes from the area. He said LEADER tries to make things happen - if a project is good then they will try to find a way to make it happen. Innovation is really important to LEADER, but Mr Watson said this wasn't about jet packs and time machines but about a new way of doing things. And it only has to be innovative to Moray.
Moray LEADER wants to enable people to live and work in rural areas. Mr Watson said if we want to sustain rural life, people need to be able to find work in that area. The two themes that Moray LEADER focusses on are Revitalising Communities and Progressive Rural Economy.
Mr Watson then took delegates through what was eligible under LEADER. He said that micro-businesses can apply, but they have to show community support. The Cairngorms National Park has its own LEADER area, and Elgin is not eligible because it is not classed as rural under the rules of LEADER. However, Mr Watson said that although projects that benefit Elgin are excluded, projects in Elgin that benefit the wider community may be considered.
The Moray Local Action Group has 16 members, many of whom attended the event. The LAG has strong Community Planning links. The total budget Moray LEADER hope to achieve is over £5million. Mr Watson said this was key to keeping development going at a time when investment is not forthcoming. Moray LEADER launched in January 2009, and Mr Watson was appointed in March 2009. They have approved 18 projects and committed around 25 percent of their budget.
Mr Watson said the added benefit of LEADER is a broad range of local knowledge. Unlike many funders, you can talk to Moray LEADER, submit a draft plan and so on. Mr Watson urged people to make use of this resource.
Notable successes included Forres in Bloom who won a gold medal in Entente Florale Europe 2009. Other projects considered for funding included Community Facilities, Health and Wellbeing, Youth and Oudoor Access, Employability training, Environmental Education, Cultural Arts, Feasability studies.
Looking to the future, Mr Watson said there were possibilities of other funding streams coming across to LEADER, and broadband funding has already come across. You can find out more by downloading the LEADER update presentation from our documents library and by visiting the Moray LEADER website.
Ken Watt from the Scottish Government Rural Payments and Inspections Directorate gave delegates an overview of the Rural Priorities. Rural Priorities is a £600 million scheme, part of the £1.6 billion Scotland Rrural Development Programme.
It is a competitive, outcome driven scheme and has an entirely online application process. So far, there have been about 10,000 Statements of Intent (the first stage of application) with about two thirds of these progressing to proposal stage. In the November round 1438 applications were considered and 1131 projects were approved in full or part.
Case studies for Rural Priorities projects are available, Mr Watt highlighted a restoration and renovation of an extensive redundant farm steading building that received a £900,000 grant.
Information about Rural Priorities is available on the Rural Priorities part of Scottish Government's SRDP website and you can also find out more by downloading Ken Watt's presentation from our documents library.
In Rural Network Moray event (Part two) you can get details of two inspiring project presentations, from Wild Things! in Moray and the Farm to Work project in Highland.
The discussion session was unable to take place due to adverse weather conditions, however we're still really keen to hear stories from Moray. So, why not get involved in our What's working well in Moray? forum? We want to know about the successful projects, initiatives and businesses in the area, and how you think these successes could be built upon in the future.
The Moray event is one of a series of 20 taking place across Scotland. For more information go to our Regional Events section. You can get event reports from other events in our Rural Network Regional Events archive.
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