W Midlands Rural Development Programme

1. W Midlands Rural Development Programme March 2008 Stakeholders event

2. Welcome First stakeholders event Important functions for this group Welcome engagement and interest Main purpose of event is WM RDPE is Open for business Particular focus on the Socio-economic programme Demonstrate desire of NE, FC and AWM to work together on the respective programmes This is the first meeting of Stakeholders Group � hope first meeting of group which we hope will make a good contribution to the programme, throughout the next 6 years. More than the Stakeholders group today with an open invite issued to all RAF members and you are welcome.. Want partners and stakeholders to know that we are open for business, how the programme works, particularly access to funding and how the engagement in the programme is intended to work. We also want you to see that we are going to join up delivery as much as possible, within the constraints of 3 separate programme apporaches Simon West � example of good team workingThis is the first meeting of Stakeholders Group � hope first meeting of group which we hope will make a good contribution to the programme, throughout the next 6 years. More than the Stakeholders group today with an open invite issued to all RAF members and you are welcome.. Want partners and stakeholders to know that we are open for business, how the programme works, particularly access to funding and how the engagement in the programme is intended to work. We also want you to see that we are going to join up delivery as much as possible, within the constraints of 3 separate programme apporaches Simon West � example of good team working

3. To cover Agreed approach The challenges we face How the programme will respond How to get involved in projects Partner engagement in programme governance Likely projects Agreed � ie, the givens through legislation and agreement with Defra and the EU Commission. NE, FC and AWM will all set out their agreed approaches Challenges � the challenges for agriculture, forestry and biodiversity � the ADAS presentation will set out the main challenges for agriculture Response � we will all then set out how our respective responses will respond to the region�s circumstances. In the RDA managed Axis 1&3 area I will talk about some of the early projects, what to do if you have an idea you think fits the programme and how funding can be accessed. Finally, I will describe the programme governance structureAgreed � ie, the givens through legislation and agreement with Defra and the EU Commission. NE, FC and AWM will all set out their agreed approaches Challenges � the challenges for agriculture, forestry and biodiversity � the ADAS presentation will set out the main challenges for agriculture Response � we will all then set out how our respective responses will respond to the region�s circumstances. In the RDA managed Axis 1&3 area I will talk about some of the early projects, what to do if you have an idea you think fits the programme and how funding can be accessed. Finally, I will describe the programme governance structure

4. Our agreed approach Regional Implementation Plan Agreed with Defra and regional partners 6 year �53m programme; Targeting led by Regional Economic Strategy; Action Plans based on most relevant Clusters Environmental Technologies, Food & Drink, Tourism & Leisure; Livestock Action Plan (Ministerial direction); Strategic investments (large multi-business projects) Based on collaboration; responding to Action Plans LEADER programme focussed on Social/community activity � LAA/LSP links; Many will have been involved in the RIP process and we thank you for your involvement. WM RIP is now agreed and forms part of the national programme � subject to final confirmation of year by year budgets from Defra. Once received we will then produce the final RIP for wider circulation. However, we are relatively confident of the figures shown here. However, this will be subject to alteration if disease or other economic shock responses are required � as is the case this year, with �14m lost from 2008 budget to pay for last years Foot and Mouth response. 2 key features of the new programme � Strategic investment and targeting according to the Regional Economic Strategy are different from the predecessor scheme. It has also been agreed that to be successful, projects will need to be predominantly collaborations between land based businesses. We, in WM, are using an Action Plan approach to summarise the regional priorities, identify what is meant by strategic projects which will address those priorities and we are publicising those Plans to enable potential applicants to respond. The Clusters closest to the land based sector lead the majority of Axis 1&3 activity; these are the sectors into which it is most appropriate for land based businesses to develop and diversify. The Livestock sector has been defined as the recipient for all Axis 1 Voluntary Modulation � which in this region up to 1/3 of total programme resources. The region�s Rural Development Framework has established the priorities for the Leader programme. Finally, around 25% of the programme is devoted to the Leader programme. We are pleased that the recent bidding round has led to viable proposals coming forward to cover majority of the region. We expect approximately 8 proposals to emerge from the strategy development process, including 2 cross regional areas. Many will have been involved in the RIP process and we thank you for your involvement. WM RIP is now agreed and forms part of the national programme � subject to final confirmation of year by year budgets from Defra. Once received we will then produce the final RIP for wider circulation. However, we are relatively confident of the figures shown here. However, this will be subject to alteration if disease or other economic shock responses are required � as is the case this year, with �14m lost from 2008 budget to pay for last years Foot and Mouth response. 2 key features of the new programme � Strategic investment and targeting according to the Regional Economic Strategy are different from the predecessor scheme. It has also been agreed that to be successful, projects will need to be predominantly collaborations between land based businesses. We, in WM, are using an Action Plan approach to summarise the regional priorities, identify what is meant by strategic projects which will address those priorities and we are publicising those Plans to enable potential applicants to respond. The Clusters closest to the land based sector lead the majority of Axis 1&3 activity; these are the sectors into which it is most appropriate for land based businesses to develop and diversify. The Livestock sector has been defined as the recipient for all Axis 1 Voluntary Modulation � which in this region up to 1/3 of total programme resources. The region�s Rural Development Framework has established the priorities for the Leader programme. Finally, around 25% of the programme is devoted to the Leader programme. We are pleased that the recent bidding round has led to viable proposals coming forward to cover majority of the region. We expect approximately 8 proposals to emerge from the strategy development process, including 2 cross regional areas.