Regional Policy & Delivery

 

Environmental Funding Gap

Following SW CoRE’s Plenary on 23rd September 2008, a letter was compiled and sent to Dr Helen Philips, Chief Executive of Natural England. The letter covered concerns about the possibility that many of the environmental achievements of the Countryside Stewardship Scheme are at risk of being lost due to existing Environmental Sensitive Area and Countryside Stewardship Scheme agreements ceasing at the end of their term.

The letter outlined that many of SW CoRE’s members had expressed serious concern that they are aware of existing agreement holders who will not be able to afford to retain the habitats they have created because there is a mismatch between the old and new environmental funding streams. While our letter ‘applauded’ the introduction of ELS, it suggested a range of solutions some of which were: a rising scale of payments depending on number and quality of environmental features would bridge this gap in environmental funding, and that there could be a mid level funding scheme which would fall between ELS and HLS.

The reply came from Janette Ward on behalf of Helen Phillips. It addressed the four areas we had highlighted: The Gap between ELS and HLS, Rising Scale of Payments, Capital Works and extending existing CSS/ESA agreements until further changes are made.

Letter to Natural England

Cover Letter

Response Letter

Defra's Strong Rural Communities DSO

For the current Spending Review period (CSR 07) effective from 2008-09 to 2010-11, each government department has developed a set of Departmental Strategic Objectives (DSOs). These set out a picture of what the Department as a whole aims to achieve over the next three years and provides an overarching framework for performance management and progress reporting. Ron Scrutton, Deputy Director, Rural Policy Division, Defra, has written a summary on this.

Click here for more information on the PSAs and DSOs from the Defra website.

State of the Countryside South West

The South West Forum has contributed to the 2008 update of the South West Observatory's 'State of the South West' report. The State of the South West is the definitive guide for regional intelligence in the South West and can be accessed online at www.swo.org.uk/observatory/links-1/state/state-of-the-south-w-1.shtm.


View the SOSW (VCO) Economy section at:

www.swo.org.uk/SOTSW2008/section_33.html
View the SOSW (VCO) Workforce section at:

www.swo.org.uk/SOTSW2008/section_68.html
View the SOSW Social Participation section at:

www.swo.org.uk/SOTSW2008/section_241.html

Monitoring the Impact of 0% Set-Aside

Following the Agriculture Council's move to set a 0% rate of set-aside for 2008, Jeff Rooker, Minister for Sustainable Food and Farming and Animal Health, has requested assistance from various components of the Rural Communtiy in monitoring the environmental impact of the decision. Technical experts from the NFU, CLA, RSPB, NE, and EA are working together to ascertain the perceived environmental benefits of set aside land, and on how best to monitor the change and its effects. Hilary Benn and Jeff Rooker have also asked on a Regional level that 0% set-aside rate is discussedwith those on the ground to ensure that 'future decisions are based on sound evidence'. Defra have therefore constructed Five Key Questions on the 0% set-aside rate.

 

              Click here for this report

On 30th January 2008 Defra announced the first results from monitoring the impact of 0% set aside rate. The non-rotational area (land left out for more than a single year) is expected to fall by 35%, while the rotational area is expected to fall by 85%. The areas in margins and corners of fields is expected to fall by 13% overall, with larger reductions on farms not in Environmental Stewardship Schemes. For more Information click here.

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Rural Development Programme for England 2007 ~ 2013

The new Rural Development Programme for England will be implemented in the South West through the Regional Implementation Plan 2007 - 2013 (RIP), commencing February 2008. Cornwall, as a convergence area, will receive 'reserved' funding for its rural development activities.

The RIP is to be built around three key themes developed by National Government:

Defra's delivery partners - the South West Regional Development Agency, Government Office for the South West, Natural England, Forestry Commission and Environment Agency - have been tasked with developing the RIP, which will guide delivery of the RDPE in the South West.

View more information about the RDPE including:

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Regional Spatial Strategy

In the South West, the SW Regional Assembly prepares the Regional Spatial Strategy (RSS), which reflects national policies and sets out a broad strategy for new development in the region to 2026 and beyond. Following the Government's recent reform of the planning system, local authorities are now drawing up Local Development Frameworks (LDF). These reflect and build on national and regional policies, taking into account local needs and variation.
Suspension Bridge

SW CoRE submitted a joint regional response with the South West Rural Affairs forum to the Examination in Public Panel on the draft Regional Spatial Strategy 2006-2026.

View more information about the Examination in Public of the Draft Regional Spatial Strategy

Cover letter
SW Regional Spatial Strategy Proposed Changes: Habitats Regulations Assessment Final Report
SW Regional Spatial Strategy Proposed Changes: Habitats Regulations Assessment Executive Summary
SW RSS Proposed Changes: Sustainability Appraisal Final Report
SW RSS Proposed Changes: Sustainability Appraisal Non Technical Summary
SW RSS Schedule of the Secretary of State's Proposed Changes and Reasons for Public Consultation
The Draft Revised RSS Incorporating the Secretary of State's Proposed Changes

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Rural Affairs Forum

The main purpose of the South West Rural Affairs Forum (SW RAF) is to bring together rural stakeholders within the South West region to inform and monitor the regional and local delivery of Government policy in rural areas.

The distinction between SW CoRE and the SW RAF is that SW CoRE has a more economic focus for the land-based sector, whereas the SW RAF covers the broader rural spectrum including the work of the Rural Community Councils. The two regional bodies are working closely together to ensure synergy and complimentarity..

View the SW RAF Terms of Reference (May 2005)

RSCP South West Regional Discussion Group v.3

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Regional Observatories - South West Observatory

Regional Observatories and Regional Intelligence Groups have been established in the English regions by partnerships involving Regional Development Agencies, Government Offices, Regional Assemblies, and other bodies.

Main Functions

Regional Observatories enable access to key regional data and intelligence. Working on a range of economic, social, and environmental issues, they do this by:

The Regional Observatories aim to enable evidence-based policy and improved decision making.

View information on South West Observatories

Review of sub-national economic development and regeneration

Regional Development Agencies will work with individual councils and local leaders in putting together a single strategy for each region - replacing the myriad of overlapping strategies which currently cover issues like jobs, housing, planning and infrastructure - and assume many of the functions currently undertaken by Regional Assemblies.

There is a lot of detail to digest, and the Government has committed to consulting on a number of the key proposals.  The Rural Team at Government Office for the South West will be happy to discuss this issue, you can contact them on Telephone: 0117 900 1700 or e-mail swcontactus@gosw.gsi.gov.uk

Download Report (835KB PDF)

 


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Last Updated 03Dec08