Collaborative Local Development Strategies

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Rural Development
- Scotland Rural Development Programme
  - Rural Priorities
    - List of Options

Collaborative Local Development Strategies

Introduction

This Option aims to empower communities to look at the wider picture and evolve a development strategy suited to local needs. This would allow all development works to fit into a coherent and integrated framework.

Local Development strategies make good use of limited resources and through their emphasis on forward planning are key features of a thriving community. The most effective strategies are arranged well in advance following considerable research and input from those leading the strategy before project work begins.

What will this achieve?

This Option will demonstrate how development works will contribute to clearly identified local priorities. This will maximise the benefits to be gained from a co-ordinated policy of investment and hence maximum benefit to the community. Its objective is to empower rural communities to gain capacity and confidence to engage with funders.

What you can do

This Option funds the set up and running costs of maintaining a partnership between public and private organisations. The partnership can consult, create and maintain a development strategy for the area and can co-ordinate applications for grants and project implementation.

Who can apply?

Public-private partnerships including key stakeholders engaged in rural development within affected communities.

Eligibility criteria

Partnerships should be made of at least 33% non-public sector representatives.

What costs could be supported

Studies of the area
Provision of information about the area and the local development strategy once developed
Training of staff involved in the preparation and implementation of the local development strategies
Promotional events
Training of leaders
Implementation, by public private partnerships, of the local development strategy including applying for funding and monitoring of projects. The strategy should encompass one or more measures to diversify the rural economy, improve the quality of life in rural areas or to provide complementary training for economic actions.

Rate of support

Variable, dependent on type of activity funded and availability of other funding. A maximum of 15% of the public expenditure relating to the relevant local development strategy, if approved, can be devoted to the running costs of the public-private partnership.

Although there is a single application stage, payment will be made in two stages, 50% on initial application, and the remaining on approval of the development strategy.

Inspections/verification

An application should include the following:

Group

A copy of the group's membership and constitution (e.g. Grazings Regulations, Articles of Association)
Evidence of local democratic processes, e.g. (Meetings advertised and Minutes produced)
The appointment of a local development strategy co-ordinator(s)
Evidence of understanding public and private sector funding available and how to access.

Where applicable

A note of any sub-groups involved in the planning and implementation process
Evidence of the cross partnership arrangements between the Group and Sub-Group for agreeing and implementing the strategy.

Requirements For Release of Payment:

First Phase (Planning)

50% of the award will be released on approval

Second Phase (Implementation)

Fully evolved development strategy
Evidence of monitoring by the Plan Co-ordinator(s)
Evidence of Community Meetings/events held/reports to disseminate information to all participants
Evidence of community skills acquisition
Evidence of implementation activity, e.g. sourcing additional grants