NORTHERN IRELAND RURAL
DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME.
2014 -2020
INTERIM
LOCAL RURAL DEVELOPMENT
STRATEGY TEMPLATE
[ xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx ]
Local Action Group
CONTENTS OF STRATEGY
DESCRIPTION OF DELIVERY ORGANISATION
Contact Details
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Executive Summary
SECTION 1 – ANALYSIS OF NEED
1.1
1.2
1.3
Consultation process
Analysis of Need
Assessment of funding gaps/synergy
SECTION 2 - DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY
2.1
2.2
2.3
Strategic Aim
Description of proposed strategy
Strategic priorities
SECTION 3 – ADMINISTRATION/DELIVERY
3.1
3.2
Programme management functions and responsibilities
Reporting systems
SECTION 4 – COMMUNICATIONS AND PUBLICITY STRATEGY
4.1.
Description the communications and publicity strategy
SECTION 5 – CO-OPERATION
5.1
Describe co-operation actions/projects
SECTION 6 – FINANCIAL PLAN
6.1
Detail of Programme Costs
SECTION 7 – OUTPUT TARGETS
7.1
Detail output targets
DECLARATION
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DESCRIPTION OF DELIVERY ORGANISATION
This section should describe the following:
The Local Action Group:
Name of the Local Action Group:
Chair of LAG:
Contact name:
Address:
Telephone Number:
E-mail address:
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
This section should provide a summary of the Strategy document and should be no
longer than 3 A4 pages:
SECTION 1- ANALYSIS OF NEED
Describe the processes undertaken using the paragraph headings in this section to
analyse the needs of your LAG area, based on the 4 defined themes and conform to
the DARD ‘Design principles’ as set out in Appendix 1 of the ‘Guidance Notes’:
Consultation process
1.1
Detail the Consultation process used to ensure residents of the LAG area and
all section 75 Groups have been given the opportunity to consider socioeconomic data for the area, this must be equality proofed by council equality
officers. This may be best presented in the form of a table.
NB Evidence of the information used in the consultation process should be
appended.
Analysis of need
1.2
Detail your analysis of local socio-economic needs based on your research
and consultations using a SWOT analysis. Particular reference should be
made on how needs relate to children, young people, women, adults and
older citizens and ethnic and minority groups. The Needs Analysis must as a
minimum:




Be derived from a socio-economic analysis of the local area;
Be informed by the Northern Ireland Multiple Deprivation Measure;
Be informed by Government’s cross cutting strategies; and
Be consistent with the priorities described in 2014- 2020 Northern
Ireland Rural Development Programme.
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Assessment of funding gaps/synergy
1.3
Detail :(a) How your interim strategy is or will be fully integrated with the Council
Community plan in your area and the synergies it will have with other
government strategies;
(b) Your assessment of provision for funding gaps which exist in the area
between what Government and other funding bodies aim to deliver and
those needs identified through your analysis of local need (ie your
assessment of what identified need is being or needs to be met by
other bodies and what is not).
SECTION 2 - INTERIM DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY
Strategic Aim
2.1
What is the LAG’s strategic aim for Rural Development with funding under
LEADER of the 2014- 2020 Northern Ireland Rural Development Programme?
Note: The strategic aim will be the LAG’s Statement of Purpose to be achieved through
the LEADER schemes in its area. It should be no more than one paragraph describing
the desired change(s) which the LAG hopes to effect in its area through the use of
Rural Development Funding under LEADER and will act as a reference point for all
actions within the subsequent implementation plan.
Description of proposed strategy
2.2
Describe the LAG’s proposed strategy for effecting economic and social
improvement in the area in fulfilment of the described Strategic Aim. This
should take the form of setting out the vision for the area and what the LAG
sees as its priorities under the theme or themes. The objectives should be
‘S.M.A.R.T.’ and linked to DARD’s required outcomes from the NIRDP as
detailed on the scheme level indicator tables at Appendix 1 of the template.
Strategy Priorities
2.3
Describe how you will address the priorities you have chosen using the
schemes (detailed at Appendix 4 of the Guidance Notes) and the reasons
for the choices made i.e. targeting very specific business sectors for new
business start- up; grant to capitalise upon opening markets; adoption of
themes as a major economic driver in the area; Development of the Social
Economy for both social and economic objectives; providing business
development support to businesses in villages; or Providing Business Startup/Development support to female and young entrepreneurs.
Describe the perceived advantages, disadvantages and costs for each option
considered and clearly set out the rationale for the option selected.
It is important that a full risk assessment including a comprehensive SWOT
analysis is carried out on the options and how these risks can be mitigated
against.
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(Note: The Key tenets of the strategy must be based upon both a Needs Analysis and
an Option Appraisal. It should describe the identified need; the options considered;
and the proposed solution by the LAG).
SECTION 3 – ADMINISTRATION/DELIVERY
Programme management
3.1
Describe how the LAG will discharge its Programme management
responsibilities and the functions it has to carry out. Describe the roles and
responsibilities of any sub-groups, the systems in place for appraising and
selecting projects and for the decision making purposes which will constitute a
quorum. Describe the administrative arrangements that will be in place to
ensure full accountability for public funds including arrangements for
separation of responsibilities and duties. The description should include
details of the level of staffing including an outline job description and salary
costs for each post.
3.2
Describe the management/reporting system setting out how the LAG will
review progress against implementation plans and report progress within.
SECTION 4 – COMMUNICATIONS AND PUBLICITY STRATEGY
4.1
Describe the LAG’s communications and publicity strategy and associated
plan including costs. Specific areas to address are:
(i)
How will the LAG raise local awareness of the RDP funding opportunities
through animation activities?
(ii)
What actions will be taken to encourage project applications and
generally publicise the programme?
(iii)
How will the public be kept appraised of the benefits to the area from the
operation of the Programme.
SECTION 5 - CO-OPERATION
5.1
Co-operation activities are considered to take place in :



Northern Ireland;
United Kingdom;
Ireland; and
The European context.
The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development considers Cooperation Actions to be a priority activity for the 2014 2020 Programme with a
particular emphasis on cross border projects. As a result strategies must
make provision for the development and funding of at least 2 North/South Cooperation Projects. Co-operation projects that involve a North South, East
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West or European basis are also eligible. The Department would encourage
co-operation projects, which are focused on the development of opportunities,
afforded by unique landscape or natural resources that cross the boundaries
of 2 or more LAG areas.
The Department has supplied a table of prospective North/South projects
(Appendix 2 of the template) that the Managing Authorities in both
jurisdictions would consider to be eligible. These will form the basis of the first
call by DARD. The LAG will also be able to take forward it’s own co-operation
projects.
While there is no maximum or minimum amount that can be spent on
individual Co-operation actions and while the details of the proposed Cooperation actions may be developed at a later stage, it would be helpful if your
Strategy could at least provide high level detail on any Co-operation
objectives that the LAG would hope to achieve and indicate on the table at
Appendix 2 of the template those DARD proposed projects that you may
have an interest in.
SECTION 6 - FINANCIAL PLAN
6.1
Detail the programme costs (rounded to nearest thousand) in the form of the
table at Appendix 3 of the template, covering the period 2015 to 2020.
These should clearly show the project and administration costs for each year
of the programme and should have a supporting explanation of the intended
calls for applications under specific schemes.
NB
Up to 22% of the eligible project spend may be factored as Administration cost
(to include animation, information/ publicity, cooperation and network costs). A
list of administration activities is attached at Appendix 5 of the Guidance
Notes.
SECTION 7 – OUTPUT TARGETS
7.1
You should detail your intended outputs against the programme targets on the
table at Appendix 1of the template, there will be an opportunity to review
these when the full strategy is developed later.
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NB This declaration should be completed once the strategy and
implementation plan has been approved by the LAG Board.
DECLARATION – Local Action Group
I declare that on behalf of ……………………………………….LAG, to the best
of my knowledge, the information contained in this Interim Strategy is
accurate, and that the proposals are consistent and representative of the area
to be included in the proposed strategy.
Signed on behalf of …………………………………………………………
(Name of LAG)
Official Address
………………....................................……….
..…………....................................……………
.
..…………...................................…………...
…………………………………………………Chairman
………………………………………………….Date
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Appendix 1
LAG Output Targets
Rural Business Investment Scheme
Name of Indicator
Number of Jobs Created (FTE)
Value / Target
700
Number of businesses supported
LAG Target
300
Number of people completing bespoke
training (necessary/directly linked to the
development supported)
Number of Beneficiaries/People
receiving capital grant for their business
Number of businesses supported to
introduce/expand E-business
Number of businesses who have started
to export as result of grant
30
500
20
20
Basic Services
Name of Indicator
Value / Target
LAG Target
Number of people benefiting from
10,000
improved services / infrastructure
Number of participants in bespoke
200
training
Number of projects supported for
investments in local basic services
100
for the rural population
Village Renewal
Name of Indicator
Number of people benefiting from
village renewal projects
Number of Villages supported to
draw up or enhance village
development plans
Number of projects supported for
investments in village development
Number of derelict/vacant properties
brought back into use
Value / Target
5,000
100
50
50
8
LAG Target
Rural Broadband
Name of Indicator
Number of operations
for investments in
broadband
infrastructure and
access to broadband,
including e-government
services
Number of people
benefiting from new or
improved IT
infrastructures (e.g.
broadband internet)
Value / Target
5
1,200
9
LAG Target
Appendix 2
Potential Co-operation project themes
Project Title
Project description
Possible partners
Lough Neagh Develop Lough Neagh as a destination by
learning from others how to develop
waterways to play an integral part in the
rural community and economy.
Pilgrimage
trails
Develop religious based walking and
cycling trails leading to the economic
development of corridors along the routes.
Canal
development
Develop canals as a centre piece for
tourism through innovation and ensuring
that they play an integral part in the rural
community and economy.
Community
lead rescue
services
Develop skills and introduce new
technology to community rescue services
Biker tourism Develop motor cycling tourism linked to
(development road racing to create a fuller experience
of road
for visitors so that they stay longer.
racing
tourism)
10
Participate
Y or N
Community
development
of heritage
sites
Develop community projects re-using
heritage buildings with the aim of
integrating them into the community and
as a means to create community lead
economic projects.
Greenway
development
of old railway
lines
Develop walkways using abandoned
railway lines to expand the offering across
rural areas and link together including
cross border to gain a better critical mass.
Tourist trails
developed
around the
arts
Examine a means to link various arts and
literary trails and individual projects to
create a better more in depth experience
for visitors.
Better use of
broadband
Examine the use of broadband across
communities and businesses, eg online
booking for accommodation.
11
PROGRAMME COSTS
Expenditure Year
Appendix 3
2015/16
2016/17
2017/18
Project expenditure
Administration expenditure
TOTAL
12
2018/19
2019/20
2020/21
TOTAL