EU STRUCTURAL & INVESTMENT FUNDS

IN ENGLAND 2014-2020

Sue Baxter Department of Business, Innovation & Skills

NCVO EUROPEAN FUNDING NETWORK, NCVO29 April 2013

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GOVERNMENT’S OBJECTIVES FOR DELIVERY

National and local

priorities aligned

Common standards and

transparent accountabilities

BETTER FOCUS

HIGHER IMPACT

INCREASED GROWTH

Local decision making and

drive

A single set of targets and milestones

across England

EU regulatory requirements met and financial risk

minimised

Lower cost & simplified

administration

Complex EU funds packaged as a coherent and

consistent programme

Variable geographies

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ENGLAND MANAGEMENT ARRANGEMENTS 2014-2020

Projects

Community Led Local Development, including Leader

and FLAGs

Maritime and

FisheriesProgramme

(EMFF)

RuralDevelopmentProgramme

(EAFRD)

SI Funds Growth Programme

(ERDF, ESF & EAFRD)

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SI FUNDS GROWTH PROGRAMME - KEY FEATURES

An “EU Growth Programme” to be financed by ERDF and ESF with a contribution from EAFRD. Minimal ‘top slicing’ for national programmes.

LEPs to be the fundamental building blocks receiving a 7 year notional allocation subject to periodic performance reviews

LEPs to identify their preferred SI Fund Investment Strategy as part of their wider growth strategy, for agreement by the national Growth Programme Board.

LEPs will need to engage a broader spectrum of local partners than may previously have been the case due to the broad policy span of the Growth Programme. VCS an important partner!

Any national co-financing initiatives to take account of local needs.

SI FUNDS GROWTH PROGRAMME KEY FEATURES (continued)

LEPs will not take on fund administration or project delivery accountabilities. LEPs will maintain strategic oversight. Managing Authorities and end beneficiaries will be financially accountable.

Local teams (Managing Authorities, BIS Local and Cabinet Office Local Intelligence Team) to support LEPs and perform due diligence for LEP proposals.

Managing Authorities will ‘hide the wiring’ from LEPs and end beneficiaries as far as possible to reduce administrative burdens.

‘ITIs’ may be an option in a limited number of places - where this arrangement will deliver better value and higher impact.

Community based approaches – CLLD – in urban areas. LEPs may also provide additional funding to LEADER initiatives and/or FLAGs.

A single “EU Growth Programme Board” will be the joint Programme Managing Committee for ESF and ERDF.

SI FUND GROWTH PROGRAMME - PRIORITIES

Thematic Objective

Minimum spending levels at national level required by the regulations

Less DevelopedTransition Regions

More Developed

InnovationAt least 50% ERDF must be spent on

these 4 objectives, of which at least

10% on low carbon

At least 60% ERDF must be spent on

these 4 objectives, of which at least

15% on low carbon

At least 80% ERDF must be spent on

these 4 objectives, of which at least

20% on low carbon

ICT

SME Competitiveness

Low Carbon

Climate Change Adaptation

Environmental Protection

Sustainable Transport

EmploymentAt least 60% of ESF

allocation per programme on up to

4 investment priorities within

these 4 thematic objectives.

At least 70 % of ESF allocation per programme on up to 4 investment priorities within

these 4 thematic objectives.

At least 80 % of ESF allocation per

programme on up to 4 investment

priorities within these 4 thematic

objectives.

Skills

Social Inclusion(at least 20% of value of ESF)

Institutional Capacity

TIMELINES

•Single Local Growth •Fund

investment strategies as part of

Single Local Growth Fund (Heseltine)

EU Structural & Investment Funds

Confirmation of design & scope of the Fund

LEPs produce strategic economic plans

Negotiation with Government on

growth deal

Local planning and preparation

Domestic & EU funding availableAligned delivery of SI Funds and SLGF

Guidance & indicative allocations ESF/ERDF to LEPs.

EAFRD allocation later.

LEPs produce SI Fund

their strategic economic plans

LEPs agree SI Fund investment strategies with Government

Local planning & preparation with Managing Authorities

Funding becomes available Delivery starts

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NEXT STEPS LEP preliminary guidance: Published 15th April. Covers funding

priorities and engagement with key stakeholders, seeks feedback on financial instruments and freedoms & flexibilities and sets timetable

17 May: Special LEP EU funds workshop: BIS, 1 Victoria St, SW1 End May 2013: Initial views from LEPs on their spending priorities, if

possible to EU.structuralandinvestmentfunds@bis.gsi.gov.uk June Spending Round: Government publishes more detailed LEP

guidance in context of future HMG spending priorities & EU changes End September: LEPs submit first cut of the SI Fund Investment

strategies (including emerging pipeline) to HMG for agreement Sept 2013 - Jan 2014: LEPs / HMG agree LEP SI Fund investment

strategies, targets and milestones. Managing Authorities draw up technical programmes for ERDF & ESF based on LEP preferences.

January 2014: LEPs submit final SI Fund investment strategies for formal approval. Government agree the consolidated plans with EC.

Spring - summer 2014: Partners start spending

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IMMEDIATE QUESTIONS How do my organisation’s strategic economic priorities

map onto LEP plans to drive the most transformational investments, jobs and growth? What is the social inclusion dimension? What social innovations?

How do these map onto EU funding (thematic) priorities?

How do we bring these together? Who else do we need to work with? What other local ‘reach’ is needed : what other

partners should be involved and how? What capacity building is required? What wider funding needs to be in place?