News

All the latest News from the Highland LEADER Programme.

Monday 2 August 2010

Reminder for Broadband improvement funding

Community groups across the Highlands looking to improve their broadband services are reminded to get their applications submitted to stand a chance of receiving a share of a million Euro funding.

The closing date has been extended by one month so anyone wishing to submit a bid should ensure their completed application is with their local Highland LEADER representative by the new deadline of Wednesday 6 October.

After this date the applications will be sent to the Scottish Government for a decision to be made. Successful awards will provide funding for rural communities to develop faster broadband connections and wider coverage.

LEADER Development Manager Nicole Wallace said: “The Scottish Government made the announcement about this money at the start of July so communities have had a tight deadline to pull together their bids. Our team of Highland LEADER officers have been providing as much assistance as possible to help progress applications.

“After the closing date on 6 October we will assess all the applications to ensure they are in keeping with the LEADER principles and can demonstrate the positive impact improved Broadband would have on the communities. Between now and then if anyone needs advice I suggest they visit our website http://www,highlandleader.com/ or contact their local LEADER representative. We then pass the applications on to the Scottish Government who will make an announcement about the successful bids in October.”

ENDS

NEWS UPDATE as of 5th July 2010

The Leader Broadband Challenge Fund

Rural Secretary Richard Lochhead formally launched the LEADER Broadband Challenge fund on the 1st July 2010.

Rural communities will be able to bid for a share of a million-Euro fund (£800,000) to bring enhanced broadband to their areas across all of Scotland. The new investment is to be delivered by the LEADER scheme which supports small-scale, community driven projects in rural areas and is aimed at improving coverage and bringing faster broadband rural communities.

Leader Local Action Groups have now been invited to collect local applications, assess them using their existing LEADER procedures, and submit those deemed suitable to a Rural Broadband Challenge Fund.

Bids will be considered by the Scottish Government in October so all applications from the Highlands should be completed and passed to The Highland LEADER Programme by 6th September 2010

Projects should be in keeping with the LEADER principles and applications made to LAG groups should have a positive rural development impact which they consider improved broadband access would bring.

Examples include: community groups wishing to upgrade exchanges, pilot projects into next generation broadband, supporting a business collective to access better broadband etc

Applications for financial assistance will be accepted from:

· Individuals (although the project must support LEADER principles and demonstrate wider rural development benefits)

· Constituted community groups

· Public organisations and agencies

· Partnerships, trusts and other non-governmental organisations

· Social enterprises

· Collaborative business/ community organisations (constituted groups).

There is no limit set for the value of project bids to Scottish Government or applications to LAGs. One million euros is to the total funding available in the Challenge Fund. No match funding is required ie 100% costs under Challenge Fund.

The Highland LEADER Lag will employ its existing application forms and assessment procedures to consider projects. Due to the summer holidays there is not much time for applications to be made so we urge any communities, groups etc wishing to put forward a bid to contact their local LEADER Officer who will be able to give them help and advice.

A summary of the application process is available under Funding Section.

The proposed increase of LEADER intervention rate to 90%

The Scottish Government confirmed their intention to increase the LEADER intervention rate to 90% for a trial one year commencing January 2010. The intervention rate will not be set at 90% but rates up to 90% can potentially be offered, at the discretion of the Local Action Group. However, in Highland the LEADER programme forms part of a merged LEADER/Convergence fund and as such grant rates will not be changed until such time as the Scottish Government confirm if the Programme can continue with or has to de-couple its LEADER/Convergence programme. Existing rates of 40-45% will continue to be offered until the above points are clarified. These rates do not apply to the LEADER Broadband scheme.

The transfer of Measures Code 321(Facilities and Services) and Code 341 (local development strategies) from SRDP Rural Priorities to Leader.

The Scottish Government has indicated that it intends to move the delivery of two options from Rural Priorities to LEADER.

Collaborative Local Development Strategies and
Community Services and Facilities

European approval is required for such a change. The last reported position was that European approval was granted for the delivery change for the Collaborative Local Development Strategy option but although approval would be sought from Europe to change the delivery mechanism of the Community Services and Facility option the necessary administrative arrangements required to obtain this approval were still in process.

Until such time as the above points are clarified the Highland LEADER programme will continue to operate as normal offering grant rates of between 40-45%. As soon as we have any further information we will highlight this on the Highland LEADER web site and amend our programme accordingly