Memorandum from Lincolnshire Enterprise
(EM 08)
SUMMARY:
— Lincolnshire Enterprise is an independent,
business led partnership comprising the private sector; local
authorities; public bodies; and voluntary and community groups
across Lincolnshire. It is a key vehicle through which Lincolnshire
County Council engages and consults with all sectors to champion
economic development and regeneration in the county. Lincolnshire
Enterprises also advises Lincolnshire County Council on the economic
regeneration of Lincolnshire, particularly in connection with
the investment of government's Single Program funding in the county.
Lincolnshire Enterprise would like to submit
evidence in respect of the way emda's resources are divided
between rural and urban parts of the East Midlands and whether
the division is appropriate.
— We believe that in producing the 2006 Regional
Economic Strategy, emda took account of the diverse nature
of the East Midlands region.
— We welcomed emda's decision not
to continue with separate Rural and Urban strands when the 2006 RES
was published, and support the principle of "rural proofing"
to ensure that policies and interventions meet the needs of the
region's rural communities.
— However, regionally funded activities
(particularly Business Support) continue to be developed and delivered
as "generic" activities which are sometimes "rural
proofed" rather than designed with the needs of rural communities
in mind.
— We believe there opportunities to increase
the level of funding delegated to sub regional level—this
will ensure that activities are developed to meet the specific
needs of rural and urban communities—and we also believe
that the allocation of funding between sub regions can be improved
to ensure the specific needs of rural communities are met.
Division of emda funding between urban and rural
areas
1. The East Midlands is predominately a
rural region, with a number of principal urban centres, and the
RES[6]
notes that it is England's third most rural region with 29.5%
of the population living in rural areas (compared with England's
average of 19.4%). Despite this, the RES describes the main urban
areas (Nottingham, Leicester, Derby and Northampton) as being
central to driving the region's economy, although only 26.6% of
the region's population lives in large urban areas.[7]
The RES notes the large number of market towns in the region (23.7%
of the region's population lives in market towns), and the interdependence
between the region's urban and rural areas.
2. The East Midlands is also diverse, and
there are significant variations in the degree of rurality between
the sub regions formed when emda created Sub-Regional Partnerships
(SSPs). At one extreme Greater Nottingham is only 9.7% rural,
whereas at the other extreme Welland area (Rutland and surrounding
Districts) is 58% rural. Lincolnshire is 50.4% rural (other sub
regions are in a range of ~20%-30%)
3. The key economic development issues and
policy interventions delivered by emda—to create
and support businesses; to safeguard and create jobs; to improve
skills in the workplace; and for physical regeneration—are
shared by rural and urban communities and it is therefore important
to ensure that these interventions are equally available to both
urban and rural areas.
4. The East Midlands Assembly rural scrutiny
report on emda[8]
highlights the importance of ensuring that the needs of rural
communities are met by mainstreaming rural activity as part of
wider interventions, but at the same time notes that additional
consideration needs to be given to ensure that there is equality
of access to services, and that additional costs are incurred
in providing rural services: the report highlights the increased
costs of providing workspace infrastructure.
5. The abandoning in the 2006 Flourishing
Region RES of the separate Rural and Urban strands in the
2003 Destination 2010 RES was therefore welcomed as
it provided the opportunity to develop policy and interventions
to meet the needs of all the regions businesses and communities
irrespective of whether they have an urban or rural base.
6. The intent to ensure that all activities
were "rural proofed" was also welcomed as a means to
ensure that the specific needs of rural communities—particularly
the challenge of providing accessible services—were built
into interventions.
7. The Sub-National Review encourages funding
decisions to be made close as possible to the point of delivery,
so emda's continuing policy of delegating funding to sub-regional
partners (the SSPs until April 2009, and since then the upper
tier local authorities), is welcomed, as among other objectives,
it enables sub regional partners to ensure that rural and urban
communities alike are well served by interventions. We would encourage
greater delegation of funding to sub-regional level to increase
the ability to meet local needs and propose that emda only
retains activities at regional level where there are economy of
scale or policy imperatives: Business Support would be one such
example.
8. In practice, there remain differences
between urban and rural communities in their ability to access
the services currently provided at regional level by emda.
This is well illustrated by referring to Business Support. Anecdotal
evidence from rural businesses in Lincolnshire suggests that access
to business support via Business Link remains sub-optimal: a recent
example was provided by the "Survive and Thrive" events
held around the region to help businesses during the recession.
Only one event was planned, in Lincoln, which at best reached
20% of the County's population (based on the City's estimated
daytime population—13% of Lincolnshire's residents live
in Lincoln). By contrast, some 75% of Nottinghamshire's population
lives within easy reach of Nottingham.[9]
(To address the issue, it was necessary for Lincolnshire Enterprise
to sponsor and fund additional events in Lincolnshire). We would
encourage emda to look at ways in which local partners
can influence regionally delivered programmes to ensure they are
appropriate for all parts of the region.
9. emda retains a small team charged
with championing the "rural proofing" of policy and
interventions as well as delivering specific interventions targeted
at rural areas. Whilst we have concerns over the effectiveness
of "rural proofing" in some cases, the rural team has
been helpful in assisting Lincolnshire Enterprise and other partners
in accessing RDPE and other funds—for example in supporting
a "Sea Change" programme bid for the Chapel St Leonards
Boathouse, participating in workshop activity to develop Lincolnshire's
market towns and involvement in mapping out a future for coastal
communities in the Mablethorpe area.
Is the division of funding appropriate?
10. In 2008-09 emda allocated
28% of its programme funding for sub-regional spend, using a formula
which took account of population and deprivation measures in the
sub-region, but which did not account for rurality.[10]
11. We believe that, given the added costs
of addressing deprivation in rural areas as well as the incremental
costs of delivering programmes to drive GDP in rural areas, future
sub regional allocation methodology should take account of the
proportion of the population living in rural areas.
12. However we were pleased with the way
in which emda allocated the 2007-13 ERDF Priority
Axis 2 funding in the East Midlands, which provided a good
level of support to deprived communities in rural areas, such
as East Lindsey.
13. The remainder of the Single Programme
funding was allocated to regional programmes including a 30% allocation
to business support and innovation which are delivered through
region wide activity which currently is largely uniform in nature
and takes little account of sub-regional variations, including
the degree of rurality. Although we accept the benefits for much
of this activity to remain regionally delivered, we have already
indicated that it would benefit from greater local input to increase
its salience to rural communities.
14. We believe that there is also a strong
argument for a higher proportion of the balance of emda's
spend (the major portion of which is invested in land and property)
to be determined at sub-regional level, again to ensure that the
differing needs of urban and rural communities are met.
Memorandum from Nottingham County Cricket
Club (EM 09)
1. THE PURPOSE
OF THIS
SUBMISSION IS
TO:
— Apprise Committee of outstanding partnership
work involving emda and Local Authorities in conjunction
with the Private Sector to deliver the aims of the Regional Economic
Strategy (RES).
— Identify the Trent Bridge Ground Redevelopment
project as an example of such partnership working.
— Highlight aspects of the RES impacted
by the aforementioned project, namely:
— Enterprise and Business Support.
— Ensuring sustainability (achieving lasting
success).
2. AN OUTLINE
OF THE
PROJECT
— In 2006 Nottinghamshire County Cricket
Club drew up plans to redevelop Trent Bridge as part of an £8.2 million
project.
— To retain Test Match status successful
delivery of the project was essential and a funding package was
drawn up led by emda with a grant of £2.5 million
and supported by Nottingham City Council, Nottinghamshire County
Council and Rushcliffe Borough Council (loans on preferential
terms at £1.23 million each). The Club contributed £2 million
from its own resources.
— Demolition of the old West Wing and Parr
stands and replacement with a brand new stand.
— Installation of permanent floodlights.
— Installation of a new permanent replay
screen as part of a new office administration block.
— Increase in the ground capacity to over
17,000 (from 15,358).
— The redevelopment materially enhanced
the future of International cricket at Trent Bridge and, without
it, there would in all likelihood have been no Test Cricket beyond
2009 given the very dilapidated state of the West Wing and
Parr stands.
3. HOW THE
PROJECT HAS
DELIVERED AIMS
OF THE
REGIONAL ECONOMIC
STRATEGY (RES)
(a) Enterprise and Business Support—ICC
World Twenty20
— The project was required, principally,
to maintain and enhance the significant impact that Major matches
at Trent Bridge have on the local economy.
— This has been demonstrated already in
that the Club has won the right to stage the ICC World Twenty20 in
June 2009.
— The East Midland is the only region outside
London to be hosting the tournament and it is very clear that
without the redevelopment there would have been no chance of this
global event coming to the East Midlands.
— The benefits to the region will be significant.
An estimated worldwide TV audience of 500 million will watch
Semi-Finals Day at Trent Bridge on 18 June and work is underway
to capture the significant economic impact of the tournament.
Nine days of extra International cricket will be staged at Trent
Bridge between 1 June and 18 June and briefings have
started for local businesses to ensure that they capitalise on
the incremental opportunities afforded by the tournament.
— Quite aside from ICC World Twenty20,
the economic benefit to the region of Major matches at Trent Bridge
is estimated on a conservative basis in excess of £20 million
over the course of the next ten years.
— With specific regard to the project,
the vast majority of contracts were locally procured delivering
significant benefits to local businesses. The main contractor
was Clegg Construction and another local company, Abacus Lighting,
developed and erected the floodlights. On the back of the success
of the Trent Bridge project, Abacus have subsequently won contracts
to install permanent floodlights at Lord's and The Oval.
(b) Sustainable Development
— As well as providing an infrastructure
legacy at Trent Bridge to preserve International Match status,
the project will provide legacies in two other key areas.
— Firstly, the venue will continue to act
as the hub to facilitate participation in Sport and Community
development (see below).
— Secondly, as a result of the redevelopment,
Trent Bridge has been accredited as a 2012 pre-Olympic Games
Training Camp venue and the Club is in discussion with Archery
GB to host International archery events in 2010 and 2011.
(c) Cohesive Communities
— Using Trent Bridge as the hub to facilitate
the playing and watching of sport by people of all ages and backgrounds
across the region, the Club makes a significant contribution to
promoting social capital, collaborating to encourage participation
and developing cohesive communities.
— The important point here is that such
a contribution is enhanced materially by Trent Bridge's International
status.
— As a direct result of emda investment,
the Club has enhanced its contribution to local communities in
several areas, including:
— Involvement in an exciting "Say
Yes" campaign targeting hard to reach and disadvantaged youngsters
in the City of Nottingham. The venue was used as the hub for this
wide-ranging programme.
— A Positive Futures programme which has
been set up in partnership with Rushcliffe Borough Council over
a three-year period in Cotgrave. As with "Say Yes" the
youngsters targeted are "at risk" and the programme
is considered to be groundbreaking for a Cricket Club.
— The setting up of two Playing4Success
Study Support Centres in partnership with Nottinghamshire County
Council.
4. PARTNERSHIP
EXCELLENCE
— In many respects the most rewarding aspect
of the whole project has been the partnership working which developed
during the project and which has been taken forward to further
achieve the aims and objectives of the RES in such an innovative
way.
— A funding partnership involving the Club
and four Public Sector partners had not been attempted locally
on this scale and the speed with which it was agreed said much
for the boldness of Politicians, Officers and Non-Executive Directors.
— Yet, the funding element was just the
start of a deep partnership which has developed.
— As part of our agreements with the Local
Authorities, the Club committed to a series of Community Milestones
over a five-year period. As part of the agreement with emda
the Club also agreed to increase the number of staff in our Cricket
Development department. The aforementioned projects (Say Yes,
Positive Futures and Playing4Success) are being managed in addition
to day-to-day Community activities.
— Additionally, emda are also involved
in a pioneering Sport4Nottingham initiative being led by the Club
and involving other Professional sporting clubs locally, including
Nottingham Forest, Nottingham Rugby and the National Ice Centre.
The reporting line is into Local Strategic Partnership One Nottingham
(previously chaired by Graham Allen MP) and aims to deliver increased
participation in sport for disadvantaged youngsters and a 10-year
major sporting event strategy for the City and County.
— Furthermore, with specific regard to
ICC World Twenty20 and through more innovative partnership
work, emda and Local Authorities have come together under
the leadership of the Club to leave a lasting legacy in several
key areas, namely linking the tournament to educational attainment,
increasing participation, linking in with other cultural events
and encouraging tourists to the region. Three separate workstreams
have been formed and Tracey Croft from emda has been very
actively involved.
— The benefits of ICC World Twenty20 would
have been significant in any event, but the partnership approach
will mean that they will be maximised.
5. PARTNERSHIP
RECOGNITION
— Awards within business are not the panacea
but the partnership between emda, Local Authorities and
the Club has been recognised in two high profile award ceremonies.
— Last month at the Local Government Chronicle
(LGC) Award ceremony in London, our partnership won the award
for "outstanding public/private sector partnership work."
— Additionally, the same group of partners
has been nominated as a finalist in the MJ Local Government Achievement
Awards, the ceremony for which takes place on 25 June.
6. SUMMARY/WAY
FORWARD
— What commenced as a group of Public/Private
Sector partners coming together to finance the ground redevelopment
at Trent Bridge, has developed into a groundbreaking partnership
which is not only contributing meaningfully to the RES but is
also working in ways we had not imagined.
— Had emda not provided grant funding
for the project the other partners would not have assisted and
the ICC World Twenty20 would not possibly have come to Trent
Bridge.
— As with every strong partnership, the
ripple effect is being felt far and wide. emda deserve
real credit for this and, having developed this partnership and
achieved proactive third party recognition we will all ensure
it goes from strength-to-strength in the future.
6 A Flourishing Region: the 2006 Regional Economic
Strategy for the East Midlands Back
7
Data on rurality is taken from 2001 National Statistics Census
data using government's definition of Rural. Back
8
Flourishing Rural Communities? [Published November 2007] Back
9
Figures sourced from National Statistics Census 2001 profiles Back
10
On a per head of population basis, there is a weak correlation
showing slightly lower levels of sub-regional investment as the
degree of rurality in the sub region increases [based on 2007-08 funding
to SSPs]. Whilst the correlation is not marked, it underlines
the need to consider rural needs proactively to ensure that rural
communities are not disadvantaged by default. Back
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