Memorandum by the emda on
behalf of the Regional Development Agency network
1. RDA ROLE IN
STRUCTURAL FUNDS
(a) 2000-06 Structural Funds Programmes
Firstly, it should be noted that the Government
Offices were responsible for the management and administration
of the 2000-06 Programmes. The RDAs' role focused largely on the
provision of a strategic regional steer to European funding programmes
in order to ensure that ERDF and ESF funded activity supported
regional strategies such as the RES and Regional Skills Strategies.
RDAs also acted as a critical friend to the Government Offices
in terms of Programme management and governance issues, and played
an influential role on the Programme Monitoring Committees. In
some regions, RDAs were delivery partners managing significant
programmes of activity or indeed individual projects, however,
indicative figures for expenditure incurred for this role will
vary widely from region to region and are not readily available.
The Government Office network (via the Department
for Communities and Local Government) may be in a position to
provide figures regarding the programme management and administration
costs for the 2000-06 Programmes.
(b) 2007-13 Structural Funds Programmes
As delegated Managing Authority for 2007-13
ERDF Competitiveness and Convergence[1]
Programmes, the RDAs will be administering the Funds on behalf
of CLG.
ESF funding continues to be managed in all English
regions, with the exception of London, by the Government Offices
with RDAs continuing to play a strategic role in the Programme.
2. RDA ERDF ADMINISTRATION
COSTS
The following table details the expected annual
cost for each RDA's management and delivery of ERDF. Each RDA
will be able to access Technical Assistance from the individual
Programmes to support their effective implementation.
| Expected annual cost £000
|
| East Midlands Development Agency (emda)
| 800 |
| North West Development Agency (NWDA) | 1,396
|
| Yorkshire Forward (YF) | 1,712
|
| South West Regional Development Agency (SWRDA)—see footnote
| 2,900 |
| Advantage West Midlands (AWM) | 1,066
|
| One Northeast (ONE) | 1,500
|
| London Development Agency (LDA) | 900
|
| East of England Development Agency (EEDA) |
710 |
| South East England Development Agency (SEEDA)
| 199 |
| 11,183 |
| |
The cost of administration clearly differs from one agency
to another, and this is primarily related to the size of the ERDF
Programme and regional structural issues.
3. Regional Representational Offices in Brussels
(a) Role of Regional Representational Offices
All RDAs play a key role and make a financial contribution
to regional Offices based in Brussels. These Offices are run in
partnership with other regional stakeholders such as local authorities,
and other public and private sector organisations and there are
large variations in structure, partnership composition and management
arrangements between all of the regions. Indeed, in some regions
there are a number of representational Offices which cover different
geographical or sectoral aspects of the region.
Therefore, it is crucial to clarify that regional representation
in Brussels is not solely related to the Structural and Cohesion
Funds and RDA contributions cannot be considered as expenditure
related to this. The Brussels Offices provide information, early
intelligence and policy advice; a base in Brussels for the region's
organisations and businesses; building partnerships with other
European regions; as well as promoting the region within Europe.
(b) Contribution by RDAs towards Regional Representational
Offices (£k)
The details given in the table below are based on information
provided in response to a recent Parliamentary Question raised
by Eric Pickles MP.
| Regional Office | RDA contribution to Office (£k)
| Additional Information |
| West Midlands in Europe Brussels Office |
2006-07—£378k | West Midlands in Europe is the regional office representing the interests of a range of organisations across the West Midlands. The West Midlands Local Government Association and Advantage West Midlands are the Joint Managing Partners for the office. The office is also supported by membership subscriptions from a range of other public and private sector organisations. In addition, in recent years the office has begun to attract income from business services and from European projects. Legally, it is an unincorporated association of interests operating as a special interest group of the West Midlands Local Government Association.
|
East of England
European Office |
2006-07—£63k | The East of England Brussels Office is managed and staffed by the East of England Regional Assembly on behalf of the East of England European Partnership. This is a region-wide partnership of mainly local authorities, EEDA, and the Government Office for the East of England. All members subscribe to the running costs of the office.
The office is a regional representation office, providing information and intelligence on all aspects of European policy and funding.
|
East Midlands
European Office |
2006-07—£315k | This is a regional representation office funded by a regional partnership comprising upper tier local authorities, Universities and other public sector partners. The Office is line managed by emda on behalf of the regional partnership and focuses on European policy, funding, representation and relationship building in support of regional partners.
Please note these figures represent emda's actual contribution to the East Midlands European Office (EMEO). Where expenditure by EMEO is less than the contribution to fund the office, the surplus is held over for the next year.
|
London European Office | 2006-07—£50k
| London's European Office is a partnership office representing the Mayor of London, GLA, TfL, the LDA, NHS London, London Fire & Emergency Planning Authority, the Metropolitan Police Authority and Metropolitan Police Service which each contribute financially to the maintenance of the office.
The office monitors EU policy and legislative developments, engages with the EU institutions on behalf of its partners, and raises London's profile in Brussels and promotes its best practice.
The work of the office focuses on transport, climate change, energy, environment, economic development, public services, social policy, equalities, public health, counter terrorism, civil protection and security.
|
North West Brussels Office | 2006-07—£58k
| This office is jointly staffed and funded by the North West Regional Assembly and Northwest Regional Development Agency. The NWBO provides intelligence to regional partners, a base in Brussels, assist in partnership development, and promotes best practice. The office is located within a shared facility with offices funded by Northwest local authorities.
|
North East of England Brussels Office
| 2006-07—£65k | The office is primarily funded by One North East, The Regional Assembly and Local Learning & Skills Council with a number of associate partners making small subscriptions.
|
South East England Brussels Office |
2006-07—£65k | Office costs are shared with the South East England Regional Assembly, all principal local authorities in the South East, and with a range of other partners including several of the region's universities. (The lease for the representative office rented by SEEDA is held by Kent County Council, which has maintained a representative office in Brussels for the last 20 years).
|
South West UK Brussels Office | 2006-07—£178k
| This office is a partnership office supported by all first tier Local Authorities in the South West, the South West RDA, the South West Regional Assembly and HERDA (South West Universities).
|
Yorkshire Europe | 2006-07—£340k
| Yorkshire Europe is the region's representation in Brussels, providing information and intelligence about Europe for Yorkshire and Humber, a base in Brussels for the region's organisations and businesses as well as promoting the region within Europe.
Yorkshire Europe is solely funded by Yorkshire Forward on behalf of the region and is currently managed by the Regional Assembly.
|
| | |
Evidence submitted by emda on behalf of the RDA network.
18 February 2008
1
NB-The South West is the only English region with both full
Convergence and Competitiveness allocations. The South West Regional
Development Agency is therefore responsible for the management
and delivery of both the Convergence (£313 million) and Competitiveness
(£85 million) Programmes for the region. Back
|
