2014 to 2020 European Structural and Investment Funds Growth Programme

1. 2014 to 2020 European Structural and Investment Funds Growth Programme

2. Dr Carol Sweetenham • Head of • ERDF • Department for Communities and Local Government

3. Delivery: roles and responsibilities • Delivery will hinge on close working between MA and local partners coordinated initially by LEPs: therefore essential to define roles and responsibilities of all parties. • Partners have been involved in ongoing discussions around roles and the results of these are reflected in the Partnership Agreement and Operational Programmes. • LEPs will coordinate local partners and drive the production and delivery of a strategy reflecting the wider goals outlined in the areas’ Strategic Economic Plan. • The Managing Authority is responsible for managing the OP in accordance with the principles of sound financial management.

4. European Structural & Investment Fund 2014-20 High Level Standard Business Process – Inception to Funding Agreement (excluding Opt-Ins, CLLD, Fis, SUD) 11 July 2014 ERDF / ESF Operational Programmes ESIF Strategies (set out local strategic priorities) Applicant Outline Application against Call Specification Full Application Funding Agreement Managing Authority Publish Call Full Technical Appraisal (Core Selection Criteria) Assess Outline (Gateway & Core Selection Criteria) Selection into Programme Local Implementation Plan (Scope and Timing of Calls Call Specification Promote and Publicise Call Discuss and endorse selection Assess Application against ESIF, call specification and Prioritise Assess Full application and review technical appraisal against ESIF and prioritise LEP Area ESIF Committee

5. Thematic Objectives • Strengthening research, technological development & innovation • Enhancing access to, and use and quality of, ICT • Enhancing the Competitiveness of SMEs • Supporting the shift towards a low carbon economy in all sectors • Promoting climate change adaptation, risk prevention and management • Preserving and Protecting the Environment and promoting Resource Efficiency • Promoting sustainable transport and removing bottlenecks in key network infrastructures • Promoting Employment and Supporting Labour Mobility • Promoting social inclusion and combating poverty • Investing in Education, Skills and Lifelong Learning • Enhancing Institutional Capacity and an Efficient Public Administration

6. Community Led Local Development (CLLD) • Both Programmes for England in 2014-20 have built in an element of CLLD. • LEP areas have incorporated CLLD projects in their ESIF Strategies. Indicative LEP ESIF proposals: • c20 LEPs • c69 Local Action Groups • c£124m (of which identified c£63.5m ESF/ £46m ERDF/£14.9m EAFRD) • The Commission want a much stronger narrative around the rationale for CLLD, including evidence of demand/need; an analysis of CLLD compared against other mainstream funding options available; plus a clearer position on added value, and how CLLD offers value for money (given costs). • Working with LEP areas to build narrative and also consider whether CLLD is the best route through in all cases. • From July onwards more detailed guidance and implementation arrangements will be developed.

7. Community Led Local Development (CLLD) • Next steps…… • EU Commission feedback integrated and where possible addressed in drafting of intervention logic and content of the ESF/ERDF and EAFRD programming documents (July) • Agreement of CLLD within Partnership Agreement and Operational Programmes (last towards end of 2014/Jan 2015) • Finalisation of ESIF assessment and agreement of CLLD within ESIFs ongoing (to Jan 2015) • Launch and operationalisation of CLLD from January 2015 Further guidance to local partners will be issued in the Summer

8. Cross-Cutting Themes • Sustainable development envisages economic growth that is inclusive and environmentally sound to build shared prosperity, deliver immediate and long-term benefits, and meet the needs of future generations. • Equalities: All ESI funds should promote equality in accordance with EU and domestic legislative and regulatory requirements. The 2010 Equality Act protects nine characteristics – age, disability, gender reassignment, marital or civil partnership status, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion and belief, sex and sexual orientation. • The public sector Equality Duty also applies in the delivery of European funding, and means that delivery of the Programme should consider the needs of all individuals and have due regard to the need to eliminate discrimination, advance equality of opportunity, and foster good relations between different people when carrying out their activities.

11. Governance • Government is aligning the process for implementation of the 2014-2020 ESI Funds as far as possible, particularly for ESF and ERDF. • Managing Authorities for individual funds still need to report to the EU at a national level on each fund and there are therefore 2 separate Operational Programmes for ESF and ERDF. • Government established a Growth Programme Board (GPB) to act as a shadow national Programme Monitoring Committee (PMC) for the England Growth Programme. Once the Programme moves into an operational phase the GPB will act as the PMC for both the ERDF and ESF ESI Funds.

12. Governance (Sub-committees and EAFRD) • The GPB/ PMC is chaired by the Managing Authority for the Programmes. It will be supported by a number of functional and cross cutting thematic sub-committees (for example on communications, equalities and sustainability). • The PMC will be supported by 39 Local Sub-Committees – or [LEP area] ESIF Committees - one for each Local Enterprise Partnership area, chaired by Partners. Government will ask Local Enterprise Partnerships to co-ordinate the Local Sub-Committee and partners in their area in accordance with the EC Code of Conduct on Partnership. • The Rural Development Programme will be overseen by an EAFRD PMC. The GPB will advise the EAFRD PMC on issues concerning growth.