DORSET RURAL PATHFINDER DSP Bridging Group 12 April 2006

Lord Haskins’ Review Poor accountability: confused policy and delivery responsibilities, unclear outcomes and accountabilities Too many players: confusion and overlap Lack of co-ordination: too many initiatives, schemes and strategies Confused customers: complexity, delays, poor information and customer support Not enough local responsiveness

Government Response DEFRA RURAL STRATEGY - Three themes Economic and social regeneration Social justice for all Enhancing value of countryside MODERNISING DEFRA’S DELIVERY Creation of integrated rural agency Simplification of funding streams Greater devolution of decision taking Local delivery pathfinders

The DEFRA Pathfinder ‘family’ Dorset Peak District RAZ Shropshire Hampshire Humber Rural Lancashire The Fens West Durham

The 4 Pathfinder Challenges Simpler and quicker access to funding for rural businesses and communities. More effective and simpler rural partnership structures that take an integrated approach to policy and delivery. Connecting rural delivery to community planning. Addressing the distinctive coastal and marine issues that affect Dorset. Lead through theme groups of the DSP and the Dorset Coast Forum

What will success look like? Shorter chain between policy and delivery Simplification of funding, criteria and monitoring Fund-holding agencies buy into delivery plan Lower transaction costs - less leakage Local flexibility to tackle local priorities Improved outcomes: –Local communities notice the difference

Challenge 1: Funding A simpler, possibly single, customer-focussed delivery programme of advice and funding to rural businesses and communities Joined-up funding to tackle rural isolation and provide appropriate rural services. Avoiding the current problems –confusion over the number/scope of funding streams –multiple points of contact within and outside of Dorset –over-complex forms and procedures, –the need to prepare unique monitoring reports –uncertainty.

Challenge 1: Funding A single regeneration vehicle, or company, providing: –a single face, or point of entry, to groups seeking regeneration funding, whilst hiding the complexity. –economies of scale in programme management and administration, –greater synergy through co-ordinated and co- operative action.

Challenge 1: Next steps Potential linkage with Baldric, and a need to assess its suitability for evolving into a Dorset-wide delivery vehicle. Business planning required to include consideration of scope, structure, governance and accountability. Consideration of options, and consultation will be crucial in achieving ‘buy-in’ from a wide partnership base. Aim to complete the business planning process by Summer 2006, and establish the delivery vehicle by October 2006.

Dorset Strategic Partnership Community Planning process Dorset Regeneration Company Board (<20% public sector) Dorset Regeneration Company Executive Group Dorset Regeneration Company Staff Chief Executive +Skills: external funding, financial & legal, office operation, human resources. Chalk & Cheese LEADER+ Rural Renaissanc e Initiative Invest to Save Fund (bid submitted) Creative Dorset (DSP Culture Group proposal) Dorset Destination Management Organisation Others? Dorset Food (successor to Food Links)

Challenge 2: Simpler partnerships Challenge being addressed through DSP Environment Theme Group. It has proved difficult to identify easy ways to rationalise partnerships - an evolutionary approach is needed to this complex area.

Challenge 2: priorities Linkage to Bournemouth and Poole Joint delivery planning between partnerships and with national agencies, and local partners. (Coastal Corridor to provide an example). Connection to parish planning through the developing ‘AONB toolkit’, in conjunction with Challenge 3. Links to Natural England are a substantial opportunity, and need to be explored on an extended timescale as the new organisation forms.

Potential AONB Stretch? Developing the Dorset AONB Forum to meet the demands that are expressed for a Dorset ‘Rural Forum’. Developing a ‘fit for purpose’ rural partnership to provide coverage for the agenda across the whole of rural Dorset, and to face the anticipated priorities of Natural England. These issues require further exploration.

Challenge 3: Connecting to Community Planning Community Capacity Building is a Strategic Rural Delivery Priority for Dorset in addition to being a cross-cutting outcome within Dorset’s Local Area Agreement (LAA). The Challenge has been taken forward through the Active Communities Theme group.

Challenge 3: Outcomes LAA Delivery Plan priority to improve the town, neighbourhood and parish planning process including support for the implementation of Parish Plans. Rural Pathfinder outcomes sought; –Increased capacity and opportunities for local communities to influence and participate in service delivery in rural Dorset –Effective connection of the town/parish level of community planning to delivery mechanisms –Realistic and achievable community expectations of rural delivery.

Priorities for improvement Increased Community Capacity Building resource to provide on the ground support Joined up information and funding advice Training for community leaders and groups Learning from shared experiences - celebrating successes Increased awareness of Community Planning - across partners, members, officers For working up with practitioners, parishes and wider stakeholders

Challenge 4: Coastal Issues Unique contribution within the Pathfinder to DEFRA coastal thinking (new Marine Bill, and National Strategy for Coastal Zone Management). Jim Knight MP has agreed to give the opening address at the Dorset Coast Forum meeting to be held on December 9 th. A team from the Dorset Coast Forum met officers from DEFRA, and GOSW on 30 th November to agree a proposed work programme.

Challenge 4: Coastal Issues Agreement reached on programme of scenario building and evaluation of possible future coastal zone developments Agreement reached on development of prototype local coastal and marine data management system to complement DEFRA Marine Information Data Partnership. Support given to the development of proposals for a fully instrumented coast providing automatic coastal environment data collection.