The NFU is seeking clarification on the future delivery of the Rural Development Programme for England, (RDPE) amidst concerns about the replacement of Regional Development Agencies with Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs).
These joint local authority/business bodies would be brought forward by local authorities themselves to promote local economic development, and features in the Coalition Agreement.
With RDAs delivering some £600m of the £3.9bn RDPE budget, the delivery of RDPE could be impacted by significant changes to the programme structure at the regional level. The NFU is concerned that speculation surrounding the role of RDAs, LEPs or a two-tier approach will do little to solve any of the problems with RDPE. In addition, the reduction in funding for RDAs announced in the Government’s current year plans for savings adds further uncertainty to programme delivery.
At a time when NFU farmers could be making more use of the programme to improve competitiveness, a period of uncertainty will exaggerate the current challenges that members face in benefitting from the programme.
- Nick White - 19/08/2010
I work as an RDPE Facilitator in Yorkshire currently within the RDS. There are currently two staff vacancies within our team of five and the freeze on recruitment affecting RDAs has prevented their replacement. Our workload is intense as there is no reduction in demand for RDPE support. This situation is unsustainable and with the programme running until 2013, it is ridiculous that the RDPE programme is caught up in the demise of the RDA's. This is perhaps an unforseen consequence of the change underway as part of the coalition government's policies but these issues need to be attended to quickly if the rural economy and farm development is not to suffer.