Proje jects Lynn Hamilton FVL LAG/VisitScotland Anne-Michelle - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Commissioning and LAG-led Proje jects Lynn Hamilton FVL LAG/VisitScotland Anne-Michelle Ketteridge FVL LAG Larry Rosie SG RPID

What do we mean by ‘Commissioning’ ? When: • the LAG agrees amongst itself that it wants to design and be responsible for delivering a particular project • the LAG completes the application form • the LAG sources the match funding • the LAG approves the application • the LAG puts the contract out to tender (managed by existing staff) • or the LAG manages the project in-house recruiting additional project specific staff

Why Commis issio ion? • To be more strategic • To fill a gap (meeting a need not delivered by anyone else) • To build knowledge and expertise in the area • To be more proactive • To ensure a specific objective is achieved

Some examples from Forth Valley & Lomond Commissioning consultancy: Sustainable Toilet Provision in Rural Location (the “Eco -Loo Study”) Next Generation Broadband Study Visit (Community reps + policy makers to Sweden) FVL LEADER Strategic Review

Some examples: Projects In Involving Staff Trossachs Rural Mentoring Pilot Contracted out to Callander Enterprise Sustainable Tourism Initiative Delivered in-house Employed a development officer to work with tourism businesses

Lessons Learnt • Can be time consuming to develop • But important to take time to develop and understand the issue • The more involved the LAG, the stronger the project • Use of subgroups incredibly valuable • LAG members like to be more involved

Lessons Learnt cont … • Consultancy type projects require less management time • But projects with staff allow LAG to achieve more • Raises profile and impact of LAG in area • Effective way of reaching parts of area that wouldn’t otherwise have capacity to engage with LEADER • More time spent developing LAG projects = less time to support the development of other organisations or businesses projects • But means claims and compliance process is much simpler/easier to manage

But what about audit? The view from RPID Larry Rosie, Business Support and Assurance Advisor

REGULATION (EU) No 1303/2013 OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 17 December 2013 Article 34 Local action groups 4. Without prejudice to point (b) of paragraph 3 [The tasks of local action groups shall include the drawing up a non-discriminatory and transparent selection procedure and objective criteria for the selection of operations, which avoid conflicts of interest, ensure that at least 50 % of the votes in selection decisions are cast by partners which are not public authorities, and allow selection by written procedure] the local action group may be a beneficiary and implement operations in accordance with the community-led local development strategy .

Over to you and your LDS What types of project? Which objectives? How keen is your LAG?