This presentation covered an inaugural meeting for VCS organisations which have significant experience in delivering EU-funded projects, to discuss a strategic response and activities in response to the BIS road shows presentations. Find out more about NCVO's european policy work: http://europeanfundingnetwork.eu

1. Heseltine Report
Implications for the VCS

2. Outline of report
 Government [public] expenditure should be
focused on facilitating the growth of the
economy.
 “in the good old days......”
 Promotes local innovation, led by inspirational
local leaders (e.g. Joseph Chamberlain)
supported by national funding

3. Worst economic crisis in modern times -
Growth through business and export
 Lord Heseltine argues that it is business that
will drive the recovery through manufacturing
and not, as has been the case in previous
recessions, [where]public sector services have
driven development
 No distinction between private sector or VCS
SMEs, SEs or micro businesses.
 Promotes the role of Chambers of Commerce
and Trade Associations, and outlines the
necessity for the development of skills.

4. Localism and local control
 Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) as the
appropriate vehicle to lead the growth
 Challenges the ‘geographic’ spread, coverage
and capacity of LEPs - too co-terminus with
local authority boundaries and these [LA
boundaries] “bear no relation to modern
patterns of economic activity”(2.12).
 Redraw boundaries to Functional Economic
Management Areas (FEMAs)

5. Changing the way government acts and
makes decisions
 Advocates a radical rethink as to how decisions
concerning public expenditure are made [far
too central]
 Questions the skills and ability of the Civil
Service, and suggests private sector
appointments and secondees to support
developments.

6. Single budgets
 Impact [of public expenditure]can be
maximised if expenditure is clustered into a
‘single budget’.
 These can be applied for, by the LEPs, based on
their strategic plans and focused on economic
development.

7. Skills and ........
 LEPs need control over the skills agenda to
ensure that FE provision fulfils the local skills
need - which is related to the local employment
requirements.
 Chambers of Commerce providing business
support
 Trade Associations and Industry Councils have
specific role in developing, accrediting and
monitoring quality of skills and support.

8. Private sector and VCS business
 Makes no distinction between businesses in
the private sector and VCS
 Raises the issue of privatisation, out sourcing
or the transferring of services to ‘mutuals’

9. Autumn Statement 2012
Announcement
 LEPs to lead and receive funding to develop
capacity
 Single Budgets 2015
 Skills Budget - LEP control
 Support LAs who wish to combine authority
and other forms of collaboration

10. Are LEPs here to stay?
Simple time line -
 2010 /11 LEPs developed and created
 2010 / 11 Skills policy agenda developed
 2011 / 12 LEPs created, allocated development funds and given
responsibility for other budgets
 March 12 Heseltine report commissioned
 Oct 12 Heseltine report published
 Nov 12 Government EU Road show reference ‘post Heseltine’
 Dec 12 Autumn Statement - LEPs to manage single Budgets from 2015 as
recommended by Lord Heseltine
 2013 LEPs to develop strategic plans
 2013 Budget - add to Autumn Statement proposals
 2013 EU Budget agreed, including structural funds ?
 2014 EU structural funds to commence ! ?
 Apr 2015 Single Budgets to start ( LEPS having submitted bids)
 May 2015 General Election

11. LEPs strategy for growth ...
 Being written now
 How do we engage? Are we engaged?
 Lunchtime activity to develop agenda for this
afternoon

12. Thank You
Ted Ryan
Policy Associate (Europe)
europe@rawm.co.uk