European Update July, from Network for Europe Cheshire, Cumbria, G Manchester, Lancashire, Liverpool CR

Headlines

New Head of ESF
ESF calls end
Community Ownership Fund delays UK Shared Prosperity Fund problems Evaluations?

New Head of ESF

From before the start of the Programme, Angus Gray was Head of ESF, then Catherine Blair was appointed, staying in the job for three and a half years, before handing over to Geoff Hawker. After sixteen months, he confirmed his last day was 23rd June and he will be taking up his new role as Finance Director for the Office of Nuclear Regulation. Clare Bonson joined DWP as Head of ESF on 20th June.

ESF Calls finally end

The last few ESF calls for 2014-20 have now closed (final one on 17th June for Sheffield), and are undergoing appraisal. The 413 calls are still online including their call specifications. We await information on the second version of the Lump Sum Digital Intervention (deadline 4th June). Existing projects are being extended, where appropriate, and we will see if that commits all the remaining ESF Funds. At the beginning of June, there was still over £65m to be committed.www.gov.uk/european-structural-investment-funds www.gov.uk/government/publications/european-structural-and-investment-funds-useful-resources

ESF-Lottery BBO Projects

National Lottery Community Fund has been agreeing extensions to well performing existing BBO Projects, but does not seem to have published the list as yet, and some of the local ESIF committees have not yet been informed as to what has been agreed. We understand that some projects have been extended to June 2023, with extra funding, and adjustments where appropriate for Covid.

Annual Implementation Reports

It is a requirement of the Programmes that the AIRs are prepared each year, approved locally, and submitted to the European Commission by the middle of the following year for joint discussion. The AIRs give a detailed explanation of progress with the Funds, useful for anyone with an interest in the Programmes, and what will come after them. The AIRs are available online following approval (although there has been a slight delay, - the last English ones appear to be for 2018). www.gov.uk/government/publications/european-social-fund-annual-implementation-reports

ESF/ERDF Meetings

The ESF/ERDF Programme Monitoring Committee (Growth Board) met on 22nd June, and some of the National Sub-Committees continue to meet (although five of the nine have not met since 2018 or 2019).
It is not clear what has happened to the local LEP level ESIF committees outside London, some have not met since 2019.

Flexibility for existing projects Q&A page

ESIF Coronavirus Response Page is useful for those running projects, with updated Q&A for the three funds. The ESF Q&A was updated on 23rd June to clarify the response to some questions. All projects still to be completed by 2023.www.gov.uk/government/publications/european-structural-and-investment-funds-coronavirus- covid-19-response

Evaluation of the ESF and ERDF programme

Work is continuing on the evaluations, and many of them have been completed and sent over to the small group trying to prepare the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. Unfortunately, the evaluations are not available to the Partners, as they have not been published, nor appeared on the website. They await Ministers’ permission before being available for everyone else, and this could well take some time. The YEI-ESF direct bid projects have shown good results.

ESF Action Notes

066/21 dated 10th June. Electronic signature instead of wet signature to the end of the Programme.

www.gov.uk/government/publications/esf-action-notes-2014-to-2020-programme

Community Renewal Fund

Final deadline for bids from the Lead Local Authorities was 18th June, with results to be announced from late July. The intention of this single round, short term bidding process was to prepare for the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
Take-up seems to have been patchy, not helped by the short notice and the uncertainty around the Priority Areas. Nevertheless, this fund (primarily for local authorities and local voluntary and community organisations) gives a good opportunity for local organisations to develop stronger partnerships ready for UK-SPF.

The promised allocation for capacity building does not yet appear to have been announced.

www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-community-renewal-fund-prospectus

Community Ownership Fund

Still waiting for the Prospectus.

UK-Shared Prosperity Fund

The UK Shared Prosperity Fund is to replace the £1.5bn a year we would have received from Europe through ESF and ERDF. It is to be launched from April 2022. To general surprise, it has not been developed through partnership, and the open consultation has been scrapped.
Clearly, a Fund developed by a few officials, without taking on board the extensive experience of the Partners is unlikely to be successful. It will need the experience of those who have been involved in developing strategies, devising and implementing solutions, delivering projects and measuring and evaluating what works - otherwise we will not have an effective or efficient fund. We want something that delivers value for money, and tackles local requirements.
A recent meeting for a few invited voluntary organisations gave little further information, and was accompanied by documents several months old. The ESF/ERDF Growth Board has repeatedly asked for more information, and to be involved in discussions, but the presentation before their meeting last week on 22nd June gave little further information, and requests for proper involvement of the partners seem not to be taken on board. Time is running out.
Some partners are putting together proposals, but it is unclear whether they will be heard. There might be some kind of discussions over the summer, but that leaves little time for a proper Fund.

Lancashire Partnership

Plans have been announced to create a Pennine Lancashire Linear Park, transforming parts of the Leeds Liverpool Canal with housing, events, gardens and eco-friendly power. www.business-live.co.uk/economic-development/lancashires-economy-lined-up-100m-20916624

Safe’s Destination Bootle

The UK’s largest community-led housing project is designed to bring genuinely affordable, eco- friendly, and future-proofed homes to the people of Bootle. The plans appear to have been rejected as they do not cater for enough cars -
www.gofundme.com/f/help-bootle-build-back

Greater Manchester Centre for Voluntary Organisations

Following its Spring Review GMCVO has announced it is repositioning its core business from VCSE representation to enabling practical change. This takes forward its last ten years of focusing on creating economic inclusion, and being independent of public financial subsidy. It recognises the growing strength and importance of the social economy, including social enterprise, community business and community owned assets, aiming to reach people who are economically marginalised. Organisations in other places will be following developments.www.gmcvo.org.uk/news/gmcvo-statement-regarding-results-strategic-review

Getting Brexit done

The UK has left the EU, with the transition period ending on 30th June. See the latest UK Policy Paper, explaining the issues with travelling, including recognition of professional qualifications and bans on ham sandwiches. Some rules on importing into the UK have been delayed, and should be ready by January next year.www.gov.uk/government/publications/summary-the-uks-new-relationship-with-the-eu

Making the most of Brexit

A new Brexit Opportunities Unit has being set up to support Lord Frost. The Government is looking for someone who wants to lead the team. www.gov.uk/government/news/search-for-head-of-the-new-brexit-opportunities-unit-begins

First meeting of the TCA Partnership Council

This was on 9th June. Agenda item 7.3 was the Civil Society Forum, although little progress seems to have been made. Lord Frost replied to a House of Lords debate on 24th June. He said “It is the nature of civil society that it does not need the Government’s permission to develop such links and to work effectively with fora established under the treaties. We certainly hope that would happen.” The first meeting of a Forum representing civil society across the four nations of the UK was on 23rd April. www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-statement-on-the-meeting-of-the-withdrawal-agreement-joint- committee-9-june-2021

https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/speech_21_2927 https://hansard.parliament.uk/lords/2021-06-24/debates/DA278476-A591-4655-A19F- D352E29D2461/CivilSocietyForumUKDelegation

Roaming

In January, EE, O2, Three and Vodaphone all said they had no plans to reintroduce roaming charges for phones, even though Brexit allowed them to do so.
BT-owned mobile operator EE is now to start charging UK customers to use their phones in Europe, despite their previous statements. While the European Union was able over several years to persuade the mobile operators to drop such charges, it is thought unlikely that the UK Government on its own would be strong enough to do this.

State Aids - Subsidy Control

As part of the Trade and Co-operation Agreement, the UK Government agreed to bring in its own version of State Aid, similar to the European Union. And with the trade agreements it is hoping to put in place there will need something similar.
The UK version of State Aid has been rebadged Subsidy Control, and we now call Services of General Economic Interest Services of Public Economic Interest. Following a consultation (see our February 2021 Update), the new version of State Aids was announced on 30th June, and will be shortly considered by Parliament. www.gov.uk/government/news/new-subsidy-system-to-support-uk-jobs-and-businesses-boost-the- economy-and-strengthen-the-union

Common Provisions

And over in Europe, the Common Provisions Regulations entered into force on 1st July. These cover the 2021-27 ERDF, ESF, Just Transition Fund, and other Funds. https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2021/1060/oj

Civil Society Involvement - website

CSI supports third sector representatives on the English National Growth Board (PMC) for ERDF and ESF, and the National sub-committees. Register at http://civilsocietyinvolvement.com

ERDF Practitioner Bulletin (relaunch)

The Bulletin sent on 17th June refers to the ERDF Summative Assessments, and the efforts to bring it back on track.

ESIF Programme COVID-19 Notification Bulletin

The Bulletin sent on 23rd June gives links to updated ESF Questions and Answers.

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