What's new

Update on the Local Action (LEADER / Axis 4) part of the Regional Development Programme:

• RDPE Community-led Development Investment Theme: Local Action Expressions of Interest - a paper updated from the last South West RDPE Regional Implementation Group meeting
• Presentation on Local Action Workshops by Bruce Douglas (SW RDA)

RDPE Agreement & Defra website

The Secretary of State has announced to Parliament that we have agreement to the RDPE 2007-2013.

The Statement can be foud at http://www.defra.gov.uk/news/2007/071206f.htm

The RDPE pages on the Defra website have also been updated: http://www.defra.gov.uk/erdp/rdp07_13/index.htm  They include q&a on what's happened, including on Environmental Stewardship. These pages will continue to be updated and amended with latest developments or if issues need clarifying. You may need to press refresh to see the latest versions of these pages.

Outputs of REN task group

Full details of the recent workshop on environmental opportunity and integration in South West EU Development Programmes, including minutes and presentations, is available on the meetings page.

EU Programmes notice board

Significant items of information, updates and environment sector ideas for EU projects will appear in this section shortly.

Key contacts

Tim De Winton, Environment Agency
tim.dewinton@environment-agency.gov.uk

At the meeting on the 13th October, there was a special session on the environment in urban areas of the South West.

Meeting paperwork:

• Agenda,
• Photo report
• Actions from the day

Additional information

If you want to know more about the urban agenda in the South West, the following websites may be useful:

The WHO Healthy Cities programme engages local governments in health development through a process of political commitment, institutional change, capacity building, partnership-based planning and innovative projects. It promotes comprehensive and systematic policy and planning with a special emphasis on health inequalities and urban poverty, the needs of vulnerable groups, participatory governance and the social, economic and environmental determinants of health.

The WHO Healthy Cities programme is now in its fourth phase (2003*2007). Cities currently involved in the Phase IV Network are working on three core themes: healthy ageing, healthy urban planning and health impact assessment.

The Way Ahead is the region's response to the Sustainable Communities Plan, it identifies barriers to the delivery of spatial development and sets out how relevant organisations must work together to implement Regional Planning Guidance, the Regional Economic Strategy and the forthcoming Regional Spatial Strategy.

Creating:Excellence, the South West's Regeneration Centre, has been set up partly in response to a white paper published by the Government's Urban Task Force - led by Lord Rogers in 1999 - and also in response to the social, economic and environmental regeneration needs of the South West. Creating Excellence promotes learning and improves skills in regeneration and renewal by creating new links between professionals and communities.

Future Foundations is the South West's sustainable construction initiative, promoting new building and refurbishment that delivers environmental, social and economic gains now and for the future.

Encams is an environmental charity who campaign directly to the public. Best known for their Keep Britain Tidy campaign, they also campaign on issues such as graffiti, fly posting, abandoned vehicles and gum dropping and carry out an annual survey of Local Environmental Quality.

As a result of this session, a small focus group has formed to take the work forward, consisting of Wendy Lutley, Amanda Booth and Jackie Young.