Issue - meetings

An expression of interest for EU rural funding to support the development of visitor signage and appropriate visitor infrastructure on Epsom & Walton Downs has been successful. The next step is to consider submission of a full application, for up to £142,500 of EU funding.  To do this there would be a requirement for local match funding of £7,500 private sector funding and up to a maximum of £20,000 from the Conservators in 2019/20 for revenue costs.

The report also seeks a budget of £6,300 in 2018/19 to support the development and submission of a full application by early 2019.

The Conservators received a report seeking a budget of £6,300 in 2018/19 to support the development and submission of a full application for funding from the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) programme.

The following matters were considered:

a)            Development of application – current position. The Conservators were informed that an expression of interest had been submitted for EAFRD funding to support the development of visitor signage and appropriate visitor infrastructure on the Downs. This had been successful, and officers had been invited to submit a full application.

Officers would attend an EAFRD workshop at the end of October, and intended to submit a full application in early January 2019. Visual design for the project had not yet commenced, but would be a key element of the full application, as would confirmation of the project timeline and source of non-EAFRD funding contributions, amongst other elements. The Conservators were informed that the production of a full application was a significant piece of work, and that support from a consultant would be required to meet the submission deadline. The report proposed that £6,300 be utilised from the working balance in order to fund this work.

b)           Consideration of Race Horse Trainers’ views. It was noted that the Horserace Betting Levy Board nominee (Mr Simon Dow) who represents Racehorse Trainers had been consulted with regard to the proposed scheme, and had expressed support for it. The further development of the project would be undertaken in consultation with Mr Dow.

Following consideration, the Conservators:

(1)          Noted the success of the Expression of Interest in the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD).

(2)          Agreed to support the development of a full EAFRD application bid, based on the project identified within the Expression of Interest, subject to ongoing development and feasibility work.

(3)          Agreed to allocate a budget of £6,300 to develop the full application, to be funded from the working balance.

(4)          Agreed to seek support from the Jockey Club for the required private sector funding contribution of circa £7,500.

(5)          Agreed that the project revenue elements totalling a further £20,000, be funded from the working balance.

(6)          Agreed that an annual contribution to the working balance of £6,580 should be built into the draft 2019/20 budget, to replenish the working balance over a period of four years.