Parish Improvement Grants Scheme 2009-2010

Information for intending bidders

Overview

Following the success of the Parish Improvement Grant Scheme ( PIGS ) in the last year ( 2008-2009), a second round of the scheme is being run for 2009-2010. The scheme is managed by the Countryside Access Forum ( www.wiltshirelaf.org.uk ), in conjunction with Wiltshire Council.

The scheme aims to encourage parish and town councils to make innovative improvements to their rights of way and to increase the interest councils take in the use of the footpaths and bridleways in their areas, by providing modest grants to the winning bids in an annual competitive bid process.

It is expected that bids will be for such things as providing permissive routes to avoid busy roads and improving existing rights of way that would not be eligible under existing arrangements. But bids are not restricted just to these.

The bids will be judged on a points basis with points being awarded for a range of aspects in the bids including, but not restricted to, benefits to the community, the amount of contribution in funds or labour from the parish or other partners/sponsors, the longevity of the improvements, and innovation. The judging will be by an independent panel composed of 3 members of the CAF, and two members of the Rights of Way Section staff ( one from the Operations Team, one from the Definitive Mapping Team ).

There have been some changes to the scheme for this second round, but they are in the nature of fine tuning. This year there will not be a fixed number of grants, as a larger number of small grants rather than a small number of larger grants is the aim. However no grant, however worthy, may exceed £5000. Grant bids of hundreds rather than thousands of pounds will be looked on more favourably.

To provide some initial pointers the parish/town might like to look at, for example:

• Permissive Routes:
• To avoid busy roads
• To link existing routes
• To meet changed needs of the community
• To provide the status of routes that are lacking within the area (eg bridleways)
• To provide links to services/schools/bus stops etc
• To provide crossings over rivers & streams
• To create areas of informal recreation/exercise
• To provide parking areas for walking routes
• To provide parking for horse boxes for bridleway routes

• Improvements to the existing network
• Improvements to aid those with impaired mobility problems.
• Inclusion/provision of vernacular architecture & local materials
• Scheme as part of a planning application

Proposals that cannot be considered include:

• Statutory Undertakings, they are outside of the grant system
• Short term solutions, eg permissive route agreements to be for a minimum 5 year period
• Agri-environment or forestry access agreements
• Any proposal without landowner written support/agreement
• Proposals to upgrade footpaths, bridleways or byways to allow motorised vehicles ( other than mobility vehicles for the disabled)

And ensure:

• There is full parish written agreement for the proposal
• Any large proposal outside the limits of the scheme to be passed to Countryside Access Development Officer
• Allow some slippage in the amounts bid for
• Bid to include a very minimum of an equal contribution from the bidders (in volunteer time as well as matched money)
• Look at local schemes allowing "sponsorship" of network or part of network

Eligibility

Bids are invited from any parish, town, or group of councils in Wiltshire. (Due to reasons of funding sources the scheme does not include Swindon).

Bid Submission

In line with Wiltshire Council policy, it cannot be stressed too strongly that bids by email are preferred and will score higher. Submitting bids using the attached form is mandatory. This form is in Microsoft Word format, and should be completed and returned in Word format. Diagrams, maps, photographs should be inserted into the document in jpg or pdf formats

The CAF retains the right to publish extracts from the bids in order to provide publicity for PIGS and the CAF

Timescales

• Information on this second round of PIGS will be announced in mid May 2009 by email to parish/town councils, and will be posted on the CAF website (http://www.wiltshirelaf.org.uk/ )
• There will be a seminar with a question and answer session in which the scheme is described, and how parishes need to respond. This will be at 7pm on Wednesday 8^th July 2009 at a location in or near Devizes. Please book your place by email to paulbroadstock@wiltshire.gov.uk Final location details will be announced nearer the time.

• Closing date – email bids to be received by 31 Dec 2009. However, bids submitted by post will need to be received by 8^th December to allow time for them to be scanned.

• The bids are circulated to the Assessment Panel by email and assessed

• The Assessment Panel members may wish to make a site visit to the short listed candidates during the early part of January 2010.

• The successful bids are chosen by end Jan 2010.

• Bidders will be emailed or phoned if they have been successful within the following week.

• Results and report published. Timing of this will depend on the date of the CAF meeting and Wayfarer publication date.

Grant amounts

Bids may be of any amount up to £5000, but lower bids will be favoured. Funds, either in cash or in kind, to at least match the amount of the bid are required for the bid to be considered. All amounts should be inclusive of VAT if applicable. In the event that there are less eligible bids than the number of grants available it will be the decision of the panel whether the unallocated funds are carried over to the next year or reallocated to the successful bids.

Bid requirements.

• Bids must include evidence of:
• Parish/Town Council written approval
• Landowner written approval from all owners of land involved
• A minimum of 5 years for any permissive agreements
• All costs involved
• Minimum of funding at least matching the amount bid for ( the matching funding may be any mix of cash, manpower or services. If manpower or services, then there needs to be evidence that these are at reasonable going rates)
• Clear indication of the date by which the improvement will be completed
• Quantification and description of the benefits the project will bring both the local and the wider community.
• Schedule for monitoring the benefits of the project and reporting the results to the CAF via the panel.
• Commitment to return the grant if the completion date is not met or the reporting schedule not adhered to.

· Bids will judged on a points basis, awarded for

• Matching funds
• Number of partners/sponsors
• Longevity
• Benefits to the community
• Innovation
• Overall value for money

Bid Format

For queries prior to submitting a bid, attendance at the seminar is strongly recommended. For queries arising after the seminar has taken place email PaulBroadstock@wiltshire.gov.uk or phone Paul Broadstock on 01225 713349

Email Bids should be addressed to CADO@wiltshire.gov.uk and should have “PIG Bid from [ name of parish/town council]” in the subject line

Postal bids should be addressed to CADO, Rights of Way, County Hall, Trowbridge, BA14 8JD

Bids should address all the points in this document and include drawings, maps, photographs, and other materials to illustrate the project.

Document Reference: PIGS 2/002 28/04/09

Parish Improvement Grant Scheme

Bid Submission Form

Parish/Town/Group of parishes

………………………………………………………………………………………

Submitted by: ……………………………………………………………………

Date………………………………………………………………………………..

Reply to: email…………………………………………………………………

(supply both) Phone………………………………………………………………..

1. Amount bid for £………………
2. Amount of matching funds in cash £ …………….
3. Amount of matching funds in kind £…………….. ( see question 16 )
4. Total £ …………….

5. Summary of bid ( brief summary of proposal, community benefits, timescales, and costs. Do not exceed 500 words)

6. What is the lifetime of the benefits resulting from the project? ………….years

7. What is the annual maintenance cost resulting from the project? £…………….

Will this be covered by your parish/town council? Yes/No

8. Is there full approval for this bid by all parish/town councils?

Yes/No

9. Is there written approval from all landowners involved?

Yes/No/ Not Applicable

10. If Yes for how many years is it committed? ………………………….

11. What is the completion date of the project? ……………………………..

12. Do(es) the parish/town council(s) commit to returning any grant awarded if the project is not completed by this date?

Yes/No

13. Describe the proposal in detail including maps and photographs where they clarify

14. Describe the community benefits expected to result from the proposal. Include benefits to locals and visitors. Quantify if possible.

15. Describe how these resultant community benefits will be measured .

16. Describe the total costs involved. Include both money and volunteer costs ( specify the rates at which you have costed volunteer labour).

17. Add any further information you think might be relevant.