The Cornwall Innovators' Forum, hosted by CUC continues to play a key role in fostering closer collaboration between higher education, businesses and the public sector.  On 19th November, More Than Just Design event was held at Newquay which attracted 38 design related businesses. Guest speaker was Kathryn Hughes, a Regional Adviser with the South West Design Agency and Design Associate with the Design Council. The event was co-hosted and sponsored by Business Link.

Business Link and CUC jointly presented A White Paper, Cornwall and the Knowledge Economy, 11 August 2009 to the Economic Forum Cornwall and Isles of Scilly. This paper is now at second iteration.

A CUC Advisory Forum was held and an Annual Review published 18 November which quantified CUC activities in all areas and sought feedback and input from key stakeholders regarding future direction and involvement. 

Cornwall Pure Business Objective One project completed December 2008 but restarted activity September 2009 with Cornwall Council contract funding - not eligible for EU funding. This service will focus on UK and EU inward investment enquiries.

New project InvestinCornwall focusing on non-EU international inward investment under development with Convergence funding.

3 staff (out of team of 4) in place and OJEU process for procurement of external PR and Design services in process. Tender proposals and pitching to be completed by end of January 2010 permitting launch in April/May 2010.

Graduate Placements

This project develops post-graduate employment pathways through placements, promotes graduate employment in businesses in Cornwall and promotes and supports graduate and postgraduate start up company formation and growth.  Postgraduate students are also supported in undertaking a consultancy project or placement, within a Cornish SME, aligned to the curriculum requirements of the student's Postgraduate Programme. Graduates are supported through subsidizing their salary costs while they are employed within SMEs to undertake key business development projects. The project's Business Development Managers (BDM) work with companies to identify growth potential and ensure that both the SME and the graduate will benefit from the partnership and a mentor, with relevant specialist skills, support the individual to fulfil the project requirements. Graduate placements vary from 6 to 12 months during which time graduates are given the opportunity to further develop their skills with dedicated professional development courses. Potential entrepreneurs are helped by relevant signposting to existing provision/resources to aid new companies' ‘incubation', growth and development. 

To be on profile, the project is expected to deliver 550 placements within SME's in Cornwall by the end of 2010 with 415 of these achieving full time employments.  To date the project team has processed 249 companies and made 223 offers of funding support and the project manager estimates that this represents approximately 76% of target at this stage.  Taking into account that  this is being achieved in the current economic climate, which was not forecast when the target figures were originally constructed and allowing for the capacity build up in the workload of the BDM's,  this performance seems at least satisfactory.  In addition of a "pod" of graduates, employed by HE institutions to work on specific business/recession related areas of need for businesses, is now actively engaged in e-marketing projects for businesses and is operating from business incubation facilities in the Media Centre at the Tremough Campus.

There are approximately twelve live KTPs, Knowledge Transfer Partnerships in progress within SMEs across the county mainly with University of Plymouth. University of Exeter also offers KTPs in a number of areas. KTP staff have been appointed for the PRIMaRE project to foster knowledge transfer and a KTP Coordinator has been recently appointed to cover Cornwall so that businesses can access graduates from all over the UK. The new shorter KTP was launched in July this year with University of Plymouth starting its first shorter KTP. Knowledge transfer is being nurtured in FE colleges in particular at Cornwall College through the BIKE project, a FE capacity building innovation related project. Knowledge transfer and business engagement is a key component of CUC projects under commission.

Work continues to develop business plans for the planned Innovation Centres in the county. The Agri-Food facility at Stoke Climsland is open and is undertaking product and skills development work with land-based and food companies both within and outside the area.

Incubation space is available for Creative Industry businesses at University College Falmouth and at Plymouth University. Plymouth University has just launched additional incubation space available for STEM (scientific, technology, engineering and maths) based businesses.

§  Work is ongoing across all priority areas for Priority 4 of the Convergence Programme to identify key sites (these range from larger economic framework studies e.g. Bodmin, to more focused employment site identification e.g. Penzance and Truro).  This work is further the the original Strategic Investment Framework (SIF) documents.

Progress on delivering workspace across Convergence Priorities 2 and 4 is good.  Under Priority 2, a significant amount of employment space (over 20,000sq ft) has been contracted with a further 8,500 sq ft endorsed and 3400 sq ft of commissioned employment space.  Under Priority 4, just under 25,000 sq ft has been contracted with a further 35,000 sq ft endorsed and 310,000 sq ft in the process of being commissioned.

§  Despite the economic downturn, Private Sector investment has been strong.  Most emphasis has been on bespoke employment space for growing business.  However, we are also seeing some employment space being built.

§  Significant progress has been made across a number of partnerships e.g. Sites and Premises Group, a subgroup of the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Economic Forum and a wider Infrastructure Group to prioritise and seek partnership solutions to barriers to development e.g. increased collaboration between council departments (e.g. Planning, Economic Development, Property) and the Private Sector.  Also, there is increased collaboration between local partners and the Highways Agency.

This previously formed the basis of the LAA outcome - Econ4. A decision was taken that there was currently no added value from persuing this activity through the LAA and therefore a recommendation was made that this be suspended pending further work in the future.

However, there is a great deal of work ongoing in this area through the Convergence Programme and progress to date is as follows:-

Priority 2:
Contracted:
Cornwall Business Park, Hallenbeagle - 27 acres of serviced employment land. ERDF: £3.9m
Goonvean Park, St Stephens - 11 speculative business units totalling 7,750 sq ft. ERDF: £315k
Spinnaker International, Saltash - expansion of existing premises to provide 7,800 sq ft of additional office and workshop facilities. ERDF: £200k

Endorsed:
ERDF: £700k
Total space:  8460 sq ft

Commissioned:
ERDF: £28m
Total space: 340,000 sq ft 

Priority 4:
Contracted:
Watson Marlow Bredel, Falmouth - 22,000 sq ft. ERDF: £768k
The Elms, Redruth - social enterprise and office space. ERDF: £967k
The Dairy, Knights Warehouse, Penzance - 1,800 sq ft offices. ERDF: £89k

Endorsed:
ERDF: £2.25m
Total space:  35,000 sq ft 

Commissioned:
ERDF: £25m (excludes infrastructure)
Total space: 312,000 sq ft

§         Work is ongoing across all priority areas for Priority 4 of the Convergence Programme to identify key sites (these range from larger economic framework studies e.g. Bodmin, to more focused employment site identification e.g. Penzance and Truro).  This work is further the the original Strategic Investment Framework (SIF) documents.

Progress on delivering workspace across Convergence Priorities 2 and 4 is good.  Under Priority 2, a significant amount of employment space (over 20,000sq ft) has been contracted with a further 8,500 sq ft endorsed and 3400 sq ft of commissioned employment space.  Under Priority 4, just under 25,000 sq ft has been contracted with a further 35,000 sq ft endorsed and 310,000 sq ft in the process of being commissioned.

§         Despite the economic downturn, Private Sector investment has been strong.  Most emphasis has been on bespoke employment space for growing business.  However, we are also seeing some employment space being built.

§         Significant progress has been made across a number of partnerships e.g. Sites and Premises Group, a subgroup of the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Economic Forum and a wider Infrastructure Group to prioritise and seek partnership solutions to barriers to development e.g. increased collaboration between council departments (e.g. Planning, Economic Development, Property) and the Private Sector.  Also, there is increased collaboration between local partners and the Highways Agency.

2074 businesses intensively assisted in period 1st April 2008 to 31 December 2009. 

£41.2m forecast increase in GVA from client interactions

Dedicated growth support programme up and running under Convergence

30 Start-up Awareness Sessions run since 1st April 2008 to end of December 2009 (with 165 attendees)

101 Modular Start-up Workshops run since 1st April 2008 to end of December 2009 (with 658 attendees)

2657 pre-starts supported since 1st April 2008 and 1,430 start-up businesses (in first year of trading)

Delivery will be refined as of April 2010, to fit in with revised national start-up offer.

27 new Passport to Export Businesses assisted from April 2008 to December 2009

97 businesses significantly assisted with export support from April 2008 to December 2009

Service already up and running.

49  social enterprises intensively assisted during the period 1 April 2008 end of December 2009


139 helped with information and advice for same period

16,275 businesses provided with info and advice from April 2008 to December 2009

966 employers engaged in training and workshop activity 

4717 individual learners referred through to training providers

TBC

Market Data Reports produced in partnership with SWRDA, template revised following initial template.

Net Output Reporting system constructed. Convergence outputs being recorded. User training and access set-up

USP document completed & provided to SW RDA in connection with inward investment marketing strategy review

Sector Transition report indicates how the 6 sectors are organising themselves to target and achieve sustainability. This will involve collaborative work with Business Link to deliver services to business in areas of sector specialism, to build and maintain paying membership numbers and to bid for contracts that are relevant to individual sector groups.

• Fusion programme - ERDF convergence dependant.
• Sector Skills development plans in progress as outcome from LSC Co-fin Phase 7 programme.

ESF 3 year investments in 13 sectors under way

ESF ITTs announced and contracted ESF sectors with Learning Partnership on behalf of public, private and Voluntary and Community Sector.

Further ESF ITT announced (Phase 2) in May 2009 including Public Sectors and Rural sectors support

A total of £120,500 has been allocated specifically for ICT/Env Cross Sector from the Key Sectors project.
 

• Contracting 2 HE projects - Cornwall College lead with CUC.  Widening participation in Higher skills training in HE (bitesize chunks).
• Planning to extend Higher Skills support by developing specification to target business performance indicators by delivering higher skills and leadership and management training.
  Enhanced support for business simplification by strengthening skills brokerage within Cornwall.
  
  A regional Economy Recovery Plan in current being undertaken with LSC/SWRDA/GOSW/JC+.  This has resulted in reponse to redundancy projects providing a core support package plus additionl funding for professionals/executives and to support digitial inclusion (£7.1 million)
  

Cornwall Pure Business finished December 2008 with - 128 investments, 906 new high value jobs, £45m new GDP @ end of project

2009 has seen a pick-up in enquiries with some of a reasonably substantial nature, including a number of international enquiries which are being handled in partnership with the RDA

CADI - SC21 National pilot ongoing with reducing number of participants as funding dries up. Workshop day held in June 2008 with participation of sector primes (Airbus, BAe Systems, Rolls Royce, AugustaWestland, General Dynamics)

Buy Cornish initiative complete and report issued to Rural Renaissance/SW RDA March 2008 together with recommendations for future activity requiring investment - no feedback received

Convergence funded Business Collaboration Networks (BCN) delivery may include an element of supply chain development depending on client demand.

West Cornwall Business Network's tendering partnership concluded as of mid-November 2009 with no positive results.

CDC continues to run web resources: www.cornwallfoodfinder.co.uk , www.buy-cornish.co.uk and www.tendersincornwall.co.uk all focusing on buyer/supplier and contract issues

VisitCornwall continues to encourage quality improvements and investment througn promotion of such schemes as the National Quality Assurance Scheme (NQAS) and through membership organisations such as the Cornwall Association of Tourism Attractions.  The annual Cornwall Tourism Awards continue to recognise and reward quality levels across all sectors of the industry. 

The new VisitCornwall partnership will be setting up a new working group which will specifically focus on quality/skills/awards. 

With both the Tourist Information Centre (TIC) network and VisitCornwall all operating from the same Destination Management System, the collection and distribution of tourism data has been greatly simplified.  All TIC's websites and VisitCornwall website now operate using the same platform and database, a huge improvement for both visitors and tourism businesses.

VisitCornwall campaign activity continues to focus on building business during the autumn, winter and spring months targeting both first time and repeat visitors.  For 2010 we are also working with South West Tourism on additional campaign activity focusing on specialist markets such as pre-school, gourmet and green tourism.

Selection of Private Sector Investor
Contract Notice published 

Competitive Dialogue

Investor to submit final bids

Preferred Investor identified

Exploring opportunities for addressing connectivity of "late adopters" as this strand would not be included in Convergence ERDF programme.

Planning for Convergence investment is underway as part of the commissioning work.

Business Support Service to support Next Generation Broadband rollout due to be available 2010 once NGB rollout commences.

Exploring opportunites to build on hightly successful "actnow flex" Flexible Working Pilot as part of NGB Programme through cross cutting themes.

Exploring opportunities to ensure late adopters begin to trade online.

Everbody Online Newlyn project concluded successfully Dec 2008.

Exploring opportunities to ensure Digital Inclusion is considered as part of wider NGB Programme through Equality & Diversity cross-cutting theme.

Development of:

Key Sectors Project VLE. ( Learning Partnership).

ESF Convergence pilot underway with 3 sector networks (Marine, Digital Peninsula & Environmental Skills) through Learning Partnership & Truro College.

 

Market Launched mycornwall.tv

Flex pilot project very successfully concluded Dec 2008.  Exploring opportunited to widen as part of the Next Generation Broadband Programme.

Opening dialogue with Cornwall Council sponsors re transformation of service delivery.

Cornwall Carbon Policy Officer appointed October 2007.

Policy development process involves Cornwall Strategic Partnership.

Officer seconded to CSEP from CCC Oct 08 - Mar 09 to support Carbon Policy Officer and development of Cormwall Climate Change Action Plan (3CAP).

CSEP has now transferred to Cornwall Development Company to form the Low Carbon Cornwall unit to focus on delivery rather than policy. Work on 3CAP under review.

Carbon Policy Officer appointed to co-ordinate development of strategy. Initial focus to advise on Carbon reduction initiatives to be integrated within the Cornwall Sustainable Community Strategy. Project mandate for developing strategy & action plan approved by CSP and CCC Executive. Project initiation meeting held, panels of expert stakeholders convened to oversee content guidance and a Project Board formed to oversee the project's governance. The initial public visioning consultation exercise has begun (under the 'Corwall 2050' banding) with a display (with supporting website) touring various events in Cornwall (launched at Royal Cornwall Show).  

Oct 08: The phase 1 (fast-track) Task & Finish groups have completed their 'Issues & Options' papers, these have been sent for review by the Content Guidance Groups. The majority of the phase 2 groups are beginning to look at getting together to begin drafting their papers. Work has begun and is progressing well on the 'Policy & Regulatory Framework Review. Peter McGregor (Cornwall College/Environment Kernow) has been contracted to start the development of the Evidence Base (Data) Guidance Document.

CCC and CSEP are partners in an INTERREG IVC proposal 'Regions for Sustainable Change' which has just been approved for funding. This project will involve networking and joint activities with other European partners with a focus on developing low carbon economies, and includes funding for a Mini-Stern review for Cornwall. This will link directly to the development of the Cornwall Climate Change Action Plan.

May 09: First draft of summary interim action plan has been presented to the Project Board with agreement that the next draft interim action plan will be finalised by the end of May and presented to the board in June. Work on task & finish group papers and full action plan is on hold until replacement support staff are in post.

CSEP Planning Group bringing together Planning & Building Control Officers from CCC and district authorities established in 2006 and continues to meet on quarterly basis. National policy discussions still dominate this area of work. Peter Rugg seconded to CSEP from CPR Regeneration as full-time Planning & Development Officer (Jan '08 - Mar '09). Will provide support to Planning Group and lead on energy-related planning work for CSEP.

Peter Rugg has now been appointed as Planning & Development Co-ordinator for Low Carbon Cornwall and will continue to co-ordinate the Sustainable Energy in Planning Group (SEPG). The first meeting of this group since the formation of Cornwall Council took place in April 09 and identified the need to coordinate all sustainable energy related work and strategies throughout Cornwall. The group will act as a peer review mechanism for both Council and national strategy consultations and new terms of reference have been agreed to reflect the new remit for  this group. Membership has been extended to include relevant statutory agencies. The group reviewed the emerging Renewable Energy Supplementary Planning Document adopted by Cornwall Council in Spring 2009.

A Planning & Regeneration paper has been developed through the SEPG as an Issues & Options paper for 3CAP and has been accepted by the 3CAP project board.

Final draft Strategy complete. Includes recommendations that exceed national energy standards.

Project Manager appointed Oct 07 to co-ordinate development of strategy. The completed strategy was submitted to Carrick District Council in March 2008 and awaiting Member sign-off of all related strategies and the Area Action Plan before it can be published. It includes developer guidelines and ESCo options for the proposed urban extension in Truro and Threemilestone. 

Initial energy feasibility study for the CPR area launched in Feb 2006. Project Officer appointed to CEP October 2007 to lead on CPR sustainable energy work within the context of the ASPIRE project (funded by the Intelligent Energy Europe Programme). First draft SEAP developed and consultation events held with community and stakeholders from Summer to Autumn 2008.

Information on the CPR activities presented at a conference in Brussels in December (organised by CSEP). A 'Building Sustainable Business' event will be held at the Penventon Hotel on 5 February. SEAP finalised in March 2009.

In Jan 08 CSEP participated in a project proposal to the INTERREG IVC funding programme. The project 'POWER' focuses on the energy opportunities for post-mining areas. Unfortunately the proposal was unsuccessful in initial evaluation stages but was resubmitted in Jan 2009. If successful, CSEP's activities were to focus on use of minewater in CPR area for energy generation.

CSEP is working with Cornwall Council to tender and commission an energy strategy for the proposed Camborne, Pool, Illogan, Redruth (CPIR) Area Action Plan (funded through Growth Points funding). This work will include production of an evidence base for an accelerated code for sustainable home levels for new housing. Further to a competitive tender process AECOM were duly appointed. A number of stakeholder workshops were held in Summer 09 and the study completed in November 2009. An internal stakeholder workshop for Cornwall Council staff is due to be held in early 2010.

Partnership delivery of ENVISION Cornwall programme, HONEY2CORNWALL programme, Green Tourism Business Scheme (GTBS) etc. Programmes being delivered to target. Additional funding secured to continue ENVISION to summer 2009. Future programmes (post 2009) as yet unclear due to uncertainties around the Business Resource Efficiency Programmes and delays in commissioning under Convergence.

Following the transfer of the CSEP team to Low Carbon Cornwall within the Cornwall Development Company, business resource efficiency programmes are now primarily delivered by CSEP's previous host organisation Community Energy Plus (CEP), working with other key local organisations such as ReZolve.

Low Carbon Cornwall (LCC) has secured £800K of ESF funding to work with CC, University of Exeter (UoE), Cornwall College and Eden on a project that will include development and delivery of climate change skills development activities aimed at supply chain businesses. Project started 1 April 2009 and will run for 3 years. LCC, Eden and UoE have now appointed full time dleivery officers and a work programme is now in full development. Initial training will commence in February 2010.

GTBS scheme in Cornwall currently being delivered to target.

Work currently focused on creating an ESCo for the CPR area. An ESCo development workshop was held on 05/02/08 at CSEP's offices with key local and regional stakeholders. CSEP's Tim German and Peter Rugg took key ESCo stakeholders from Cornwall County Council and CPR Regeneration to a meeting with Allan Jones, Chief Executive Officer of the London Climate Change Agency in April, followed by a fact-finding visit to the Barkantine CHP district energy scheme. A further meeting was held with the EDF Energy London ESCo team on 19 May to discuss private sector approaches to ESCo formation.

A heat main strategy has been completed and is being tested for planning issues. Following the establishment of an 'ESCo' working group (CPRR, SWRDA, CSEP, Cornwall Council, Cornwall College, Homes & Communities Agency) a draft project plan and tender brief have now been produced. Following approval of the brief by the 'Energy Strategy Steering Group' and SWRDA Covergence team, a tender process was undertaken in late Autumn and EDF Energy has been appointed to establish a business and delivery plan for a CPR Regeneration ESCo.    

A series of stakeholder workshops have been held with key partners to develop the business plan/technology options for the ESCo. A final report covering technical solution, finanical validation and company structure has been produced and recommended for approval stakeholder's meeting on 8 May 2009. Further to this being accepted, further detailed commissioning work will be undertaken with respect to actual plant design and funding opportunities and an application was submitted for ERDF funding to enable development of a fully costed plan for the Community Energy Pilot Project. This application was approved by the Convergence EAG in October 2009. Due to the withdrawal of original appointed consultants (due to company restructuring) the work is having to be re-tendered. At the November 09 ESCO stakeholders steering group it was agreed that the 2 other short listed candidates would be invited to re-tender. Interviews are to be held w/c 25 Jan 2010.

William Garnier apointed in Jan '08 as CSEP Renewable Energy Technical Officer to continue LAA delivery (following departure in Dec '07 of previous officer Will Wason).

LAA ended 31 March 2009 with stretch target met and exceeded. Audit carried out June 2009. Awaiting outcome of audits of other LAAs before amount of Performance Award Grant is known.

1378 free energy efficiency measures installed into Cornish homes since April 08.

Community Energy Plus, Carrick District Council, Cornwall County Council and the University of Exeter have worked in partnership on a demonstration project to investigate in detail the practical and financial implications of improving a hard to treat property. A hard to treat farmhouse in Cornwall was treated with various energy saving (loft and external wall insulation) and renewable energy measures (biomass and solar), improving the building's SAP from 6 to 62 and its running costs from £1280/yr to £315/yr. Demonstration project delivered in Carrick on CCC farmhouse.

Community Energy Plus is a partner in Energy Saving Advice SW, which has won the tender to deliver the Energy Savings Trust Advice Centre (ESTAC) for the SW region. The ESTAC entered into force on 02 October 2008 and work over the next 3 years will include finding solutions to dealing with hard to treat properties (via the EST Green Neighbourhoods Fund).

CSEP Energy in Buildings Group (EIBG) bringing together reps of majority of Cornwall's existing microgeneration businesses meets on quarterly basis to share information and discuss common issues.

Series of information events held for developers and installers.

CSEP stand at RCS 2007, 2008 & 2009 profiled over 16 Renewable Energy businesses in the 'Green Energy Village'.

Low Carbon Cornwall has been created within the Cornwall Development Company (with the transfer of the CSEP team) to co-ordinate delivery of low carbon economy activities. This will include providing support to Cornwall's emerging sustainable energy businesses.

Awaiting final decision on allocation of Performance Reward Grant. Low Carbon Cornwall is taking forward the development of a suite of indicators to measure Cornwall's transition to a low carbon economy.

Initial recruitment process carried out over summer 2007. Interviews held in September 2007 but no appointment made. Job description & person spec revised Dec 07, interviews held 04/02/08 with Stuart Farmer appointed.

Business Development Manager has transferred to Low Carbon Cornwall along with the CSEP team.

The CSEP Bio-energy working group has been renambed the Land Based Energy Group to reflect its focus on energy derived from land based activity rather than domestic and commercial and industrial waste.  The group is still chaired by David Rodda of the CAC and has recently visited a 3MW woodchip fuelled boiler at a nursery near Liskeard to see renewable energy in practice.

The CAC successfully completed a study into the economic feasibility of high output on-farm Anaerobic Digestion in order to ascertain whether this scale is economically viable.  The study was funded using Objective One EAGGF and DEFRA funds.  It studied 8 scenarios including various sizes of dairy farms, a vegetable farm, a pig farm and a unit that could supply heat and power into the proposed extension of the Tolvaddon Energy Park.  Whilst the report is theoretical the scenarios are real and of the 8 studied two were found to be viable.  One of these sites is now progressing to more detailed development phases. 

In 2009 the CAC secured funds from Cornwall Council County Farms and Exmoor National Park to undertake a further study but this time with a focus on low output low cost AD technology.  Again 5 scenarios were chosen for study and of these two were viable.  Both of these farms are now progressing to more detailed planning stages.  The technology to be used on these farms is very innovative and the CAC see real potential for wider roll out of this technology if it can be proven to work.   It is hoped that the RDPE can assist with some demonstration units with associated evaluation.

Under the RDPE the RDA have launched the Agricultural Resource Management Programme (ARM).  This consists of two commissioned programmes (Soils for Profit - S4P and Resource Efficiency on Farms - R4F) and an innovation fund.  S4P and R4F will deliver a package of support to farmers designed to reduce energy and resource use and improve the management of soils and fertiliser usage.  The ARM innovation fund is designed to encourage innovative resource management solutions and it also has a knowledge transfer element to ensure lessons learned and best practice are shared.  These schemes are regional schemes.

On the renewable Energy front the following has been achieved:-

Planning permission for an 850KW AD plant has been approved on a farm at Fraddon.  The farmer is now busy securing the finance required to complete the installation

Under the RDPE the following projects have been approved:-

• 9 farmers working in a co-operative to install 18 x 20Kw wind turbines on their land in North Cornwall.
• 1 farm tourism business installing 1x 20Kw wind turbine
• 1 dairy farm installing 1 x 35Kw wind turbine
• There are a further 3 wind turbine applications under development
• 2 anaerobic digestion projects are undertaking detailed feasibility funding

Planning consents acquired summer 2007. Four wave energy device developers secured for initial phase. Supply chain events held in the region. PRIMARE research institute established between University of Plymouth & University of Exeter.

• Cornwall Works has become established as the umbrella for welfare to workforce activity in Cornwall and has brought together providers, agencies and organisations that impact on the welfare to workforce agenda, joining up provision, filling gaps, developing key links between health and employment interventions and working with the VCS. All of the new Convergence ESF priority 4 adult programmes will be delivered under the Cornwall Works brand.  The Cornwall Works approach to tackling worklesness was chosen as a good practice demonstration area for the LAA. this invilved a presentation to Ministers at DCLG. A further presentation given to the Convergence PMC was also well received.  There is a good practice case study based on cornwall Works on the IDEA web-site, faciltated by Cornwall Enterprise. Cornwall Works now provides a hub - a central referral point and source of information for partners, individuals and employers. The hub sits within the Inclusion Cornwall team to ensure tie-in with work on poverty/childpoverty, migrant workers, debt and financial inclusion and the new ESF Transnational and Innovation programmes focussing on demographic change - Cornwall Works 50+ (engaging and supporting more people over 50 into work and training) and Cornwall Works 50+ cares (developing the care workforce).  The migrant workers packs have been relaunched w/c 4.1.10 and that to support this, the new Migrant workers enabling fund is also in place. Cornwall Works has also become eastablished a vehicle for pooled resources and manages a number of flexible "enabling funds" across a range of programmes and services - with a single, easy to access application form.  Cornwall Works has invested £100,000 of Working Neighbourhoods Grants to support community based solutions and activites to deliver the employment and skills agenda see www.cornwallworks.org.uk for more information.
• Multi-agency workshops have been held across organisations and we have delivered themed workshops for frontline health workers, housing officers and housing support workers, mental health teams etc. These have increased the number of referrals of workless individuals from agencies to Cornwall Works partners.  These have continued and have been combined with workshops around child poverty in workless households in partnership with the Real Choices programme.
• On a strategic level we have given presentations and gained buy-in from the PCT board and the Community Safety Partnership.
• A number of new activities have been developed with health including health trainers, workshops at RCH Treliske for patients supported by the occupational health team and pilots of advisers in GP surgeries. Through the Real Choices programme we have built a workless household care pathway into the assessment undertaken by mid-wives and health visitors for pregnant women. This will become part of the core service delivery.  When worklessness is identified a referral will be made to Cornwall Works who will source the most appropriate support from the range of provision available. This approach will be spread across other front-line professionals thanks to a succesful bid for a child poverty innovation pliot.         
  Real Choices have supported 365 clients (approximately 121 a month) and have  150 clients directly supported into employment through for example gap funding; repairing vehicles, providing licences to practice and childcare (exceeding their orginal target of 60 into work).
• Use of the Passport to Work continues to grow. We have piloted the use of 60 passports and have recived good feedback. They are particularly helpful for people with mental health  issues. The passport will now be used in all three of the DWP ESF programmes to enable people to evidence key employbility skills in the workplace.  We have also shared the passport with colleagues in Coventry
• Cornwall Works is delivering an additional 10 pre-employment routeways from Jan 08 to August 08, will engage with a minimum of 71 people and support 36 into work. Cornwall Works Skills for Jobs was the only programme of this kind that started and delivered on time. Numbers have now increased to 221 participants by the end of March 2009.  To date 97 people have been supported with 20 into work so far.  Final numbers were 221 participants with over 30% into work. 
  Major employers in Cornwall are signing up to support the government's Local Employment Partnerships, committing to give more opportunities to disadvantaged labour market groups.  
  Cornwall Works piloted a Young Enterprise prgramme for NEETs, supporting 3 teams from Treneere, Goldsithney and Bodmin to take part in the national programme.  The team from Chestnuts in Bodmin recently won the South West final.
  Work with CAB and Inclusion Cornwall on financial inclusion and debt continues. Cornwall Works and Real Choices are funding a pilot to place a CAB adviser in Jobcentre Plus offices in Bodmin and St Austell to give early advice to new benefit claimants.  This type of activity will be picked up via JCP Convergence programmes.
  
  Supported Cornwall County Council in the delivery of redundancy workshops across the county.
  
  Jobcentre Plus, with other partners, offers a rapid response service to people, who are at risk of redundancy, co-ordinating service providers to deliver services to support.
  
  Jobcentre Plus is introducing Care Partnership Managers as a result of the Governments strategy document "Carer's at the heart of 21^st century families and communities", published in June 2008. It builds on the success of Childcare Partnership Managers, introducing specialist training for JCP staff who work with carers to ensure carers have access to both employment provision and support and to fund replacement care for those undertaking Jobcentre Plus approved activities.

  The Care Partnership Manager is working with Adult Social Care  in Cornwall and Plymouth to integrate JCP Carer strategies which will create closer working together and ultimately offer better service to customers.  Also looking at developing awareness events for our staff to upskill them and ensure that customers are well informed about services in respect of Childcare, MH and Carers.
  
  As a result of the National Drug Strategy "Drugs protecting families and communities 2008", Jobcentre Plus have introduced a Drugs Coordinator role, focusing on the support available for crack cocaine or heroin users, bringing key agencies together to work within Jobcentre Plus.

  A pilot has commenced in St Ives linking the schools together in order to contact every family in the town and communicate the support available to them. Using the Cornwall Works Development Funding, a coordinator post has been financed.

  Job Seekers Allowance Claimants count to the end of November 2009 has increased to 8019.  1871 people have moved into work in November 2009, an increase from Nov 08 where 1333 moved off the register. Jobcentre Plus has also been notified of 2373 vacancies in November.

• We have introduced the Cornwall Works Passport to Work that enables individuals to gain and demonstrate their employability skills in the workplace and have secured a high level of commitment from employers to support this.
• Work with VCS includes provision of grand days out - focussing on volunteering as a route into work and work with CAB to modularise training to enable more people to volunteer with CAB and to specialise, e.g. in debt advice. The CAB have now launched their Advice Plus transformation programme that will allow them to support more people and give more 1-2-1 advice to people in crisis as well as undertake more preventative work around debt. It also allows for significant increase in volunteering within CAB as a pathway to employment.
• We have developed neighbourhood action teams in the NRF priority neighbourhoods and we are piloting a young enterprise programme aimed at NEETs/at risk of becoming NEET.  A major new mainstream programme - pathways to Work starts in Cornwall on 3 December, this will provide holistic support, including condition management programmes for all new incapacity benefit claimants. A futher 23 Neighbourhood Action Teams will be developed through Convergence ESF.
• We have secured an additional £600,000 of Treasury funding for a project to reduce child poverty by supporting workless families into work. So far 221 families have received direct support.  75 Workless families have been supported into work, exceeding the target for the programme. Lone Parent switcher activity changes with the youngest child cases falling to 10 this October and moving down to age 7 .This would include targeted adviser support and early access to schemes and services .Further to this there is also the outreach working in childrens centres and Pathway sites.
  
• The Convergence ESF (DWP) specifications are aligned to Cornwall Works and will provide a further £16million over the next 3 years to support the worklessness agenda. Targets are to engage 8400 people and support 3000 into work with on-going training and development. Two programmes commenced on 23 June 2008 and the other on 14 July. We have undertaken 4 major launch events for Jobcentre Plus and other advisers in Cornwall and Scilly - with over 350 people attending. A futher event for partners will take place in September. Presentations have been made to the Voluntary Sector Forum.  The vast majority of delivery organisations sub-contracted to the prime providers are voluntary sector organisations.
  
  Jobcentre Plus is currently planning for the introduction of a series of welfare reforms. The introduction of a new benefit to replace incapacity benefit - the Employment and Support Allowance which places a greater emphasis on keeping in touch with the labour market and changes to benefits for some lone parents alongside additional help to enable them to return to work has now started. Tendering has also begun for a major new mainstream programme - Flexible New Deal (FND) that will streamline and replace the current range of new deals into a single programme from October 2009. FND provides a real opportunity to mainstream some of the ESF delivery.
  
  Flexible New Deal provider for Devon and Cornwall is Working Links.
  
  The Jobcentre Plus Support Contract started from 7.12.09 and the provider for Devon and Cornwall is Working Links. This provision is for Jobseeker Allowance customers prior to Flexible New Deal and for Lone Parents and Carers. It provides day 1 support for non professional newly unemployed customers. Young Persons Guarantee and Backing Young Britain have both been introduced to support Young People.
  
  Additional support is being delivered under the umbrella of Cornwall Works (see section on prevention). In addition we are tendering for Cornwall Works Apprentice - a programme that builds on the lessons learned and model of support developed through Fifteen Cornwall and applies this in other work related areas. This is aimed at people with the most significant barriers to returning to work.
  
  Curent ESF delivery is strong, with starts on the Cornwall Works (DWP) programmes 30% over profile and people leaving to go into work 10% above profile.
  
  Future Jobs Fund has delivered 19 job starts within Cornwall by the middle of December 09. 
   
  Prevention - In response to a request from St Ives school about how they can help to support the town through the recession, Cornwall Works is supporting a pilot a programme called Every Child Matters in St.Ives which is exploring the potential to use schools as a means to engage and support workless parents/families and enable access to advice and support regarding training, work, benefits, debt etc etc.  The head teachers of St Ives senior school and all of the feeder schools along with James Hardy from Real Choices have formed a steering group and appointed a co-ordinator to take this forward. There are a number of sub-groups looking at different aspects of the ECM agenda.
   
  Longer term worklessness/inclusion
  Cornwall Works 50+ and 50+ cares (ESF transnational and innovation project) have launched a small grants pot aimed at delivering services to engage and support workless people who are 50+, or risk of redundancy - or aimed at developing careers in the care sector. The first projects will be announced at the end of January
   
  Current DWP Cornwall Works ESF delivery in Cornwall and Scilly has engaged over 4,300 people. Over 1,200 have left the programmes to go into work
   
  Cornwall Works is supporting a pilot programme with Surf Action aimed at engaging unemployed veterans with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder through surfing, as part of a longer term pathway to employment. This activity is also being fed into the Blue Gym programme sponsored by the Department of Health
  

• All learning providers in contracts with the LSC are working towards or have achieved MATRIX accreditation for the delivery of information, advice and guidance.
• The LSC Convergence co financing activity will support IAG, mentoring and curriculum enhancements.
• The LSC, in conjunction with partners such as schools, IYSS, Connexions and providers, has commissioned research investigating the existing provision of IAG and to produce a report on best practice.
• A second NEET conference is being arranged for March to consider progress to date, current position, analyse performance and gaps and agree next steps.

Work with CYPP to develop the new Children and Young Peoples Plan for Cornwall, to include an active involvement strategy, improved provision of entrepreneurial and creativity based curriculum enhancements for young people, extend the opportunities for work related learning and experiences, strengthen links between learning providers, young people and businesses, strengthen the higher education routeways available to young people, work with the Third sector and other partners in strengthening neighbourhood activity and challenging our approaches to the poverty agenda, enhancing health and wellbeing and other key actions will stimulate improved aspiration amongst young people

A Second NEET conference took place in April 08 and a final report has been produced which has informed Youth Cornwall strategy at tackling those young people who are NEET or at risk of becoming NEET.

Commission a further £1 million to support 14-16 at risk of becoming NEET.
By the 9th Jan 09 this will have been commissioned to Cornwall Council.  Contracted early April 09.

Youth Offer steering group formed to help increase the diversity and range of inclusive opportunities available between service providers and communities most in need, including leisure, arts and culture through local implementation of the Youth Offer, Play Strategy, PE and Sport Strategy for Young People and Cornwall Out of Hours Learning strategy. It is  carrying out an efficiency audit tro inform future indicators for positive activities.

• The Collegiate is operational and meets regularly. Protocols have either been signed off or are in the process of being produced.
• We have one new national diploma framework in Cornwall for Creative and Media. Further diploma lines have been bid for.  The Creative and Media diploma is starting in Septmeber 2008.
• The Local Authority Transport Partnership has funding aligned to 14-19. They are investing in consultancy to develop flexible travel on pubic transport.
• Enhanced commitment within the LSC and JCPO co-financing plans to deliver a step change in our response to national and locally developed opportunities to strengthen collaboration.
• Build on the successful collaborating for quality 14-19 objective 1 funded project.
• Initiation of a VLE based curriculum offer - ongoing development.
  
  The LSC has introduced a series of projects supporting this outcome, specifically supporting the transition from school to the workplace and projects targeted direct at NEETs working with Youth Cornwall 14-19 groups and schools.
  
  

  All schools have Virtual Learning Environment and are using it to consult at consortia level (staff & students). County wide development events on promoting VLE use & collaboration. Linked to ACE convergence project to VLE materials

  Cornwall Transport Partnership have been notified of a further 3 years of funding (£152,000 for 08/09) to improve and develop transport infrastructure.  As Cornwall is a rural area there is money to support a rural transport co-ordinator, Hannah Crouch has now been appointed to this role.  The transport partnership sits within the 14-19 team and the group is chaired by David Wood from the Local Authority. The Childrens Services Authority (CSA) operates a policy (16+ Transport Policy 2008/09) to assist students with subsidised transport.
  LSC member of staff is now the Strategic Lead for Priority 3 (Achieve and enjoy), and therefore LSC has a direct link.  This group reports the Children and Young People's Strategic Priority Board.

• A number of schools have been identified to take part in the Extended Schools programme.
• Cornwall EBP continue to engage businesses e.g. via the marine sector, the bioscience sector, the food and drink sector.
  
  EBP were contracted £47,000 to develop paper based and online resources to raise awareness of the Bioscience sector.  An event was held at CUC Tremough Campus in April which was targeted at Year 10 students.  Several businesses were there to demonstrate their work and for students to gain hands on experience.  The day culminated in an 'University Challenge' style quiz which was highly successful.  A second event is planned for next year. 
  
• The New Standards for Employer Engagement encourages providers to engage more with businesses over the next 2 years.
• The LSC Convergence co financing activity will enhance curriculum opportunities and increase the engagement with business sector organisations and the VCS.
  Projects includes the 'ACE' convergence project which which includes Apprenticeships, Curriculum Developments and Enterprise, aimed at 14-19 year olds, NEETs, BME groups, children in care, lone parents etc.  Aim to is create personlised programmes, vocational teaching and learning resources.  ACE project started on 08/09/08
  
  Another Covergence project titled 'Best Start for VCS' will build the capability and infrastructure of the VCS to provide meaningful and effective engagement with NEET young people and workless adults by offering then exciting innovative and individually tailored programmes of activity. Now called INVOLVE and contracted with the Learning Partnership, starting December 08 and no delivery has been reported.  Delivery now ongoing.

• Projects such as the ELF project and Increased Flexibility Programme help those having difficulties engaging with learning and work.
• NEETs intervention research is identifying how schools assess those who are in danger of becoming NEETs and will be a creating best practice report on this issue.
• The CYP5 LAA outcome has been developed and merged with CYP1.  
• A range of programmes are being piloted and tested to engage vulnerable groups e.g. Freestyle, My Future, participation in a Rescue 2010 project, the Cornwall Fifteen Foundation.
• The LSC Convergence co financing activity will support all of the activities identified.
  These include Freestyle Equality and Diveristy, Freestyle ELF and Best Start for Young People.  All three projects have had launch events which were well attended.  Recruitment on all three projects has been slow partly owing to the projects commencing delivery in the Summer which is a traditionally a time of low recruitment when mainstream institutions are closed.  Delivery is now started to pick up.
  
  
  The LSC will commission a further £1million to support 14-16 at risk of becoming NEET (called My Future).  This is project will have been commissioned to Cornwall Council under the general banner of Freestyle.
  
  A NEETs strategy titled 'Cornwall's Successful Young People's Strategy' written by LSC collegues and CYPP partners is in draft form along with an action plan.  These documents have been distributed for comments. 
  
  Data sharing agreements & protocols have been reviewed as part of existing Service Level Agreements to ensure these are reflected in commissioning arrangements
  
  

  Specifications ready for procurement of Care Leavers pilot project  to inform future partnership support for Children in Care

LSC has now contracted with Cornwall County Council.

Further developments of the Freestyle project including the county wide role out of the 'My Futures' project. Now under the banner of Freestyle, this will provide provision and support in line with learning from the My Future pilots.

• Contracting now with Cornwall County Council as lead partner for CYPP to reflect strategic positioning of E2E and work with NEETs.
• Strengthen the independence of the brokerage function.
• Increase flexibility for young people and greater opportunities for advisers to develop personalised programmes.
• Convergence support in place to provide partnership capacity

 Research Activities that support Training of Researchers and Post Graduate Studies

A £6.25m CUC Research Programme has been approved for £4,685,492 of ESF Convergence investment, with the remainder of the money coming from the CUC partner universities and colleges. The project is led by University of Exeter (UoE) and has overall aims of supporting the expansion of opportunities for individuals to access and undertake Level 5 (postgraduate) training and research in Cornwall, linked to the Cornish Economy. The project will maximise its benefit to the Cornish Economy with a research programme that supports the development of Cornwall's Knowledge Economy and facilitates the transfer of knowledge, skills and expertise between the CUC and businesses. All CUC partners contribute towards the ESF Research Objectives and the delivery of the required outputs and results.  By the end of 2010 the project is profiled to deliver 265 participants undertaking postgraduate research training with 50 of these achieving a level 5 qualification.  It is too early to report on participants on Masters courses, but already a dozen proposals for PhD research or research clusters have been considered by a multi organisational e-panel set up for approving research proposals.  These have included clusters around Biosciences,  literature relevant to Cornwall and its environment, law relating to care for the elderly and understanding youth behaviour, sustainable communities, business based agri food research and energy efficiency in mineral processing (comminution) industry.  The first project Management group met on 23^rd September 2009 and has agreed that a structured link will be established within the approval framework for projects by the e-panel between the research proposals and the main areas of research envisaged within ESI, AIR , ECEHH,  CIE and PRIMaRE.  

Developing Entrepreneurship & Enterprise

This £1.25 million project is led by Cornwall College on behalf of the CUC partnership and employs a dedicated Enterprise Project Manager (EPM) with substantial academic experience, credibility and a strong interest in Enterprise & Entrepreneurship education to oversee programme activities.  The project aim is to increase the level, effectiveness and profile of Enterprise and Entrepreneurship skills and culture in Teacher training in Cornwall.  It will achieve this by working closely with employers to ensure that E & E programmes meet existing and emergent industry requirements, to develop the enterprise knowledge and skills of new teachers and the serving teaching workforce and to develop new E & E activities suitable for HE students/ programmes of study.  The so called "ICE House" part of the project will raise the quality of E & E skills training by bringing high profile experts from around the world to exchange their knowledge with Cornwall based practitioners.  It is planned that by the end of 2010 this project will have secured 133 starters onto HE short courses at Level4 or above, with 37 achieving a full 120 credit level 4 +award.  While the project has only commenced under contract within the last quarter the delivery of project outputs and results commenced earlier and the first claim, due imminently will include a batch of results from previously which should lift the project onto a healthy delivery trajectory.

Employer Demand Led Provision

This project is led by Truro & Penwith College and aims to develop employer demand-led provision that meets key skill and sector needs at level 4 and above.  It will do this by raising the level of technical skills for those in employment to meet current and potential sector skills shortages, by tailoring HE courses to the needs of Cornwall's Knowledge economy and also by providing support for learners wishing to study HE modules outside of Cornwall, where no provision exists in Cornwall to meet business demand.  The project is expected to deliver 208 participants in bite sized courses by the end of 2010 with 115 of these feeding into Foundation Degree starts and 92 of these achieving a full (120 credit) level 4+ award.  While the project has not yet received a finalised contract, in preparation for the development of short courses for businesses in Cornwall both Truro and Penwith College and Cornwall College have explored a range of good practice in engaging employers in higher education and developing demand led provision. This information has been applied as appropriate and used by Truro and Penwith College in the development of SUCCESS (short university credited courses enabling sustainable success) courses and at Cornwall College in the development of ‘Bitesize' University level short courses.  Both Colleges have researched good practice in the area of knowledge sharing for business:

Dr Gail Thompson from Sunderland Business School talked to us and sent information about their BA in Applied Management which is predominantly delivered as a work based learning qualification. It was clear from discussions that our target markets were quite different, Sunderland has a number of large organisations compared to the SME dominated market in Cornwall. However, it was clear to see how many of the same principles and practices used by Sunderland Business School could be applied to our work and to the work of Cornwall College.  Gail shared the research they had carried out into the barriers that prevent businesses accessing training and education. It was clear that these barriers could apply to both large organisations and SME's.   The Identified barriers were:

• Lack of time for employees to engage in training
• Academic course often not related to world of work
• Location of course not convenient to employee/employer
• Timing of courses did not fit with working hours
• Perception that University is ‘not for them'

These factors have been taken into account in the development of our new modular provision, the SUCCESS courses at Truro and Penwith College and the University short courses at Cornwall College. Gail also referred us to Margaret Gibbons who is Director of WBL at Leeds. We aim to contact Margaret at the start of the next academic year.

Dr Carol Jarvis, Deputy Director of Executive Education and Principal Lecturer in Organisational Studies for Bristol Business School, University of West of England made a visit to the college. A key part of the discussions with Carol focused on the pool of external industry experts that UWE use to deliver the business focused provision. Specifically how the University encourages these lectures to stay working for them when they could be paid more elsewhere.  This is a dilemma we share, we need to keep costs down for businesses but also want to employ high quality lecturers who will add real value to businesses.

University of West of England relies on the kudos associated with teaching on their programmes to attract employers onto their courses. We discussed using University of West of England to deliver CPD sessions to a pool of external lecturers; the first session would focus on how to use action learning as a method to engage adult learners. Carol has offered an opportunity to arrange a reciprocal visit to progress discussions further and this is likely to happen in the new academic year.

The Lead Programme at Lancaster University welcomed our enquiry but was too busy at the time to take part in knowledge sharing activities with Colleges so far away. However, they indicated they would be happy for us to visit them in the future. Currently the majority of their work is with their own local colleges. We will approach Lancaster again at a later date to arrange a visit.

 The process of development of modules initially required each College to work collaboratively with their business development teams to identify the needs of local employers. This market analysis was then cross referenced with existing foundation degree provision at both Colleges and a range of modules were identified that were the best fit for employer need. Also as part of this process a number of modules were identified that could be adjusted to fit employer needs. Where gaps still existed work has started to create appropriate modules using the University of Plymouth permitted changes process. New modules required at Truro and Penwith College included; importing and exporting, e-commerce, sustainable business and enterprise.  A set of core principles for the development and delivery of modules were adapted by both Colleges based on identified good practice and barriers to learning;

• Where possible modules taught and delivered by industry experts
• Flexible timetable designed to meet employer need
• Assessment designed to meet employer need and support business growth
• Curriculum content is a balance between academic principles and practical application

The process of marketing to employers has included a range of Information, Advice and Guidance events for local employers and for the unemployed, organised by Truro and Penwith College. These events include open days, business breakfasts and special careers days. Information gathered at these events has been used to identify local need and inform the development of new modules. Cornwall College held a Survive and Thrive event this year which provided potential delegates with in depth information and tasters about degree level short courses and enabled them to collect feedback on potential modules and thus refine their programme accordingly in response to this feedback. Both Colleges also used these events to recruit students onto their short courses.

Examples of modules from SUCCESS courses:  

• Project Management ; Currently the College have a successful Project Management seminar which has run a number of times and received good business feedback. A number of learners from this module had expressed a wish to extend their learning. The Project Management module designed as a SUCCESS course covers the core principles from the seminar but in much greater depth, guiding learners through the application of the principles in real time projects. The Project Management module ran in April and learner feedback was really positive. One learner applied a stakeholder analysis tool within a workplace project, her manager was so impressed that they decided to apply the method to all projects.
• E-Commerce; This module was developed from scratch as a direct result of market analysis and discussions with our Business Development Advisers who flagged this up as a key business need and an area that causes many young businesses to fail. We are currently in the process of working with e-commerce related businesses and Digital Peninsular Network to finalise the content of this module which will run in October.
• Business Environments in Advertising; This course is being specifically designed in response to the Penwith Business Survey 2008. This survey of 4000 business carried out by Penwith Council showed that the greatest training/ coaching need in Penwith is Marketing. We have been working alongside Penwith Council (now Cornwall Council) to develop this course. They have carried out a further telephone survey of the businesses who replied to the survey to provide us with more detailed information on business needs regards marketing.
• Working with Young People; A number of organisations provide youth services within Cornwall, many of the people employed within these organisations are keen to develop their skills and other are keen to enter this line of work. The majority of qualifications within this sector are NVQ based which means students do not have the opportunity to further develop their skills and people not already working on the sector have limited options. We have employed a new member of staff to develop and deliver this module who has headed up a number of youth work centres within Cornwall and who has a vast network of contacts within this sector.
• Nutrition; This module is attached to an existing foundation degree and ran this summer. This has been a popular module for people involved in sport and fitness, such as gym instructors, life coaches etc. This module has proved to be really popular and we will be working with students and employers who have taken the module to see if there are additional modules we can develop to support them in their business.

Raising Aspirations

The contract for the project was issued by GOSW to Cornwall College, on behalf of CUC, on 01 June 2009 and adverts were immediately placed for the post.  Interviews were held on 22 July 2009 and the successful candidate, Julie Williams, started work on 10 August 2009.  Her work  will help by providing a coordinating resource in CUC partners' WP efforts to motivate individuals to participate in higher level skills through activities such as;  student volunteering and mentoring programmes where HE students act as role-models; enhancing, co-ordinating and possibly supplementing high quality information, advice and guidance (IAG) to raise awareness of the opportunities and benefits of participation in HE; Co-ordinating relationships with external agencies such as Union Learn to help raise awareness of the benefits of HE amongst employers and the workforce and Cornwall Neighbourhoods for Change (CN4C) to help raise awareness of the benefits of HE amongst hard-to-access communities across Cornwall.  Both UnionLearn and Cornwall Neighbourhoods for Change have SWLLN funded projects which are closely linked to our work in this area and  Julie is working closely with both organisations to integrate this effort.  There are no specific results targets set for this element of the Widening Participation agenda although engagement with 179 participants at above level 3 will be an output.  Overall this needs to be put in the context of the other elements of WP which are Co funded through the LSC and which do have targets and results to achieve within the ESF Programme.

Covered under the ESF programme Theme 3, Enterprise and Entrepreneurship (see above comments on progress)

Covered under the ESF programme Theme 2, Graduate Placements (see above comments on progress)

Planning for CUC phase 3 is ongoing.   The plans currently include the creation of a University of the Arts in Cornwall.

• Nextstep are contracted by LSC to provide IAG free of charge to adults without a level 2 qualification and the LSC's Convergence co financing tender specs include the need for accredited IAG within tenders.
  
  Extended Nextsteps contract for 2 years with Connexions Cornwall and Devon.
  All Convergence contracts include IAG as a minimum standard for every learner.
   The LSC is about to agree a contract with Nextstep for £400k to improve capacity to deliver this to adults already at Level 2 or above.
  
  
• The Train to Gain Level 3 jumpers pilot supports adults in achieving Level 3 and the LSC Convergence co financing activity supports the delivery of Level 3 and 4 qualifications and training.
  
  More flexibilities have been introduced which includes the second Level 3 entitlement for the majority of employers which are linked to sector skills gaps.
  Extra flexibility to support SME's and more flexible training outcomes.  All Convergence projects have Level 3 outcomes built in. The LSC is now reviewing P5 ESF funding to facilitate additional Train to Gain activity.
  
• The LSC Convergence co-financing includes a specific tender spec on the delivery of Skills for Life to the workforce. This funding strand is not being fully utilised either for employees in the workforce or entering the workforce ti improve numeracy and literacy skills.
  
  Train to Gain has been extended to include any employee where a skills for life is needed regardless of prior qualification level.
  
• LSC Objective One Co financed ESF funds support the Cornwall Adult Support Fund for HE students and for employees and the LSC Convergence co-financed activity includes learner support funds, wage subsidies etc.
  
  This project ended in June 2008.  An evaluation is underway to establish funding and advise on outcome.
  
• The LSC Convergence co-financed activity will include the provision of learning for migrant workers and also for ESOL under Skills for Life.
• 50+ learners are identified as a target group within the LSC Convergence co-financing tender specs.
• The LSC NLDC fund helps build the capacity of VCS organisations to provide learning opportunities for adults and the LSC Convergence co-financing will cover specific support for the VCS to deliver and improve learning provision.
  
  Specific funding scheme to support workforce engagement. 
  Train to Gain has been extended to include VCS and volunteers
  
  Community Grants contract has been contracted with Cornwall Enterprise.
  
  Adult Apprenticeships - increased flexibilities means more adults are eligible for support. 
  
  National Apprenticeship Service and National Apprenticeship Vacancy Matching service is aiming to be up and running by Dec 08.  Now up and running for employers and providers.  Simon Waugh has been appointed as the Chief Executive for the NAS.  
  
  Enhanced incentive to access apprenticeships with co-financing funds. 
  
  Additional core LSC funding is now available to support skills development for 6 months + unemployed. This has been contracted via the colleges. From October 09 a 12 month unemployed offer will be available to help fulfil the Government's Young Person's Guarantee for 18-24 year olds.

• The Workforce Development Group had secured £10,000 from LSC to match fund research into the impact of skills and training on the productivity of businesses in Cornwall however match funding for this could not be found. It is hoped that this will now be achieved through LSC Convergence. - Did not happen.
• The LSC has funded Train to Gain capacity building work with the VCS and retail sectors and with Union Learn reps to encourage employee led engagement in the Train to Gain service and learning generally.
• The LSC is funding the Cornwall Provider Network to implement its improvement action plan for Employer Responsiveness
• The LSC co financing activity will include opportunities for sectors to develop and deliver non accredited training.
  Developing Workforce led ESF co-financing project with partners
• Likely development of workskill strategy and associated skills accounts
• Aligned evolution from Nextstep to Adult Advancement and Careers Service
• Stronger emphasis on apprenticeships and the creation of the National Apprenticeship Service and the Natioanl Apprenticeship Vacancy Matching Service. 
• Employers are being encouraged to sign up to the 'Skills Pledge'
  
  The LSC has contracted £575k with the TUC to support the capacity of learning in the workplace.
  
  
  Enhanced brokerage
  
  Job Centre Plus is working with Local Employment Partnerships to work with employers to support lone parents and low level skilled people offering flexible working patterns, work trials.
  This is continuing with ESF funding, using £130,000 of existing contract funding.
  
  LSC, JCP, GOSW and partners are planning events to strengthen brokerage linkages within Cornwall

• The Workforce Development Project supports 11 key sectors in developing their capacity for engaging with the learning agenda, developing and/or training opportunities for their business members and it delivers specific training and qualifications to beneficiaries - extended, now called Key Sectors project to include 13 sectors (Convergence). Update - now only 12 sectors as fish are no longer a sector.
  Launch of IMIX by Key Sectors project (Businesses Networking).  Launch took place on Nov 08, and now in the next phase, linking with ERDF
  The recently commissioned ERDF Business Collaborations Project aims to encourage collaboration between high growth potential businesses operating in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly so businesses are able to come together to exploit opportunities that stimulate and accelerate economic growth.
  
• A Retail Task and Finish Group has been set up and funded via LSC discretionary funds to create a sector organisation for retail to develop, deliver and monitor a skills action plan for Cornwall.
  Latest activity from the Retail Task and Finish group include:

  - Development of the task and finish group  - now chaired by Alan Lethbridge, a retail manager from RE:SOURCE Bodmin
  - Secret shopper program
  - Learning Champions Program Bringing Skillsmart to Cornwall
  - Engagement with the sector
  - Development of your shop Cornwall.
  - Marketing/advertising postcards and bags due to go to 1000 businesses in retail by the end of July.

• The LSC has funded Train to Gain capacity building work with the VCS and retail sectors and with Union Learn reps to encourage employee led engagement in the Train to Gain service and learning generally. CRCC have produced a report outlining the main barriers faced by the voluntary sector in accessing the Train to Gain service. These include lack of time and resources for smaller organisations, the organisation must have paid staff as well as volunteers (many VCS organisations in Cornwall do not have employees), training not being a priority as concentrating on securing funding, need for match funding, upfront costs of training
  
  The LSC has funded the Cornwall Manufacturer's Forum to encourage greater engagement with the skills agenda.
• The LSC has funded Cornwall Education Business Partnership and Full Motion to develop curriculum and career resources to raise awareness about the opportunities and routes into the Bioscience and Marine sectors.
• LSC Convergence co financing tenders specs stress the need to link workforce development contracts and activity with that of the Sector Skills Councils.
• The LSC Convergence co financing funding includes support for 13 keys sectors (ICT, Retail, Construction, Food and Drink, Environment/energy, Marine, Health/care, Hospitality, Engineering/manufacturing/aerospace, creative, biotechnology/medical, environmental technology, public/early years Childrens Workforce is a separate strand and rural - also a separate strand to complement ERDP) and cross sector collaboration.  These are all linked to and aligned with National Skills Academy developments and Sector Skills Compacts.
  
  An economic recovery plan is to include significant increase in flexibility of mainstream and ESF programmes to include targeted, bespoke provision. 
  Flexibilities include providing flexibilities within existing contracts and eligibility has been flexed.  The 1st contract with Truro-Penwith College went live 21st April and 2 are due to go live (1 with Working Links and the other with Cornwall College). 

DWP led Cornwall Works for Social Enterprises co-financing programme headed by Cornwall County Council - now contracted.  Includes support for Social Entrepreneurs e.g. Eden Project and Fifteen, development of a school for Social Entrepreneurs. 

3 core LSC convergence project are VCS capacity building targeted.

The TUC is operating a Learning Centre in St Austell.

The enhanced Community Grants fund offers money for community learning centres.

Good progress towards objectives, targets and outcomes has been made in the first 3 years of LTP2. Year 4 of LTP2 is in progress.

Progress is reported in Annual Progress Reports. 

Development of LTP3 is underway. The CSP LTP3 Task Group has met twice in last quarter. The group considered the priorties identified by respective partnerships (including the Economic Forum). The group has considered how the CSP's 4 priorities could be reflected in LTP3 and how they relate to the national transport goals. The Transport Policy team will be considering this work further alongside the emerging LDF Core Strategy and discussing with Cornwall Councils Environment Scrutiny LTP3 working group.

May 2007  St Marys Harbour Revision Order granted

July 2007: scheme acheived DfT Programme Entry and conditional funding approval for harbour improvements.

March 2008: CCC appointed design and build contractor.

May 2008: Prior Information Notice was issued for the vessel operation.

June 2008: Tenders for the vessel build were issued to European ship yards.

July 2008: Public exhibitions of the developing design were held (this will be repeated with the detail design prior to Planning Applications being submitted in Autumn 2008.

December 2008 Contract notice for the operator was published

Dates on the timescales have been reviewed in light of the following:

Vessel tenders were returned in September 2008 but it was not possible to identify a preferred bidder. Therefore the decision has been taken to go out to tender again.  Currently the date of the delivery of the new vessel is under review - whilst it could be November 2011 this is being tested in order to evaluate the effect of re-programming delivery to March 2012 (the start of the main visitor season). Therefore a band of dates are given within the timescales at this stage.

June 2009 Tenders for the vessel build were received

July 2009  Planning approval and Listed Building Consent for the St Mary's Harbour proposals

September 2009 Penzance Harbour Revision Order granted

October 2009 Tenders for the operator were received

Progress on track

Licence granted 18 December 2008

Growing the Business (new routes, pax growth, marketing, commercial revenues)

Interim Development Strategy Phase 1 and 2 completed

Masterplan and associated documents published.  Currently out to public consultation under February 2009.

Final Masterplan to be completed and approved by Council March 2009

Refer to Information Society

2008: Option agreed to purchase land at Cardrew, Redruth for rail transfer site.Negotiation for land in east of County for rail related use unsuccessful.

Ongoing

A30 Temple to Higher Carblake put forward as a potential scheme in RFA2. RA made recommendation to Govt for scheme to be accepted into RFA programme. Govt to report Summer 2009.

A30 Chiverton Roundabout put forward as potential RFA2 as a part solution to A30 Carland Cross to Chiverton. This scheme is not to be included in RFA but interim CIF bid has been prepared for Business Case submitted to DCLG 22nd May 2009.

October 2007: First Submission to Convergence/RDA for appraisal.
June 2008: ERDF Convergence Funding granted
Autumn 2008: Work underway on site.
April 2009: Works completed
18th May: Scheme launch and new services commence 

Phased planning application approach now adopted to mitigate effects of difficult land access for investigation and ground conditions across mined areas.  Phase 1 Planning consent granted November July 2008 and alternative route for phase 2 between Dolcoath and Dudnance Lane approved.

Jan 2010: Planning application lodged, to be heard this month.

Progress held up by Carrick District Council need to review the Truro and Threemilestone Area Action Plan. AAP proposals now published for consultation (Dec 08).

Jan 2010: Public consultation to take place in Feb 10

Progress on track

Updates to model complete.

5 development scenarios agreed with Restormel

Assessment of development scenarios completed

DCLG approved Eco-town proposal

July 09: Transport strategy for Eco-town development to be finalised

Jan 10: Developer for Eco-town now appointed. This has led to change in priority of sites being brought forward. Therefore agreement of transport strategy still to be secured.

Reduced scheme for A391 improvements submitted to Regional Funding Allocation2 process for consideration for inclusion into Regional programme.

May 2009: Not accepted in RFA 

Revised alignment being considered as part of the eco-town transport improvements.

Truro Falmouth Rail improvement supports this aim.

Truro Park & Ride opened in August 2008, providing improved access to Truro for commuters and assisting in reducing congestion. Jan 10: ERDF application to be assembled for Truro East Park and Ride in Q2 this year. 

Barncoose Link Road opened in CPR creating new access to Industrial Estate leading to a number of Planning Applications for work space.

Town strategies exist for Truro and CPR,

July 2009:  Bodmin and Falmouth/Penryn Town strategies are being developed.

Dec 09: Convergence application submitted awaiting approval for Trevenson Park South Access Road and development of CPR highway scheme

Dec 09: Application being prepared for Convergence for Tolvaddon Junction to deliver Business Park Access Routes. Negotiations with Highways Agency

South Cornwall Trail: Bodmin to Torpoint:
Full scheme route defined, consulted upon and planning applications gained, however scheme failed in competition for funding. Whilst small elements of this scheme have been completed, in order for the substantive scheme to be delivered further funding is required.

Target - increase investment in cultural assets and establish Cornwall as Europe's first Region of Culture.
The European Region of Culture campaign led by Cornwall Council and the cultural sector in Cornwall has secured £350k transnational funding to progress the concept and profile with the European parliament and gather European partners.  This year a transnational project with Finland, Poland and Cornwall as lead partner is underway.  The economic value of culture to regions, its contribution to regeneration and the alternative models to Capitals of Culture are being explored through the project. Exchanges comprising creative practitioners, policy and strategy makers are taking place between the host regions with a culminating international conference in Cornwall in November. The proposal to create a new European designation of rural region of culture is being taken through the European Committee of Regions. The thinking has been taken up at national level: the intention to create a new British Capital of Culture scheme has been accompanied by a statement that regions such as Cornwall which has been undertaking leading work in this area, should also be considered.

A Region of Culture programme for Cornwall would incorporate economic, social, environmental strands.  Development of the Creative Industries Strategy for Cornwall is being progressed through work to develop creative industry sub sector networks of private businesses and through capital development projects such as Porthmeor Studios and Krowji creative cluster development. A major capital bid to match Arts Lottery funding of £1.2m has been made with CC as lead applicant. Other initiatives as detailed in the Creative Industries Strategy are being undertaken including the Rio led Creative Consortium ESF and DWP funded project to develop creative programmes and pathways into employment in the creative industries for NEETS and long term unemployed.  
 
Target: working with cultural partners to develop programmes to increase creative intelligence and innovation.  A partnership between CC, Design Council and University College Falmouth has been established and the funding secured to launch Dott Cornwall, an initiative to develop user led design in public sector project development and leave a legacy of skills and good practice in the use of design to drive innovation in project and service development as well as its role in developing competitive businesses.  It is a programme which brings communities together with designers to identify, and then create practical solutions to the issues which affect their lives and environment.  A skills dissemination strand will be led from UCF. Dott Cornwall is working to an Executive Board comprising CC, Design Council, UCF and SWERDA.  An Advisory Board drawn from a wide range of public, voluntary and private sector has been established.  The Dott design teams are already engaged in working on a number of Convergence projects in their early scoping stages.

Target - maximise the value of Cornwall's cultural assets on an international platform.  Potential bid to Manifesta - an international contemporary visual arts festival for the Cultural Olymiad year - with major investment by the Arts Council.
Target: maintain a dynamic contemporary culture and creative industries base. Arts Council funding of approx £230k a year has been secured by the Creative Unit for a 3 year programme of artist led activity with communities across Cornwall called FEAST.  It is developing the principles on which new models of place based investment can work in dispersed rural regions and new models of engagement between the creative sector and communities.  It will inform the thinking on Region of Culture and form a major plank of a campaign to win the designation.  Cornwall has been declared a priority area for Arts Council investment with 68% uplift in investment over next 3 years

• Cornwall has secured the 2010 World Surf Lifesaving championships.
• Grant approval received for the appointment of additional community sports coaches.
• Children and Young Peoples Partnership have nominated a 2012 representative to co-ordinate activity through the schools sector
• 56 coaching bursaries supported for the development of coaching skills .
• Development of Community Sports Networks (CSNs) is on schedule.
• 2012 strategy in preparation.
• Building schools for the future programme will deliver new school for Penryn with enhanced sports facilities available to the community.

on track - targets revised to reflect changed Defra funding situation.

Successful delivery of LSC co-financed projects, both workforce development and CRESTA slightly overachieved in terms of beneficiaries.

DEFRA have agreed that they will support Cornwall as a national pilot for using ecosystem approach and valuation to underpin land use management and planning - details to be finalised.

Cornwall Climate Change Action Plan is being developed and assisted by an Interreg project which we anticipate will commence in January 2009.

Other complementary activity for which Dave Lewis is not accountable includes

LAA Outcome Strong 6 - http://www.cornwallstrategicpartnership.gov.uk/media/adobe/4/6/STRONG6_1.pdf                                  LAA Outcome Sustain 3 - http://www.cornwallstrategicpartnership.gov.uk/media/adobe/g/t/SUSTAIN_3_Minimise_Waste.pdf   

See previous Delivery Outcome.  Using Cornwall as a distinctive brand is key to all our campaign work and through both product development and market intelligence we can identify both declining and new markets for Cornwall. 

As VisitCornwall we are not in a position to directly invest in the quality of the public product but through membership of such schemes as Clean Cornwall and through our bi-annual visitor survey we can encourage and advise on those key areas where the public product is failing.

New Cornwall Brand project approved by SW RDA Convergence and will commence April/May 2010

Currently revisiting Brand access criteria and redefining list of Cornwall Brand Ambassadors to align with InvestinCornwall activity in international markets.

Many of the decisions on strategy and delivery of economic development are being made externally to Cornwall, so that is not possible to use the Cornwall 'brand loyalty' as effectively as possible.  The creation of a Cornwall Development Company could go some way to addressing this issue.  Meanwhile, the 'brand loyalty' is being used to enhance smaller programmes, eg Buy Cornish.

With regard to use of the Cornwall brand, Cornwall Pure Business continues to achieve excellent results in attracting smaller high value business es to Cornwall as well as signing up many Cornish businesses to promote Cornwall nationally and internationally. visitcornwall reports continued loyalty by visitors to Cornwall, although there are concerns that overall visitor numbers may be down for providers in the lower to middle end of the market.

The European region of culture campaign continues to be pursued and WHS status, the burgeoning food sector and much improved offerings provides an opportunity to promote Cornwall in a new way to visitors

• Without funding (from April 2009) to invest in more of these projects the RCP cannot continue to develop these facilities. However, working with partners to ensure the success of the network established is a priority.
  The RCP, through its manager working as the Rural Renaissance Advisor to Cornwall Council's Economic Development Service, is developing rural strategy and policy that will enable stronger and more resilient communities and local economies to develop. This will include community owned renewable energy generation and a range of rural workspace and business development projects. This will see an advance from multi-use facilities to multi-faceted local economic development linked to housing provision and services where appropriate.
  
  Since 2005 the RCP have funded the capital for the establishment of 6 multi-purpose community facilities in Cornwall. Through SW RDA  Rural Renaissance, MRD and Capacity Building, supported by the LSC Neighbourhood Learning in deprived Communities (NLDC) funding, the RCP has been assisting with the development of community capacity to manage these facilities, learning from best practice. Through a number of capital investments, the RCP has also enhanced the physical fabric of towns and villages in more than 20 projects, ranging from £40,000 to £4,000,000 in value.
  
• The RCP has funded over a thousand projects during its 20 year existence, all of these have been achieved with active engagement of the community and the majority have demonstrated economic growth.
  
  Connected to this is the brief (soon to be published) to develop live/work hub rationale and specific detailed work by CUC around innovation/facilitation for business.  
  
  

  Through a number of capital investments, the RCP has enhanced the physical fabric of towns and villages in more than 20 projects, each ranging from £40,000 to £4,000,000 in value.
  
  

  §         900,000 families (2,500,000 people) in rural areas live below the poverty line. (Commission for Rural Communities 2008)

  §         Deprivation in rural areas is dispersed and often masked by affluence.

   

  The RCP has always recognised this and has focussed resources in rural priority areas to tackle rural deprivation and enable communities to develop and economic resilience to change beyond their control.

   

The 'draft' has been achieved within a consultative framework of the Partnership and external support such as the Retail Skills task and finish group and the St .Austell Partnership (both of whom have representation on the TCP). This is an ongoing, working document which is intended as a real tool for the basis of future milestones (for example development of the marketing strategy and Convergence delivery.

Website presence being developed but resources only permit within the context of the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Economic Forum website.

Town Partnership and the LAA Outcome were concluded by mutual agreement of the partnership and the Cornwall Strategic Partnership in October.  Local government re-organisation and the difficulty in securing adequate resources were the reasons.  Work could well be taken forward by a broader and re-invigorated Rural Cornwall Partnership and/or a high level Regeneration Board.

Without funds under its control from April 2009, the RCP is not able to make any direct investments to increase the amount of rural workspace. However, through the development of a rural strategy, and by rural proofing the LDF and Place Based Issues papers and othern strategies, the RCP is in a position to influence where investments may be made.

between 2003 and 2009. the RCP funded:

• 4000m2 rural workspace development
• 200 jobs created or safeguarded
• 267 people provided with employment support
• Skills development, over 500 people assisted
• 540 businesses to improve their performance
• 480 agricultural SMEs connected to broadband

This has been partially achieved but resources are required to more thoroughly go through existing retail surveys and concentrate linkage with the sites and premises outcome in order to look at the full range of quality and employment issues in towns. This is ongoing work to inform the development of build and marketing strategy and links strongly to improving the 'vacant floorspace' indicator. Due to availability and collectivity of information this indicator is tied to THI and HERS measurements only at the moment.

It has not been possible to assess this further due to staff sickness.

A need has been identified to address commercial and residential floorspace.

As of January 2009 this indicator is being reviewed with a view to its possible exapansion to examine all commercial floorspace as we move to baselining the new Cornwall LDF.

As of May 2009 some of the THI/HERS schemes have come to an end, while others are ongoing and still others due to start. A complete understanding of retail and commercial floorspace in town centres is a key objective within the new Cornwall Local Development Framework process. This has been supported by a facilities survey that all parish and town councils have had an opportunity to comment on and add to.

This is being achieved through the formation of a town 'manager' working group.

The group meets quarterly to share good practise and pursue joint project development.  This will feed into progress on the local government review and development of community networks.

Previously, the group has ceased to meet due to local work pressures on 'managers' and the lack of capacity to spend on strategic networking.

As of May 2009 the group is now meeting regularly under the chairmanship of the Newquay Town Manager.

Linked to above and currently being planned. Launceston MCTi a major partner: their project has majored on town centre workspace.

No further progress has been made in the last quarter of 2008 due to funding and capacity issues. However, the issue is being re-visited as part of the Refresh review.

Growth in commercial and residential floorspace achieved through THI and HERS is being achived across the six projects over several years. The monitoring of this work is resource intensive.

This is being achieved linked to the wider THI/HERS monitoring.

Sites are being identified via the Convergence process and checked for planning issues, and a multi-agency meeting will take place in February 2009 to examine how investment in P4 areas can impact on non  P4.

This work is now being taken forward as part of an employment space review for the LDF process.

This is being achieved through the formation of a ‘Town Manager' working group.  The Group has been formed and meetings are taking place regularly.  There has been some useful networking and dissemination at Town Partnership level (especially amongst supporting local government and RDA officers) and with the membership/developing partnership of the Cornwall Towns Association where strong links have been forged with community linked economic activity and aims in individual towns.

A meeting with Lucy Hunt (Cornwall Pure Business) and Teresa Timms (VisitCornwall) of Cornwall Enterprise discovered common ground to start developing a pre Convergence Commissioning paper (subject to further advice) to start grouping a number of emerging projects under the Towns Partnership banner (the word 'centre' has been dropped by agreement of the Partnership as it gives an inaccurate impression of the role and functionality of Cornish towns). Further work has been limited so far due to lack of human resources, the pressure of wider work and work on the Sustainable Community Strategy.

Without funding to invest from April 2009, the RCP is not able to provide further opportunities to rural communities. However, the RDPE Local Action Programme is running through the Cornwall Development Company. The RCP will be developing a rural strategy for Cornwall and will produce an action plan for projects that are outside the LAG areas. We will also be working with the CRCC on facilitation of the RDPE Community and Social Enterprise programme. 

Since 2005, to deliver this objective, the RCP has funded 13 projects:

• Two new community owned shops and Post Offices (currently NOT threatened with closure).
• Confidential space for Doctor visits and alternative therapies provided
• Two Community Cafés developed
• Two new nurseries and 50 childcare place provided
• 6 new rural transport services and 1300 additional passengers per year
• Two rural transport partnerships supported

From April 2009, the only funding that the RCP has for this outcome is the LSC NLDC programme.

The RCP has been focusing investment in rural areas/communities deprived of mainstream (centralised) funding. The RCP also invests funds for the LSC through the Neighbourhood Learning in Deprived Communities (NLDC) programme.

Linked to above and currently being planned. Launceston MCTi a major partner: their project has majored on town centre workspace.

Although an event would be beneficial, a lack of resource means this has not been progressed to date.

It is hoped that work can take place with the SWRDA on Public Realm access.  Discussions need to take place to progress through the LAA and Convergence.

Event currently superseeded by the organising of a multi-agency event (with the Cornwall Towns Association) on January 28th 2009 to examine joint working opportunities.

As of May 2009 there appear to be funding opportunities around the co-ordination of town masterplans and LAG related issues which the LAA needs to be in a position to co-ordinate.

The joint session with the Cornwall Towns Association went well, particularly around the theme of consultation and linkage with the LDF. A way forward on this is still being digested.

• Energy Strategy Published December 5th.
• Energy Days event on the 5th December.
• Discussions underway with renewable energy companies to deliver the actions set out in the energy strategy
  
• Porthcressa Master Plan has gone out to tender with a closing date for submissions of February 8th 2008.
• A project brief has been setup to guide organisations that wish to tender for the redevelopment works.
• The Porthcressa Masterplan has been tendered and a contract appointed. The consultants have undertaken a public consultation on the islands and have developed an inception report.
• Further consultation with the local community has been undertaken by Roger Tym and Partners
• Final Master Plan to be signed off following steering group consultation June 2009
• Master Plan nearing completion and will be presented to the Full Council and Planning and Development Committee meetings in October 2009.
  

Both Islands Tourism meetings and Green Tourism Business Scheme on going.

Development of bid for delivery of the Isles of Scilly Interpretation Strategy.

Local Action meetings to discuss LAG which could lead to diversification of the agricultural sector.

LAG will likely include representatives of this sector.

Continuing work on the Specific Agricultural Project for the Isles of Scilly.

Local produce markets have continued throughout the summer with potential for a Christmas market.

The Isles of Scilly has been granted £2.25 million of RDPE funds for its Local Action Group. Work has begun on a delivery plan to guide the resulting interventions.

Local Development Strategy submitted in the first quarter of 2009 awaiting approval from the SWRDA. LAG is constituted and final procedure ready for commencement of LAG projects.

Local Action Programme Manager appointed July 2009. Work continues on the preparation for pre-programme commencement checks by the RDA.

Local Action meetings to discuss Local Action Groups which will include a member for marine and fisheries. The Council continues to investigate the potential for wave and/or tidal energy with renewable energy companies

Continuing support from the Economic Development section of the Council for Local businesses (both start up and existing).

The arts and crafts sector saw the development of 4 new workspaces at the end of November 07

The creative sectors important role is being recognised in the islands new economic development documents.

Investigation through the Local Action process for the potential for rural business diversification.

The Council has been working with representatives from Business Link to develop a programme of work that will provide the islands with access to its business support and development packages. Role out of these packages is likely to occur towards the end of the calendar year (2009).

Work continues on the delivery of the new school build. The programme is running in line with its timescale. The Project Manager has been appointed and a framework has been agreed. Site and requirements have been identified and have become part of a Supplementary Planning Document. Planning application anticipated by the end of September 2009.

The Porthcressa masterplan has been tendered and a consultant appointed. The consultants have held a public meeting to engage with local residents and businesses. This consultation event has led to the development of an Inception report. Further consultation has taken place during the final quarter of 2008 to focus the concepts brought forward by the inception report. The master plan is nearing completion and will be brough to both the meeting of the Full Council and the meeting of the Planning and Development Committee in October 2009 for finalisation and signing off.

Interpretation strategy developed and includes concepts for a "Scilly Centre" which could provide new social infrastructure to both residents and visitors. The centre would likely host exhibits outlining Scilly's natural, human and maritime history as well as celebrating those characteristics that make up the islands culture.

ESF being co-ordinated for the islands by IoS life long learning centre.

Delivery is via "The Progressive Isles" project, which started at the end of June 2008.

Continuing meetings of the Route Partnership as well as on-going funding bid and tendering of the Stage 3 of the project.

Sustainable Transport Strategy Project Brief developed. The Council has begun the tendering process through the SWRDA construction consultants framework panel with responses expected by the end of August. Appointment of the successful contractor will likely be decided early in September with a Project Initiation Document (PID) being delivered in early October.

Energy Strategy Published 5/12/07.

Energy Days Event held 5/12/07

Contractors will be visiting the islands to undertake the insulation works identified through the energy days event. The Council also continues to investigate the feasibility of developing a renewable wave or tidal energy project whilst supporting of renewable energy developments through the planning system.

Work continues on a project to deliver renewable energy to the islands.