ASSET (Action to Strengthen Small European Towns)
Project Description

FINANCE

19.  Start-Up – preparatory phase. 

ECOVAST is undertaking the preparatory phase, with financial support totalling 9000 euro, from SEEDA (2000 euro), APURE (2000 euro) and CRC (5000 euro) towards the costs of this phase, which are estimated as follows:

	Euro
Preparation of database of support agencies	2,000
Travel costs to visit potential partners	3,000
Meetings of partners	500
Preparation of project dossier	1,500
Accounting and advice on bids to European Union sources	2,000
Total start-up costs	9,000

 

20.  Provisional budget   
Main three-year programme (See Indicative Budget below)
For work beyond the preparatory stage, SEEDA has contributed 2000 euro as partnership contribution for the second of three years of the project and Yorkshire Forward has agreed to contribute 2000 euro for each of three years. APURE (through ERU UK Group, has contributed a further 1428 euro in July 2007).

ECOVAST’s contribution will be made in kind (instead of 2000 euro for three years), in terms of staff-time (focused particularly on identification of potential sources of matching funds) and office support, as manager of the project. For the three years of the main project the budget has, in addition to ECOVAST’s in kind contribution, the cost of a secretariat – 65000 euro. 

Because many small towns will not be able to afford an annual contribution of 2000 euro, they have the opportunity to join ECOVAST as a member organisation (annual subscription fee currently 60 euro) so that they may be kept informed of the progress and detail of the ASSET Project.
 

21. So that funding from European Union sources, such as INTERREG IVC, and from International Foundations, can be received and monitored, an ACCOUNTABLE BODY is necessary. For receiving money from foundations and charitable trusts we are seeking an organisation that has experience of accountability for European Union funding, and could handle finances, effectively treasurer for the for the ASSET project as a whole. Those services will necessitate expenses to cover staff time and overheads. Although partners of the project, they would not contribute 2000 euro a year.
 
A Lead Partner for an INTERREG project is sought, who would be the accountable body for that element of ASSET’s work. The pan-European INTERREG IVC programme is being studied, and the indications are that the Lead Partner would be a Local Authority or Regional body with dedicated staff, rather than an NGO.
 

22. Indicative BUDGET            
Not including INTERREG  (if INTERREG bid is successful then some items of cost can be reduced
 

EXPENDITURE Activity	ASSET
Net cost of events, say 30,000 per year	90,000
Information gathering and dissemination	20,000
Guidance publication  small towns appraisal (consultant)	30,000
Template of good practice	20,000
Congress of Small Towns 2011 (if  funding is not possible from INTERREG) in conjunction with EC and Council of Europe	90,000
Printing costs	8,000
Set up website 2008	2,000
Maintenance of Website with database, 5000 per year	15,000
Organising group expenses, 10,000 per year	30,000
Project Officer (to be appointed) - estimate 40,000 per year including overheads	120,000
Secretariat, 15,000 per year rising to 30,000 per year	65,000
Accounting	60,000
Research	60,000
Translation of web pages and reports and guidance publication.   300 euro per large document page x 100 pages	30,000
TOTAL	640,000
INCOME
ASSET partners 20 x 6,000  Including IN KIND	120,000
Foundations	520,000
TOTAL	640,000

 

23.  We propose that a substantial proportion of the total should be covered by contribution from partners – say 2000 euro per partner per year.   It is envisaged that 20 partners would produce a total of 20 x 3 x 2000 euro = 120,000 euro.  A limited number of the partners could make their contribution IN KIND.
 

24.  The remainder would be sought from International Foundations.
 

25.  A bid will be made to the European Commission INTERREG IVC programme (pan-Europe) during 2008.  It is envisaged that bids for 75% of the INTERREG portion of the project would have to be matched by funds from other sources. The structure and content of the INTERREG bid will require further work with potential INTERREG Partners and their willingness to undertake ‘work packages’. That will inevitably recast the budget, showing the discrete INTERREG component and the gearing of match funding contributions.
A synopsis of the basis of an INTERREG proposal is to be found on page 16.

Suggested budget after studying INTERREG IVC call for bids Sept 2007  -  Assume 8 partners

The element for INTERREG IVC is based on an assumed minimum 500,000 euro over 3 to 4 years

EXPENDITURE Activity	INTERREG	INTERREG Partners
Net cost of events, say 30,000 per year	90,000
Information gathering and dissemination	80,000
Guidance publication  small towns appraisal (consultant)	30,000
Template of good practice	30,000
Congress of Small Towns 2011 (in conjunction with EC and Council of Europe)	90,000
Printing costs	8,000
Set up websites 2008	2,000
Maintenance of Websites with database, 5000 per year	20,000
Meetings of INTERREG partners over 4 years	40,000
Project Officer (to be appointed) - estimate 40,000 per year including overheads	120,000
Accounting	Lead partner and Audit
Translation of web pages and reports and guidance publication.   300 euro per large document page x 100 pages	30,000
Work packages	120,000+
TOTALS	Say 800,000
INCOME
INTERREG 75%	600,000
INTERREG partners 25% (Max 8 x 25,000 = 200,000)		200,000
TOTALS	600,000	200,000

 

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