Guidance

ERDF programmes: how they are managed

Guidance about how the European Regional Development Fund programmes are managed in England.

This guidance was withdrawn on

This information is now out of date.

Applies to England

Introduction

The Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) is the managing authority for all European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) programmes in England. The managing authority is the body designated by the European Union (EU) member state to ensure EU structural fund programmes are implemented and that their activity conforms to European Commission regulations. DCLG provides the framework for how ERDF programmes should be delivered, reporting to ministers and the European Commission.

The certifying and audit authorities are also part of the department and help to ensure that European Commission regulations are adhered to.

DCLG has locally based teams responsible for delivering the English ERDF programmes. This provides government with operational scrutiny, mitigating the risk of financial corrections imposed by the European Commission, while retaining local expertise and experience. The London programme is managed by the Greater London Authority.

Local management committees

Each programme has a local management committee and a programme delivery team to oversee ERDF investment, guide the programme, and assess progress. The management committees are chaired by a number of DCLG’s directors and, in the case of London, the Mayor. The committees draw their membership from government departments and a wide range of local partners including:

  • local enterprise partnerships
  • local authorities
  • higher and further education institutions
  • environmental bodies
  • voluntary and private sectors
  • business community

The programme delivery teams provide administrative support to the management committees and assess all grant applications, consideration and approval of project selection criteria.

Local management committee responsibilities

  • reviewing progress towards the achievement of programme targets and objectives
  • receiving and considering consistent, up-to-date management information for the programme
  • consideration and approval of annual and final reports
  • consideration and approval of programme evaluations and resulting Operational Programme amendments
  • strategic linkages with other structural funds, domestic programmes and wider UK economic policy.

Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly convergence programme

Cornwall and Isles of Scilly convergence programme has a joint ERDFand European Social Fund (ESF) local management committee.

The local management committee has 3 sub-groups:

  • ESF steering group: steers and monitors delivery of the ESF convergence framework
  • convergence management group: ensures day-to-day delivery of the programme in relation to investment decisions and delivery methods
  • post-2013 sub-group: ensures that the local management committee is appraised of the future direction of European programmes

The local management committee is chaired by DCLG. The deputy chairs are Chris Pomfret, Chairman, Cornwall and Isles of Scilly local enterprise partnership and the Leader of Cornwall Council.

ERDF Cornwall and Isles of Scilly LMC terms of reference, code of conduct and membership list (PDF, 125 KB, 10 pages)

The schedule of meetings for 2014 is:

  • 14 May
  • 22 October

ERDF Cornwall and Isles of Scilly LMC minutes 22 May 2013 (PDF, 1.06 MB, 12 pages)

Minutes from earlier meetings are available from 0303 444 6585 or email SWconv.ERDFenquiries@communities.gsi.gov.uk.

East Midlands competitiveness and employment programme

East Midlands competitiveness and employment programme’s local management committee is chaired by DCLG. The deputy chair is Rachel Quinn, Chief Executive, One East Midlands.

The local management committee has 1 sub-group:

  • investment sub-group: responsible for the detailed consideration of project applications and consideration and approval of project selection criteria; it is chaired by the local management committee’s deputy chair

ERDF East Midlands LMC terms of reference and membership list (PDF, 65.2 KB, 6 pages)

The schedule of meetings for 2013 is:

  • 13 September
  • 29 November

ERDF East Midlands LMC minutes 24 May 2013 (PDF, 81.3 KB, 10 pages)

Minutes from earlier meetings are available from 0303 444 6427 or email em.erdfenquiries@communities.gsi.gov.uk.

East of England competitiveness and employment programme

East of England competitiveness and employment programme’s local management committee is chaired by DCLG. The deputy chair is George Kieffer, Chairman, Haven Gateway Partnership.

The local management committee has 4 sub-groups:

  • performance improvement group: has responsibility for evaluating and improving the effectiveness of structural funds and their delivery arrangements
  • ERDF competitiveness delivery group: performs at an operational level and considers expressions of interest and business case applications for projects seeking ERDF funding
  • environmental sustainability group: provides advice and expertise to the local management committee on best practice in the delivery of environmental sustainability
  • equality and diversity group: provides advice and expertise to the local management committee on best practice in the delivery of equality and diversity

ERDF East of England LMC and sub-group terms of reference and membership list (PDF, 360 KB, 19 pages)

The schedule of meetings for 2014 is:

  • 13 February
  • 5 June
  • 25 September

ERDF East of England LMC minutes 7 June 2013 (PDF, 127 KB, 10 pages)

Minutes from earlier meetings are available from 0303 444 6400 or email ee.erdfenquiries@communities.gsi.gov.uk.

The London competitiveness and employment programme

The London competitiveness and employment programme is administered by the Greater London Authority. Further information is available on the GLA website.

North East competitiveness and employment programme

North East competitiveness and employment programme’s local management committee is chaired by DCLG. The deputy chair is Councillor Neil Foster, Durham County Council.

The local management committee has 1 sub-group:

  • programme executive group: supports the local ERDF team in the delivery and management of the programme

ERDF North East LMC and sub-group terms of reference and membership list (PDF, 180 KB, 9 pages)

The schedule of meetings for 2014 is:

  • 4 April
  • 10 October

ERDF North East LMC minutes 21 June 2013 (PDF, 46.5 KB, 6 pages)

Minutes from earlier meetings are available from 0303 444 6475 or email ne.erdfenquiries@communities.gsi.gov.uk.

North West competitiveness and employment programme

North West competitiveness and employment programme’s local management committee is chaired by DCLG. The deputy chair is Sir Howard Bernstein, Manchester City Council.

The local management committee has 2 sub-groups:

  • performance and monitoring sub-committee (PMSC): helps the local management committee to review the programme in more detail
  • Merseyside phasing-in sub-committee (MPISC): provides the local management committee with further resources and informed comments to focus on Merseyside during its transitional ‘phasing-in’ status

The schedule of LMC meetings for 2014 is:

  • 11 February
  • 13 May
  • 9 September
  • 3 December

ERDF North West LMC minutes 28 November 2013 (PDF, 54.7 KB, 6 pages) ERDF North West PMSC minutes 2 July 2013 (PDF, 40.3 KB, 5 pages) ERDF North West MPISC minutes 18 June 2013 (PDF, 31.2 KB, 5 pages)

Minutes from earlier meetings are available from 0303 444 6520 or email NW.ERDFenquiries@communities.gsi.gov.uk.

South East competitveness and employment programme

South East competitiveness and employment programme’s local management committee is chaired by DCLG. The deputy chair is Helyn Clack, Surrey County Council.

The local management committee has 1 sub-group:

  • project selection committee: appraises and commissions ERDF projects to ensure that the different priority areas of the programme may be fulfilled and activity delivered

ERDF South East LMC and sub-group membership lists (PDF, 12.7 KB, 1 page)

The schedule of meetings for 2013 is:

  • 29 November

Minutes from local management committee meetings are available from 0303 444 6528 or email SE.ERDFenquiries@communities.gsi.gov.uk.

South West competitiveness and employment programme

South West competitiveness and employment programme’s local management committee is chaired by DCLG. The deputy chair is Colin Skellett, Chairman, West of England local enterprise partnership.

The local management committee has 1 sub-group:

  • competitiveness operations group: recommends investment decisions and delivery methods

ERDF South West LMC terms of reference and code of conduct (PDF, 120 KB, 9 pages)

The schedule of meetings for 2014 is:

  • 9 May
  • 10 October

ERDF South West LMC minutes 15 May 2013 (PDF, 576 KB, 8 pages)

Minutes from earlier meetings are available from 0303 444 6580 or email SWcomp.ERDFenquiries@communities.gsi.gov.uk.

West Midlands competitiveness and employment programme

West Midlands competitiveness and employment programme’s local management committee is chaired by DCLG. The deputy chair is Norman Price, Innovation Alliance.

The local management committee has 1 sub-group:

  • local management sub-committee: supports the local management committee in carrying out its responsibilities

ERDF West Midlands LMC and sub-committee terms of reference and membership lists (PDF, 102 KB, 12 pages)

The schedule of meetings for 2014 is:

  • 6 March
  • 12 June
  • 11 September

ERDF West Midlands LMC minutes 19 September 2013 (PDF, 68.8 KB, 7 pages) ERDF West Midlands LMC sub-committee minutes 7 November 2013 (PDF, 62.4 KB, 6 pages)

Minutes from earlier meetings are available from 0303 444 6587 or email WM.ERDFenquiries@communities.gsi.gov.uk.

Yorkshire and the Humber competitiveness and employment programme

Yorkshire and the Humber competitiveness and employment programme’s local management committee is chaired by DCLG. The 2 deputy chairs are professor Colin Mellors, Pro Vice-Chancellor, University of York and John Mothersole, Chief Executive, Sheffield City Council.

The local management committee has 3 sub-groups:

  • access to finance sub-committee: monitors Finance Yorkshire, a financial instrument established as a JEREMIE to help micro and medium-sized businesses to secure funding to help with their business growth; the sub-committee also monitors other financial projects on behalf of the local management committee
  • South Yorkshire performance management board
  • Yorkshire and Humber (excluding South Yorkshire) performance management board

The 2 local performance management boards oversee and monitor projects. Each identifies alignment with other regional strategies, identifies risks to programme delivery and recommends remedial action, if required. Each board views and, if appropriate, endorses proposals at outline business plans.

ERDF Yorkshire and the Humber LMC sub-committee information (PDF, 54.4 KB, 3 pages)

The schedule of meetings for 2013 is:

  • 24 October

ERDF Yorkshire and The Humber LMC minutes 25 October 2012 (PDF, 52.9 KB, 6 pages)

Minutes from earlier meetings are available from 0303 444 6640 or email YH.ERDFenquiries@communities.gsi.gov.uk.

Published 25 February 2013
Last updated 31 July 2013 + show all updates
  1. West Midlands LMC minutes update for meeting on 30 May 2013.

  2. West Midlands LMC sub-committee minutes added from meeting on 4th July 2013

  3. Latest North East LMC minutes added

  4. New LMC meeting minutes uploaded for South West and South West Convergance programmes

  5. Latest LMC sub-committee documents added for West Midlands ERDF Programme.

  6. Yorkshire and Humber LMC Minutes for 25 October 2012 added

  7. West Midlands ERDF Programme sub committee meeting on 13 March 2013 documents added.

  8. Added latest LMC minutes from North East programme

  9. First published.