Report - Section 7.2

7.2   Funding

ESCC has a statutory duty to maintain the public rights-of-way network and pays for bridlepaths and other rights of way under its transport budget. This 'statutory duty' means that many forms of outside funding cannot be claimed but there are other means of funding. Potentially, one of the most important is the proposed Public Service Agreement (PSA) with central Government. See Appendix III. ESCC Rights of Way Department has applied for PSA targets and the additional funding this attracts. The indications are that it may receive £500,000 p.a. over 3 years, provided a considerable proportion is spent on Community Circuits²⁹.

There are changes occurring in how 'statutory duty' is implemented by local authorities. Examples of LAs 'contracting out' the duty with a fixed annual budget include West Berkshire and Hertfordshire (Appendix IV). Other authorities are transferring their budgets to Tourism and Leisure. More flexibility is arising as a result of the CROW Act and new ideas are being considered. Consideration could be given to grants direct to farmers for route maintenance amongst other needs.

There may be opportunities to make more creative use of Landfill Taxes. (See Appendix III.)

There is a need to explore the various EU funding programmes for opportunities related to the equine industry. TROT has been awarded funding (£60,000) from Interreg to set up two routes and events in East Sussex (including the Rotherfield Community Tourism Project), using the existing bridleways and bridging gaps in the riding network, and training trail ride leaders. It will pilot two projects in the mid-Kent Downs area.

Countryside Stewardship clearly offers considerable scope for helping to meet the objectives of the equine industry. Notwithstanding some of the constraints (Appendix II), the opportunities need to be promoted more strongly to farmers.

---

²⁹ HWBG