Frequently asked questions
Please inform me by what authority this "Arc Manche" organisation was set up?
The Arc Manche was set up by the English local authorities and French regions that border the Channel. It was born out of the shared interests and concerns that we all have for the future development of the Channel area and the belief that by working together and co-operating we would achieve better results than working individually. A declaration signaling our intent to co-operate when and where appropriate in order to promote the Channel and secure funding for the area was signed by the leaders of each Council and can be seen on the Arc Manche web-site. www.arcmanche.com
It is important to stress that this is an informal, voluntary network of local authorities who can use the network to share best practice, coordinate initiatives and pull together project ideas to draw in EU funding. It is not a 'regional Assembly' like the South East England Regional Assembly. It has absolutely no powers confered to it, no role in governance, law-making or public administration.
Who voted for it?
As stated above, it is not a regional assembly nor an instrument of government so is not subject to a vote or referendum of any kind. The Arc Manche is an initiative of those councils involved and anyone else who wishes to join, to facilitate the work we as local authorities have to deliver anyway on coastal management, economic development, tourism, environmental management, when it is appropriate to do so. The decision to join is taken by the relevant Cabinet Member in each authority through their standard Council decision-making process.
Who pays for it?
There are no fees or subscriptions for the Arc Manche. It is run on contributions in kind. The network meets twice a year and members take it in turn to provide the room and translation for these meetings which last half a day so people can travel there and back in a day as far as possible. We also make as much use as possible of video-conferencing.
What possible use is it?
As stated above it is a forum for the exchange of best practice that leads to service delivery improvements and the development of projects in order to bring in as much EU funding into the area as possible. Through our collective efforts, the Arc Manche has won a million euros to fund pilot projects on maritime safety, tourism, development of secondary ports, skills and fisheries.
The Arc Manche and the research, studies and data it has collected on the Channel area has been influential in persuading the European Union to provide 350 million euros worth of funding to the Channel area over the next 6 years to improve the area’s competitiveness and environmental sustainability.
As a network it then puts people with similar interests in the Channel area in touch with each other to develop further projects to take advantage of this funding. Further details of the projects the network has enabled are on the Arc Manche web-site.
It is obviously a ploy to undermine national authority, or can you give me any reason why this is not the case?
No it is not ploy, the Arc Manche has absolutely no authority whatsoever. It is not even a legal entity. It merely serves to articulate the concerns of coastal local authorities when it feels they should be heard and taken into account.
Which English counties/areas are active in Arc Manche?
West Sussex County Council, Hampshire County Council, Kent County Council and Brighton&Hove City Council are full members of Arc Manche. East Sussex County Council and the Isle of Wight Council are associate members.
Total cost of the Arc Manche conference
The total cost of the event was £11002.28 of which 16% (£1765.68) were funded by European funding (European Regional Development Fund). Please note that the aim of the event was to present the European funding programmes that will start in 2007. Hundred of millions of pounds will be available and we want to make sure that the South of England will benefit from it.
How many meetings your little coven has, so far, enjoyed, how much you have, so far, cost the beleaguered council-tax payers of this County?
I have attended 11 meetings of the Channel Arc Manche (7 abroad and 4 in the UK). The cost of attending meetings in the UK is minimal and the cost on average for each trip abroad is £110.
How much, precisely, of our money you have managed to "claw back"?
West Sussex managed to secure £6.5 million of European funding between 2000 and 2006.
1. I am afraid I don't have all the information you have requested. I can tell you how much time West Sussex County Council staff have spent on Arc Manche but don't have the information for the other members of Arc Manche.
Three staffs have been working on Arc Manche in West Sussex County Council:
- Staff 1 - approximately 24 days during the past 12 months - cost per day=£85
- Staff 2 - approximately 36 days during the past 12 months - cost per day=£139
- Staff 3 - approximately 6 days during the past 12 months - cost per day=£232
2. Developing partnerships and securing European funding for the County Council is part of the statutory duties of the Europe office. It is also the case for the other local authorities members of Arc Manche.
3. I am not aware of the Arc Manche meeting that you mentioned. It must be another organisation.
