RMTG Meeting
Online via Zoom
Monday, 27th March 2023

- You can download a copy of the agenda and papers for this meeting here
- You can download a copy of these minutes here

1. Welcome from Graham Biggs MBE, Chief Executive and David Inman, Corporate Director

Graham introduced Kerry Booth to the group, she will be taking on the role of Chief Executive of the RSN from 1st April 2023 when Graham stands aside from the role.

2. Notes from the previous RMTG meeting

Held on the 11th October 2022.

3. Updating our Services for RMTG in 2023

David Inman provided an update to the RMTG services for 2023 which included links from the RSN website to individual town websites.  A full list of services provided to the RMTG is available at this link.
https://rsnonline.org.uk/images/rural-market-towns-group/rmtg-service-agreement.pdf

4. Fair Funding and Local Government Finance Settlement

Fair Funding presentation by Kerry Booth, Chief Executive Designate RSN and verbal report on the Local Government Finance Settlement by Graham Biggs.

The slides are available at this link:      https://www.rsnonline.org.uk/images/meetings/RMTG/2023/27.03.23/RMTG-Fair-Funding.pdf

The presentation highlighted the wider work of the Rural Services Network and its campaign for fair funding for rural areas.  It included key figures such as:

• Urban areas get 38% more in Government Funded Spending Power than rural areas
• Rural Residents pay on average £110 per head more in Council Tax than their urban counterparts

The presentation detailed the impact of that unfair funding on the availability of Councils to provide discretionary services, from smaller budgets, and the ultimate negative impact on rural communities.

Graham updated the group on the Local Government Finance Settlement, the provisional settlement was released in December, and after some key campaigning from rural MP’s, aided by information and analysis provided by the RSN, the Final Settlement published in February included an additional £10Million pounds for the Rural Services Delivery Grant taking its total to £95Million for 2023-2024 which is allocated to the most sparsely populated  Principal Councils.

There followed a discussion with delegates about the fair funding campaign, and the impact on rural towns and town councils as the Principal local authorities cut back even further on the  delivery of  certain discretionary services.

5. Vulnerability Sounding Boards – Young People Survey

There are two Sounding Boards for the RMTG members to join, one focusing on Young People and one on Older People.  Councils can nominate a Member to be on either or both the Sounding Boards and they will be used for surveys and feedback on the key issues facing these particular groups.

The first survey has been sent to representatives on the Young People Sounding Board   
 for completion.

6. Cost of Living Survey

The RSN is jointly running a cost-of-living survey with the Rural Issues Group of the Citizens Advice Service.  The survey has over 6000 responses so far and closes on 31st March.  Thank you to all that have shared the survey with their communities to respond. https://www.rsnonline.org.uk/final-push-to-share-your-views-on-cost-of-living

7. Rural Services “Manifesto”

The RSN is currently developing a document which sets out its ‘asks’ of Government, ahead of the likely general election.  This is based on our Revitalising Rural Campaign but will be updated and target the main political parties encouraging them to add policies that will support rural areas in their own election manifestos.

8. Rural England CIC Survey

Rural England CIC is an independent research organisation and they are doing work exploring how the cost of living crisis has impacted the trading position of market towns.  In due course, there may be specific research as part of this project that the RMTG can influence and participate in, and information will be shared with the group when ready.

9. Rural Homelessness Final Report

The RSN was part of a coalition that commissioned research into rural homelessness and the report was recently published, featuring on the BBC and also Sky News.  You can read more at this link:
https://www.rsnonline.org.uk/chronic-increase-of-hidden-homelessness-in-the-countryside-fuelled-by-cost-of-living-crisis-ground-breaking-report-shows 

RMTG Meeting Schedule 2023