T: 01822 851370 E: [email protected]
27/10/2021 - RSN Seminar: Town Centres, High Streets & Village Hubs
Date: 27th October 2021
Subject: Town Centres, High Streets & Village Hubs
Chair: Graham Biggs MBE, Chief Executive, Rural Services Network
- To download the Agenda for this seminar click here
- To view the welcome message from the RSN click here
- To download the Learning Outcomes from this seminar click here
- To view the Attendance and Apologies for this seminar click here
Speakers:
-
Steve Dowling, Public Affairs Manager, Association of Convenience Stores
"Rural Shops, the Pandemic Legacy & Changing Communities"
- Download the presentation here
-
Christine Donnelly, Non-Executive Director, National Federation of Sub Postmasters
"The Challenges Faced by a Rural Subpostmaster"
- Download the presentation here
Learning Outcomes:
Examples of Good Practice/Reports/Information
- Stafford BC used it’s Assisted Restriction Grant (ARG) to write policies to support our rural businesses both existing and start-ups. and particularly those who missed out on mandatory Covid payments.
Support for community shops from the Plunkett Foundation. - Community Access to Cash Pilots
- Article on Post Offices to host banking hubs
- ACS Rural Shop Report 2021
- ACS Community Barometer research
- Young Somerset – supporting young people in rural areas
Key Learning Points
The Pandemic Legacy, Rural Shops & Changing Communities which will focus on rural element of latest shop report
- In the last year, Convenience Stores have achieved £16bn in sales and provided jobs for 126,500 people.
- 79% of convenience stores in rural areas are independently owned.
- 64% own their business, 13% work more than 70 hours per week and nearly a quarter take no holiday per year.
- 54% trade in isolation ie no other stores or businesses near by
- Since the pandemic, rural convenience stores now provide over 600,000 home deliveries a week and have adjusted their product ranges accordingly
- Levelling Up – need policy makers to invest in local not regional and promote 15-minute neighbourhoods.
- Use Growth hubs to support local and circular economies
- ACS and RSN working with two big ATM operators re access to cash.
The Challenges Faced by a Rural Sub-Postmaster
- Challenges include operating costs, demanding hours, accountability, competition. Minimum wage goes up but little wiggle room to earn more money to pay for this.
- Valued by customers, work varied and belonging to a community
- Need fair renumeration rates for sub-postmasters and Banks to contribute to Outreach and banking service costs
- Outreach work is very demanding physically, time consuming travelling to diverse locations and out in adverse weather. It’s a good solution but not perfect and vans often struggle with internet signal.
- Also have to consider if a member of staff is sick – which one do you do? Outreach or main Post Office – can’t do both.
- Concern where the next generation of sub-postmasters will come. Most PO’s are based in someone’s house and very expensive to buy now and set up afresh.
- Work long hours to always be open and not let anyone down in community.
- Social value – keeping an eye on most vulnerable – informal and voluntary sup
- Local farming community a great support to Post Office – understand the value of buying local and keeping local
Any Other Key Outcomes from the Seminar
RSN’s Revitalising Rural Campaign Specific Policy Asks of the Government is for fairer distribution of national resources to rural areas and more nuanced national policies. There are 14 Chapters in the campaign; and one looks at Rural Economies, at Rural Town Centres and High Streets and also Challenges facing Young People in Rural Areas.
As new Government strategies are announced, RSN puts them through a “Rural Lens Review” which adds depth and texture to the Policy Asks. A fresh crosscut of the Revitalising document being worked on will look in more depth at younger people. It will also look at the impact of various issues on younger people and develop case studies (personal experiences) rather than dry policy discussions. One of these reviews looks at Government Place Based Funds and another at Build Back Better High Streets.
RSN report with Pragmatix Advisory on how there is bias in the metrics used towards northern, urban red-wall areas in the allocation criteria of the Levelling Up and other Funds.
RSN report with Pragmatix Advisory on recognising and addressing the post-pandemic rural productivity challenge – Cultivating rural growth.
Analysis and Commentary pieces for Rural Services Network by Jessica Sellick, Researcher at Rose Regeneration: From Survival to Revival: How can we Regenerate our High Streets?
RSN Member Insights produced by Dan Worth, Research & Performance Analyst, RSN. Please click on the link to access the Economy Insights.
Attendance and Apologies
Attendance:
|
Full Name |
Organisation |
|
Vinia Abesamis |
Herefordshire Council |
|
Bethan Aldridge |
Rural Services Network |
|
Cllr Chris Allen |
Burnham and Highbridge Town Council |
|
James Armstrong |
Northumberland County Council |
|
Chris Ashman |
Isle of Wight Council |
|
Daniel Ayiah |
Herefordshire Council |
|
David Barnes |
Belper Town Council |
|
Cllr Belinda Bawden |
Lyme Regis Town Council |
|
Cllr Owen Bierley |
West Lindsey District Council |
|
Graham Biggs |
Rural Services Network |
|
Prof. Gary Bosworth |
Northumbria University |
|
Steve Broome |
East Sussex County Council |
|
Alison Brown |
Cambridgeshire ACRE |
|
Lillian Burns |
National Association of Local Councils (NALC) |
|
Cllr Julie Carr |
Lewes District Council |
|
Esther Carter |
Sedgemoor District Council |
|
Cllr Stephen Clarke |
West Northamptonshire Council |
|
Josyanne Clarke |
North Somerset Council |
|
Zoe Cornick |
Rugby Borough Council |
|
Abi Culley |
Warwickshire County Council |
|
Angela Daly |
Irthlingborough Town Council |
|
Andy Dean |
Rural Services Network |
|
Cllr James Deane |
Petersfield Town Council |
|
Cllr Judith Derbyshire |
Eden District Council |
|
Marina Di Salvatore |
West Lindsey District Council |
|
Christine Donnelly |
National Federation of Sub Postmasters |
|
Steve Dowling |
Association of Convenience Stores |
|
Richard Dowson |
Raising Aspirations Empowering Change Ltd |
|
Andrea Durn |
Wotton Under Edge Town Council |
|
Robin Edge |
Northumberland County Council |
|
David Farnsworth |
East Riding of Yorkshire Council |
|
Cllr Lesley Farrow |
Petersfield Town Council |
|
Louise Flavell |
Braintree District Council |
|
Cllr Tina Foster |
Swanage Town Council |
|
Cllr Jan Goffey |
Okehampton Town Council |
|
Cllr Simon Gomes-Da Costa |
Downham Market Town Council |
|
Dr Bryonny Goodwin-Hawkins |
Countryside and Community Research Institute |
|
Holly Goring |
Uckfield Town Council |
|
Martin Gorringe |
Defra |
|
Alan Gray |
North Kesteven District Council |
|
David Hall |
Northumberland County Council |
|
Adrian Hamilton |
Ryedale District Council |
|
Jodie Hancock |
Biddulph Town Council |
|
David Hardy |
Northumberland County Council |
|
Cllr Michael Harris |
New Forest District Council |
|
Antonia Harrison |
YMCA Lincolnshire |
|
Cllr Lee Hatcher |
Cranbrook & Sissinghurst Parish Council |
|
Cllr Mervyn Head |
North Kesteven District Council |
|
Nicola Healy |
Babergh & Mid Suffolk District Councils |
|
Beth Heritage |
Wealden District Council |
|
Michael Hewitt |
Cherwell District Council |
|
Laura Higgins |
Somerset West and Taunton Council |
|
Cllr Stephen Hillier |
West Sussex County & Mid Sussex District Councils |
|
Christoper Hinchliff |
CPRE, the countryside charity |
|
Cllr Tony Hirons |
Lutterworth Town Council |
|
Ella Howman |
South Norfolk and Broadland Councils |
|
Dr Cllr Colin Hutchinson |
Calderdale Metropolitan Borough Council |
|
David Inman |
Rural Services Network |
|
Gavin Iredale |
Reed in Partnership |
|
Wendy Jackson |
Forest of Dean District Council |
|
Nita Jarram |
South Hams & West Devon Borough Councils |
|
Claire Johnson |
Devon County Council |
|
Karla Johnson |
Herefordshire Council |
|
Liz Johnson-Idan |
Chard Town Council |
|
Will Jones |
Dartmoor NPA |
|
Dr Andrew Jordan |
Wirksworth Town Council |
|
Terry Jordan |
Wisbech Town Council |
|
Amine Kabouchi |
West Oxfordshire District Council |
|
Cllr Simon Leney |
Heathfield and Waldron Parish Council |
|
John Longden |
Pub is The Hub |
|
Rachel Lovett |
Northumberland County Council |
|
Emily Lowe |
Herefordshire Council |
|
Martyne Manning |
Stafford Borough Council |
|
Toby Matthews |
Norfolk County Council |
|
Emily McMonagle |
Lincolnshire County Council |
|
Guy McQueen |
Lewes District & Eastbourne Borough Councils |
|
Cllr Paul Andrew Milner |
Petersfield Town Council |
|
Cllr Terence Moore |
Great Dunmow Town Council |
|
Yvonne Morland |
Tandridge District Council |
|
Caitlin Murray |
Cornwall Council |
|
Cllr Julie Najuk |
Gedling Borough Council |
|
Janet Neale |
Warwickshire County Council |
|
Lynne Nicholl |
Alzheimer's Society |
|
Cllr Liz Parker |
Oxted Parish Council |
|
Sue Petters |
Barnstaple Town Council |
|
Amanda Phillips |
United Utilities |
|
Emma Phillips |
West Oxfordshire District Council |
|
Jeff Pyrah |
Rother District Council |
|
Nicola Radford |
Lincolnshire County Council |
|
Steven Robson |
Northumberland County Council |
|
Ally Rood |
Stroud Town Council |
|
Vanessa Saunders |
Holsworthy Town Council |
|
Cllr Jeremy Savage |
South Norfolk District Council |
|
Melanie Sealey |
Devon County Council |
|
Beth Searle |
Corsham Town Council |
|
Cllr Richard Sherras |
Ribble Valley Borough Council |
|
Clair Shields |
North York Moors NPA |
|
Emma Smith |
Shropshire Council |
|
Emma-Jane Snowden |
East Riding of Yorkshire Council |
|
Katherine Stanley |
West Northamptonshire Council |
|
Graham Swiss |
South Hams District Council & West Devon Borough Council |
|
Cllr John Toye |
North Norfolk District Council |
|
Cllr Alison Trenery |
Uttoxeter Town Council |
|
Carole Troake |
Harborough District Council |
|
Steve Trotter |
Lechlade on Thames Town Council |
|
Nadine Trout |
Rural Services Network |
|
Martin Tucker |
Wotton Under Edge Town Council |
|
Anita Turner |
Somerset NHS Foundation Trust |
|
Deborah Urch |
Westbury Town Council |
|
Alex Ward |
InvestSK/South Kesteven District Council |
|
Catherine Weldon |
Cumbria County Council |
|
Cllr Amy Wheelton |
South Derbyshire District Council |
|
Susan White |
Richmondshire District Council |
|
Cllr Warren Whyte |
Buckingham Town Council |
|
Cllr Ryan Wills |
Bath and North East Somerset Council |
|
Cllr Liz Withington |
North Norfolk District Council |
|
Emma Wray |
Wealden District Council |
|
Cllr Julie Yelland |
West Devon Borough Council |
Apologies:
|
Full Name |
Organisation |
|
Cllr Georgina Allen |
Totnes Town Council |
|
Tony Allen |
Peacehaven Town Council |
|
Jennie Atherton |
Harrogate Borough Council |
|
Cllr Philip Atkins |
Staffordshire County Council |
|
Emma Baker |
Oundle Town Council |
|
Andy Bates |
South Hams and West Devon Council |
|
Cllr Francis Beatty |
Stafford Borough Council |
|
Miranda Beavers |
South Kesteven District Council |
|
Jane Berni |
YMCA Community Lincs |
|
Mandie Berry |
North Somerset Council |
|
Penny Body |
Devon Churches Rural Forum |
|
Ollie Boulter |
Isle of Wight Council |
|
Cllr Melanie Bridgen |
South Derbyshire District Council |
|
Cllr Steve Bridger |
North Somerset Council |
|
Louisa Brinton |
Teignbridge District Council |
|
Ruth Buckley Salmon |
National Federation of Subpostmasters |
|
Cllr Stephen Bunney |
West Lindsey District Council |
|
Nigel Burch |
South Holland District Council |
|
Cllr Alan Burgis |
Camelford Town Council |
|
Dr. Ian Cass |
The Forum of British Pubs |
|
Cllr Alan Chantler |
West Northamptonshire Council |
|
Karen Chapman |
Great Torrington Town Council |
|
Cllr Gill Clayton |
Great Torrington Town Council |
|
Jane Coleman |
Maldon Town Council |
|
Aaron Corsi |
Warwickshire County Council |
|
Cllr Richard Cox |
Lichfield District Council |
|
Cllr Caroline Cross |
Irthlingborough Town Council |
|
Cllr Wendy Croucher |
Hunstanton Town Council |
|
Maya Cullen |
East Herts District Council |
|
Cllr Sharon Cullingford |
Gillingham Town Council |
|
Stephen Davies |
Castor Parish Council |
|
Nicola Doble |
South Somerset District Council |
|
Chris Drake |
Launceston Town Council |
|
Rose Dugard |
South Hams District Council and West Devon Borough Council |
|
Cllr Janet Duncton |
West Sussex County Council |
|
Cllr James Easter |
South Norfolk Council |
|
Shannon English |
East Suffolk Council |
|
Steve Evans |
North Yorkshire County Council |
|
Cllr Jane Evison |
East Riding of Yorkshire Council |
|
Eleanor Farrell |
Cumbria County Council |
|
Cllr Maggie Filipova-Rivers |
South Oxfordshire District Council |
|
Cllr Caroline Finch |
Swanage Town Council |
|
Simon Fletcher |
Lichfield District Council |
|
Susan Fryer |
Eden District Council |
|
Cllr Margaret Gateley |
Buckingham Town Council |
|
Odette Ghent |
Atherstone Town Council |
|
Jo Giles |
Cadent Ltd |
|
Genevieve Gillies |
Harrogate Borough Council |
|
Jessica Goodfellow |
Eden District Council |
|
Carol Grey |
Penrith Town Council |
|
Cllr Lyn Harris |
Southwell Town Council |
|
Jonathan Harris |
Cumbria County Council |
|
Frances Harris |
Northamptonshire ACRE |
|
Helen Harris |
Leicestershire County Council |
|
Duncan Harvey |
Sedgemoor District Council |
|
Nik Harwood |
Young Somerset |
|
Alison Hayward |
East Devon District Council |
|
Lizzi Hearn |
CPRE |
|
Cllr Joan Heaton |
Launceston Town Council |
|
Cllr Robert Heseltine |
North Yorkshire County Council |
|
Claire Holt |
Durham County Council |
|
Lisa Hughes |
Newark and Sherwood District Council |
|
Marie-Ann Jackson |
North Yorkshire County Council |
|
Nick Johnson |
Norfolk County Council |
|
Matt Jones |
Suffolk County Council |
|
Sarah Jones |
Shropshire Council |
|
Katie Judge |
Solihull Council |
|
Cllr Margaret King |
St. Ives Town Council (Cambs) |
|
Cllr Phil King |
Harborough District Council |
|
Kirsty Larkins |
South Somerset District Council |
|
Caroline Leet |
Edenbridge Town Council |
|
Cllr Elisabeth Malvisi |
Babergh and Mid Suffolk District Council |
|
Jo Martin |
Rural Business Network |
|
Cllr Richard Meredith |
East Riding of Yorkshire Council |
|
Adam Milner |
East Riding of Yorkshire Council |
|
Ian Morrell |
No 65 High Street - Digital Health Hub |
|
Dr Rob Murray |
East Devon District Council |
|
Mike Napper |
Cotswold District Council |
|
Cllr Jonathan Noble |
Boston Borough Council |
|
Keli Nolan-Lyons |
Tenterden Town Council |
|
Cllr Emily O'Brien |
Lewes District Council |
|
Leigh Palmer |
Lewes and Eastbourne Councils |
|
Abi Player |
Richmondshire District Council |
|
David Pooley |
St Austell Town Council |
|
Hilary Porter |
Nottinghamshire County Council |
|
Pam Posnett |
Leicestershire County Council |
|
Sylvia Pringle |
Northumberland County Council |
|
Julia Raven |
South Northamptonshire Council |
|
Julia Raven |
West Northamptonshire Council |
|
Cllr David Roach |
West Suffolk District Council |
|
Cllr Lynda Robertson |
Midsomer Norton Town Council |
|
Cllr Richard Robertson |
Midsomer Norton Town Council |
|
Cllr Christopher Ryley |
Burscough Parish Council |
|
Ian Kenneth Sherriff |
University of Plymouth |
|
Ron Simpson BEM |
Uppingham Town Council |
|
Anne Solomon |
Stratford District Council |
|
Katherine Southwood |
South Cambridgeshire District Council |
|
Tom Stanyard |
North West Leicestershire District Council |
|
Cllr Peter Stevens |
West Suffolk Council |
|
Sharon Thomas |
Corsham Town Council |
|
Cllr Michael Thompson |
St Austell Town Council |
|
Charles Thornton |
Eden District Council |
|
Cllr Mark Thorpe |
Verwood Town Council |
|
Rachael Tooth |
Wychavon and Malvern Hills District Councils |
|
Andy Tordoff |
East Riding of Yorkshire Council |
|
Cllr Sarah Wakefield |
Somerset West and Taunton Council |
|
Karen Wakefield |
Ollerton & Boughton Town Council |
|
Cllr Norman Webster |
Mid Sussex District Council |
|
Cllr Jackie Westrop |
Downham Market Parish Council |
|
Clare Wilkins |
Peak District National Park |
|
Claire Windridge |
Faversham Town Council |
|
Cllr Mark Winnington |
Staffordshire County Council |
|
Helen Wright |
East Riding of Yorkshire Council |
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