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The Rural Impacts Stakeholder Forum (RISF) was established in March 2020 to enable open and regular dialogue between key rural stakeholder organisations and Defra on the impact of COVID-19 on rural communities and businesses.
Members of the Forum meet with Defra officials on a weekly basis, with Lord Gardiner, the Minister for Rural Affairs and Biosecurity in attendance when his diary permits, and are as follows:
The 17th of July meeting was hosted by Defra and attended by officials from DCMS, ACRE (Richard Quallington), CLA (Charles Trotman), CPRE (Daniel Carey-Dawes), Plunkett Foundation (James Alcock), NFU (Amy Cobbett), Rural Coalition (Margaret Clark), Rural Services Network (Graham Biggs).
COVID-19 Update
PM statement on coronavirus: 17 July 2020
https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/pm-statement-on-coronavirus-17-july-2020
COVID-19 contain framework: a guide for local decision-makers
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/containing-and-managing-local-coronavirus-covid-19-outbreaks/covid-19-contain-framework-a-guide-for-local-decision-makers
Local authority powers to impose restrictions under coronavirus regulations
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/local-authority-powers-to-impose-restrictions-under-coronavirus-regulations
Digital Skills
Paper – Digital Skills & Inclusion Policy Update
Action – Defra and DCMS to consider how to use the spending review to take a more joined up approach to digital skills and connectivity in rural areas.
Action – Defra to consider the whether there would be any impact on timing and access to 5G in rural areas from the decisions around Huawei.
Action – DCMS and Stakeholders to suggest new members, to represent rural interests, on the Digital Skills Partnership Board.
Action – Rural Communities Team (Defra) to produce a digital (skills and connectivity) action note with DCMS.
AOB
Action – Secretariat to consider the following items for the RISF forward look: CSR, rural proofing, devolution agenda.