It’s all change at the top of the Rural Services Network as the organisation bids a fond farewell and a huge thank you to its long-standing Chair Councillor Cecilia Motley who is standing down from the role. Councillor Motley, from Shropshire Council has led the organisation for 8 years, having taken the role of Vice Chair in 2007.

A local government Councillor since 2003, she has combined her vast experience of the challenges that rural areas face as a past Leader of South Shropshire District Council and current Cabinet Member of Shropshire Council with responsibility there for Health (Integrated Care Systems) and Communities, with an understanding of how to campaign and make the case for rural fair funding.

The profile of the organisation has grown significantly under her leadership, with the RSN now frequently being called on to give evidence to Select Committee’s and share their research.

It’s thankfully not a complete goodbye as she will remain on the Executive Board of the RSN, sharing her wisdom and experience with other Board members.

Councillor Motley said:

“I have thoroughly enjoyed my term of office as Chair of the Rural Services Network working closely with Graham Biggs, David Inman, Kerry Booth and their excellent staff team to ensure the rural voice is heard in government. I am sad to be standing down after eight years in the Chair, but I will continue to contribute to the work of RSN as a member of the Executive and to champion rural issues in my role as a Cabinet Member at Shropshire Council.

I am delighted that Cllr Roger Phillips of Herefordshire Council has agreed to be nominated to succeed me.  He is a highly committed rural Councillor with a wealth of experience of local government in all its guises and I know he will be an excellent Chair.”

We welcome Councillor Roger Phillips as the new Chair of the Rural Services Network, he was elected to the role at the AGM on 14th November.

Councillor Phillips is a previous Leader of Herefordshire County Council and former Chairman of the West Midlands Councils, Regional Transport Partnership and joint Strategy and Investment Board.  He also sits on several outside bodies including County Councils Network, Hereford and Worcester Fire Authority, Local Government Association and Worcester Pension Board.

As Rural Councils face the cost of living emergency, many of their residents will be experiencing due to high energy costs, high costs of fuel for transport and lower than average wages, fair funding for rural public services grows in importance. 

The UK now finds itself at the start of a recession, and with rural councils receiving 37% less per head in comparison to urban authorities from the Government, they are disadvantaged in delivering services to support their residents, and to help the rural economy recover.

Councillor Phillips said:

“I take on the Chair at a very challenging time for rural local services. I look forward to working with colleagues across local government and our other partnerships to continue to lobby and champion the concerns, costs and pressures on rural communities and organisations.“