Monday 14 September 2026 | 10:00am–11:30am | Online
Fair funding is fundamental to the future of rural communities. It affects the ability of local authorities to deliver essential services, invest in communities and respond effectively to the distinct challenges created by rurality.
Opening the National Rural Conference 2026, this important session will set the scene for the four-day programme and consider the future of rural fair funding, funding reform and local government finance.
From housing and transport to health, care and economic growth, fair funding sits at the heart of every theme explored during the conference. This opening discussion will examine why the additional costs of delivering services across rural areas must be properly understood and reflected in future funding decisions.
What Will The Session Explore?
Rural local authorities deliver services across large geographical areas to dispersed populations. Longer travel distances, fewer opportunities to achieve economies of scale and the need to maintain services for smaller communities can all increase the cost of delivery.
Despite these pressures, rural councils have historically received less government-funded spending power per head than their urban counterparts, leaving residents more reliant on council tax to support essential services.
The session will explore:
- The latest position on rural fair funding and local government finance
- The financial pressures facing rural local authorities
- How the true cost of remoteness can be identified and measured
- Why funding formulas must properly account for rural geography and sparsity
- New RSN-commissioned research strengthening the evidence for fairer funding
- What funding reform could mean for rural councils and the communities they represent
- Why fair funding underpins progress across housing, transport, health, care and economic development
The session will help establish the context for the discussions taking place throughout the National Rural Conference, placing fairness, evidence and the sustainability of rural services at the centre of the programme.
Meet The Speakers
Cllr Roger Phillips OBE, Chair, Rural Services Network
Cllr Roger Phillips OBE is Chair of the Rural Services Network and has served as a councillor with Herefordshire Council since 2011.
A former Leader of Herefordshire Council and former Chair of West Midlands Councils, Roger brings extensive experience in local government, regional leadership and public policy.
He continues to represent rural interests through a range of national and local organisations, championing strong, sustainable communities and effective public services.
Roger will open the National Rural Conference and set the scene for the future of rural fair funding and the challenges facing rural local authorities.
Kerry Booth, Chief Executive, Rural Services Network
Kerry Booth is Chief Executive of the Rural Services Network, where she leads the organisation’s work to champion rural communities across England.
With almost 20 years’ experience in local government and rural policy, Kerry works closely with government, local authorities and national partners to promote fair funding, effective rural proofing and better outcomes for rural areas.
A respected speaker and advocate, Kerry regularly shares her expertise on rural policy, public services and the future of rural communities.
Kerry will introduce the key themes, discussions and objectives for the session and explain why fair funding is central to the wider conference programme.
Jonathan Meek, Associate Director, Consulting, Grant Thornton UK LLP
Jonathan Meek is an Associate Director in Grant Thornton UK’s Public Sector Consulting practice, specialising in local government finance.
He is CIPFA qualified and a Chartered Management Consultant, with a strong track record supporting councils through local government reorganisation, including leading the financial analysis behind business cases in Essex and Suffolk. Jonathan currently leads Grant Thornton’s work for MHCLG and CIPFA on external assurance reviews of councils receiving Exceptional Financial Support.
Jonathan is also leading the Remoteness Review work with the Rural Services Network, examining the specific financial pressures facing rural and remote local authorities.
Nicola Mousley, Senior Manager, Grant Thornton UK LLP
Nicola is a postgraduate economist in Grant Thornton’s Economic Consulting team, with over 10 years’ experience in public sector economics.
Before joining Grant Thornton, Nicola worked as an Economic Advisor at the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, where she worked on local government funding analysis. She led the 2021 review of the Area Cost Adjustment and analysis into the additional costs faced by island and remote communities. Nicola also led the economic analysis underpinning proposals for the 2023 Local Government Reorganisation, assessing the economic case for change.
Nicola will be presenting alongside Jonathan Meek and Rishi Mandavia
Rishi Mandavia, Economic Consultant Manager, Grant Thornton UK LLP
Rishi is a skilled Economist with over 15 years of experience working in UK Government, Regulation and the Commercial sector and holds a Masters Level qualifications in Economic Regulation and Competition Policy.
He has extensive experience scrutinising Local Growth Fund proposals, assessing place‑based economic needs, and was previously the lead appraisal expert at MHCLG.
Rishi will be presenting alongside Jonathan Meek and Nicola Mousley
Who Should Attend?
This session will be particularly valuable for:
- Local-authority chief executives, directors and senior leadership teams
- Finance directors, Section 151 officers and local government finance teams
- Council leaders, cabinet members and elected members
- Policy, strategy and performance teams
- Organisations involved in public-service delivery
- Rural community and voluntary-sector organisations
- Anyone with an interest in local government finance, rural services or funding reform
This is not an exhaustive list. We welcome colleagues from across RSN member organisations who want to understand the latest developments in rural fair funding and what they could mean for rural councils and communities.
Be there for the opening discussion!
This session is exclusively available to RSN members. Attendance is included at no additional cost with eligible membership packages, while a small fee applies to Rural Village Services Group and Rural Market Town Group members.
Please note that the session will not be recorded. To hear directly from our speakers, take part in the Q&A and contribute to the discussion, you will need to join us live.
Monday 14 September 2026
10:00am – 11:30am
Online
With thanks to our conference supporters
The Rural Services Network would like to thank our National Rural Conference 2026 supporters for helping us deliver this important programme of discussion, learning and shared rural experience.
