The RSN works to encourage a thriving rural economy in order to help support our rural communities.
T: 01822 851370 E: admin@sparse.gov.uk
Finance
Our work on Local Government Finance is split into two areas, the Fairer Funding campaign and a financial analysis of local authority budgets.
Fairer Funding
- SPARSE Rural as an organisation defends the rural interest and the Sparsity Allowance in the Local Government funding formulae.
- We consider the formula funding to be woefully inadequate. It goes nowhere near to meeting the higher costs of operating essential services in rural areas.
Did you know that:
- Spending Power per head is £99 less in rural areas than in urban areas … yet …
- Council Tax is £79 higher per head in rural areas than in urban areas … this is because …
- Formula Grant is £178 lower per head in rural areas than urban areas.
Put simply, rural communities are paying more for less provision in their local areas.
Rural Fair Share Group
The Rural Fair Share Group is a grouping of parliamentarians who have come together to argue for fairer funding for services across rural England. The Secretary of the Group is Graham Stuart MP.
Click here to view a presentation on Spending Power Analysis from March 2013 comparing Rural and Urban areas.
Click here to see the Governments Pledge on Rural Services
Local Government Finance Settlement
Below is an analysis provided to local authorities and rural MPs in January 2014 which illustrates the current rural to urban divide in the financial settlement 2014:
- Local Government Finance Settlement Analysis
Future areas of work:
- Early Review of Localisation of Business Rates
Financial Analysis
We provide a range of analysis for local authorities, considering their individual RA position (revenue estimate) and RO position (Revenue Outturn) compared with other authorities and groups of authorities:
01.05.2019
A monthly bulletin facilitated by your membership of the Rural Services Network highlighting a selection of current funding opportunities → Download a printable version of the Funding Digest here Village Hall Improvement Grant Fund – Action...
02.04.2019
A monthly bulletin facilitated by your membership of the Rural Services Network highlighting a selection of current funding opportunities → Download a printable version of the Funding Digest here Funding for Community-led Homes Village Hall...
01.04.2019
People from rural communities are being encouraged to have their say on the financial and economic issues they face directly to senior policy makers at the Bank of England. The Bank is running citizens’ panels across the UK which...
18.03.2019
The MJ this week reports that the issue of new funding responsibilities placed on councils was raised by the Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee. The Committee questioned Local Government Minister Rishi Sunak on extra costs that councils are...
05.03.2019
A monthly bulletin facilitated by your membership of the Rural Services Network highlighting a selection of current funding opportunities → Download a printable version of the Funding Digest here Funding for Community-led Homes Together with...
06.02.2019
A monthly bulletin facilitated by your membership of the Rural Services Network highlighting a selection of current funding opportunities → Download a printable version of the Funding Digest here Heritage Project Grants – Heritage Lottery Fund ...
08.01.2019
A monthly bulletin facilitated by your membership of the Rural Services Network highlighting a selection of current funding opportunities Future High Streets Fund – Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government The Future High Streets Fund...
17.12.2018
RSN response to Provisional Local Government Finance Settlement The Rural Services Network has long campaigned for fairer funding for rural areas and it today welcomed the additional £16million allocation to the Rural Services Delivery Grant by the Government in the...
10.12.2018
The BBC has published data detailing the extent of council cuts since 2010. The statistics show that in England councils spend most on education, followed by adult and then children’s social care. Despite frequent complaints about high council...
04.12.2018
A monthly bulletin facilitated by your membership of the Rural Services Network highlighting a selection of current funding opportunities Cornerstone, Gateway & Foundation Grants – National Churches Trust The National Churches Trust has operated a number...
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HOT TOPICS
Public Sector Funding
The RSN demands fairer funding from Central Government who have historically and systematically underfunded rural areas.
Barriers to Access
The RSN campaigns to help rural residents overcome multiple access barriers to key services which includes poor transport and broadband.
Future of Rural Areas
The RSN is challenging often overlooked rural threats such as chronic underfunding, changes in population and diminishing resources.
Health and Wellbeing
The RSN wants to ensure rural communities have the same access to health care as is currently received in urban areas.
Vulnerability
Tackling a collection of circumstances which leaves many rural residents vulnerable is a key issue for the RSN.
Housing
The affordability of rural housing to people from a range of ages and backgrounds is key concern for RSN.
Economy
The RSN works to encourage a thriving rural economy in order to help support our rural communities.
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