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Local government funding
The way Government distributes grant funding to local authorities across England means rural people end up paying higher Council Tax bills than urban people, yet still have less money available to fund local services and so receive fewer of them. This is fundamentally unfair. The system should take full account of higher service delivery costs in rural areas.
To view the RSN calls to Government click here
The importance of rural councils coming together was highlighted last week with an urgent meeting called by the Rural Services Network of local authority members. Following the Local Government Finance Policy Statement published on 28th November which set out...
Last week the Government published the policy statement for Local Government Finance 2025-2026. This included outline details of the headline allocations through the Provisional Settlement for Local Government for which a consultation will be launched in December ahead of the...
The Rural Services Network (RSN) is committed to highlighting the unique challenges faced by rural councils in delivering quality services. Recent parliamentary discussions shed light on the critical issues surrounding the funding of local councils, particularly in rural...
Rural MPs had a clear message for the government during their Westminster Hall debate last week on the funding of rural councils; act now or councils will go bust and lives will be lost. The Rural Services Network provided...
At his speech at the LGA conference, Michael Gove MP (Con, Surrey Heath) acknowledged that the current funding system is “out of date” and that there “desperately needs to be a fairer, more rational allocation of resources across authorities." ...
It has been widely reported, including by the i paper, that the number of bus journeys have fallen by 300 million in five years. Analysis of government figures by the Local Government Association (LGA) shows 4.3 billion journeys were made...
The Rural Services Network calls upon an incoming Government to: Acknowledge that Government proposals contained in its 2012 Consultation were seeking to right an historic wrong and that the whole of the pre-damped amounts exemplified should flow...
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HOT TOPICS
Amid reduced public spending, fair resource allocation across regions is crucial. Despite a population larger than Greater London, rural areas receive significantly less funding for essential services, even though delivering these services in rural areas is more expensive.
Economic growth is widely acknowledged as essential for national wealth and prosperity and is a priority for political parties. Rural economies, employing millions and home to a higher proportion of small businesses, have potential for growth if barriers are removed.
Rural residents face distinct healthcare challenges, including limited access to transport, longer distances to medical facilities, an aging demographic, housing inadequacies, digital connectivity gaps, and difficulties recruiting health and care workers.
Rural communities are grappling with a severe affordable housing crisis, marked by high house prices, a lack of affordable housing, elevated living costs, and lower incomes, threatening their sustainability and vitality.
Transport is vital for the quality of life and economic health of rural areas, yet it faces challenges such as infrequent public bus services and less Government funding compared to urban regions.
Rural areas, encompassing a substantial portion of England's population and land, play a pivotal role in combating climate change and achieving the net zero target.
In an increasingly digital world, the lack of robust digital infrastructure in rural areas severely limits access to crucial services and stifles economic growth.
A future-focused vision for rural communities involves not just building the right homes in the right places but also ensuring thriving, sustainable communities.
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