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Politics
MPs are to debate the issue of local authority funding. The backbench business debate is due to take place on Thursday (10 October). It follows a petition signed by thousands of rural residents and councillors calling for...
RURAL residents have just one week left to get behind calls for a fairer rural funding deal for countryside communities. The government is responsible for the funding formula for local authorities. This currently sees urban councils receive around...
DEFRA secretary Owen Paterson has urged local authorities and other service providers to source more food locally. Mr Paterson was speaking at the Local Government Association's annual Rural Conference , held in Stratford-Upon-Avon on Wednesday (4 September). ...
Environment secretary Owen Paterson is to address rural local authority leaders at a major conference. Mr Paterson is the keynote speaker at the Local Government Association (LGA) rural conference in Stratford-Upon-Avon on Wednesday (4 September). The annual...
Local authorities have defended a £2.6bn increase in council reserves, saying it is justified given uncertain funding for services. It came after local government secretary Eric Pickles accused councils of "hypocrisy" by pleading poverty despite having trebled their...
RURAL councils across England are adding their weight to a campaign for a fairer government funding deal. It follows calls to challenge the central government formula, which decides how much money local authorities receive from the Treasury. ...
THE government must take action following a warning by MPs that countryside communities are being given a raw deal, says England's biggest rural partnership. The Rural Services Network, which represents more than 100 local authorities and over 100...
DEFRA has unveiled long-awaited national guidelines to help government departments 'rural-proof' their policies. The 17-page document was published on Tuesday (16 July). It aims to ensure that ministers and civil servants take into account the impact of...
THE BBC Trust has appointed Heather Hancock to examine the impartiality of the broadcaster's rural coverage. The review, announced by the trust in March, will cover news, current affairs and factual programmes on BBC network, national, regional and...
Stimulating economic growth is the top priority for the government, MPs have been told. "We want to see rural areas contributing to and benefitting from that growth," said DEFRA minister Richard Benyon. "We are working to improve...
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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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