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The Final Local Government Finance Settlement is now confirmed. Our updated analysis examines the implications for rural areas. Read more.
A new policy framework from the Rural Services Network Every person, in every place, deserves the chance to thrive — including those living in rural, coastal and small-town communities. The Rural Services Network is proud to launch Delivering for All:...
The Government has published the Final Local Government Finance Settlement for 2026–27 to 2028–29. The settlement sets out how much funding local authorities will receive over the next three years and underpins major reforms to the local government funding system....
The parliamentary debate for the Final Local Government Finance Settlement took place on 12th February. Realistically it was less of a ‘debate’ and more of a rebuttal by Government to any MP that raised queries or questions about the new...
The Government has yesterday (9th February) published the Final Settlement for Local Government Finance ahead of the debate tomorrow in Parliament. You can find out more about the final settlement at this link: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/final-local-government-finance-settlement-england-2026-2027-to-2028-2029 While we wait for the full...
The Association of Convenience Stores launched the 2026 Rural Shop Report, in Parliament last week. The report reveals that rural retailers have spent over a quarter of a billion pounds in the last year improving their range of products and...
A new report from the Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee has found that progress in improving the condition of social housing in England has largely stalled since the pandemic, despite the majority of social homes continuing to provide safe,...
The government has published its National Cancer Plan for England, setting out a ten-year ambition to improve cancer survival, increase early diagnosis, modernise services and reduce longstanding inequalities in outcomes across the country. The Plan follows a series of recent...
The government has launched a £15 billion Warm Homes Plan, described as the biggest public investment in home upgrades in British history, aimed at cutting energy bills, tackling fuel poverty and accelerating the rollout of low-carbon home technologies. According to...
The Joseph Rowntree Foundation’s UK Poverty 2026 report shows that poverty remains a persistent feature of life for millions of people across the UK, with little overall change in headline rates but a clear shift towards more severe hardship. In...
A new report from the Independent Commission on Neighbourhoods has set out the scale of neighbourhood-level deprivation in England and called for a long-term, coordinated national strategy to support recovery in the most disadvantaged places. No Short Cuts: Towards a...
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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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