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Rural Fair Funding
The Provisional Local Government Finance Settlement was released on 18th December setting out the funding for Councils for the financial year 2024 to 2025. The consultation on the settlement runs until 15th January 2025, leaving councils little time to...
It’s time to get organised for 2024 and make some time in your diary to attend one of our rural focused seminars. Almost 550 of you attended an RSN seminar in 2023 so let's make it the place to...
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...
The challenges facing rural areas have been repeatedly debated in Parliament this week. Alongside Chris Loder MP’s debate on funding for rural councils ( read what happened here ), Sarah Dyke MP (Somerton & Frome, Lib Dem) used her first...
It’s been nearly a week since the Chancellor delivered his Autumn Statement and RSN Chief Executive Kerry Booth and her team have been digesting what it means for rural communities and the organisations that serve them. There were...
The Rural Services Network Chief Executive, Kerry Booth, considers Professor Whitty’s new report which urges the government to address failings for older people in rural communities. Today the government’s Chief Medical Officer, Professor Chris Whitty, has published his ...
As the Prime Minster marked one year in office last week, he publicly acknowledged that rural communities deserve fairness in the way they are funded. Fellow Conservative MP, Simon Hoare (North Devon) asked the Prime Minster during a debate...
Transport and the potential economic fall out from decisions relating to HS2 have dominated recent headlines during the party conference period in a way that you wouldn’t have anticipated. Does that mean that transport will be an election winning...
Following calls from the RSN for more investment in Rural Market Towns ( see Bulletin 2.10.2023 ) after the government unveiled its Long-tern Plan for Towns, the Industrial Communities Alliance has added its voice to the conversation. Analysis carried...
“It’s simple - we need fairer funding so that rural areas are not left behind in discussions about transport.” The one line I hope everyone at the round table event this morning will remember. I was...
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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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