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On the eve of the Conservative Party Conference in Manchester, the Prime Minister announced £20m of funding for 44 towns in England. The Long-term Plan for Towns will “empower communities across the UK to take back control of their future...
Our annual conference has started with a bang this year thanks to all our fantastic speakers and delegates. Speaking after the second day, RSN Chief Executive Kerry Booth said: “So far...
“Last week, I was invited to speak at the Westminster Energy, Environment and Transport Forum policy conference which was exploring the topic of Beyond ‘smart cities’ - next steps for connected places policy and implementation in the UK . ...
As the government starts work on the Provisional Local Government Funding Settlement for 2024/25, due for release in December, RSN Chief Executive Kerry Booth has written to the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, the Rt Hon...
A new study by Transport England and England’s Economic Heartland has found that there needs to be an almost six-fold increase in public electric vehicle charging points by 2025, in order to meet the uptake in demand. The ...
Research, completed by the Rural Services Network has shown that Urban Councils budget to spend double that of rural councils on discretionary services per head for the year 2023 – 2024. Rural authorities have long suffered from underfunding by...
Chief Executive of the Rural Services Network Kerry Booth featured on Farming Today on Monday 31st July talking about rural services. Here’s the discussion she had with presenter Charlotte Smith In England 13 rural organisations have come together...
The Government is seeking views from local authorities in England on what constitutes best value and what standards the Secretary of State for Levelling-Up, Housing and Communities should expect. The consultation is looking at how local authorities interpret the...
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his speech at the LGA conference, Michael Gove MP (Con, Surrey Heath) acknowledged that the current funding system is “out of date” and that there “desperately needs to be a fairer, more rational allocation of resources across authorities." ...
Rural England’s population of 9.7 million risk being left further behind after the next general election if the political system continues to ignore the systematic inequalities facing rural communities and businesses, warn leading rural organisations. The Rural Coalition, an...
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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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