RSN Statement on Fair Funding Delay
Last week, whilst announcing an addition £1.6 bn of funding for local authorities (now £3.2bn in total), the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government confirmed that the move to 75% business rates retention and the fair funding review will now not go-ahead next year It advised that this will ‘allow councils to focus on […]
RSN champions pandemic related rural issues with Government
The below article written by RSN Chairman Cecilia Motley is featured in this months Local Government First. The response to coronavirus needs to consider the different issues facing rural areas – from poorer digital connectivity to a higher proportion of ‘vulnerable’ residents The effect of the COVID-19 emergency – and the impact of the national […]
Rural areas have a higher job loss risk due to Covid-19
Fresh analysis from the RSA, based on the latest furloughing data from the ONS and the jobs profile for each local authority, gives a new, up-to-date, robust and localised insight into which areas of Great Britain are set to be most and least affected by economic insecurity Coastal and rural areas dominate the top 20 areas […]
Defra provide guidance to residents to avoid an increase in flytipping during lockdown
Local Authorities are working hard to maintain the majority of waste services running as normal, however some services have been reduced due to the coronavirus outbreak This includes closing most Household Waste & Recycling Centres (tips) and suspending Bulky Waste Collections. The majority of charity shops and clothes recycling banks are also closed. In recent […]
Northern MPs call for ‘catch-up premium’ for disadvantaged school pupils
Outlets, including the Surrey Comet, report on an open letter published to Education Secretary Gavin Williamson MP from 55 northern MPs and peers calling for action to prevent disadvantaged children from falling behind when schools reopen The Northern Powerhouse Partnership, chaired by George Osborne, argue that without it, the attainment gap, ‘which affects Northern children […]
Rural internet users want faster broadband speeds for homeworking
The Telegraph reports on the increasing numbers of internet users who are attempting to change to faster providers due to outages caused while people are working from home during the lockdown Uswitch, the broadband comparison site, said it had registered a 10 per cent rise in people searching for faster suppliers since the restrictions came […]
Drone-to-door medicines trial takes flight to support rural areas
A drone company that had to abandon its fast-food delivery tests has partnered with Ireland’s health authority to deliver prescriptions instead, and could be a good solution to catering for rural residents in England too Manna Aero is working with the Health Service Executive to deliver medicines and other essential supplies to vulnerable people in […]
COVID-19 – Rural Communities Pulling Together (Week 4)
We asked for examples of our rural communities pulling together and have been inundated with responses so far! We featured 10 each week, and this week are pleased to feature 10 more this week! We have been heartened to read stories from our rural communities, showing that despite the incredible situation we are living in, […]
Rural communities asked to share safety concerns during pandemic
Several local outlets, including the Northern Echo, report on the launch of a survey by police bosses looking at concerns over isolation and increased safety issues rural communities may face during the COVID-19 lockdown The survey results will be analysed on an ongoing basis to give the Office of Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC) an […]
The Star shines for the community
The community in Harbottle in Northumberland have several reasons to be thankful for the huge effort of their village pub, The Star Inn. Having opened a village shop in the rear of The Star Inn earlier this year, Phil and Karen reacted quickly to the demands of the Covid 19 crisis by expanding the range of produce […]
