Latest News
12 Jan 2026
Lords Report Warns UK Is Unprepared For An Ageing Society
A new report from the House of Lords Economic Affairs Committee has warned that the UK is significantly underprepared for the economic and social impacts of an ageing population. The...
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12 Jan 2026
Over 100 Rural Mobile Masts Upgraded To Improve 4G Coverage
The government has announced a major milestone in improving mobile connectivity across rural Britain, with more than 100 mobile masts now upgraded to provide 4G coverage from all major mobile...
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06 Jan 2026
Provisional Local Government Finance Settlement 2026/27
The Government has published the provisional local government finance settlement for 2026/27, outlining planned funding allocations for local authorities in England and launching a statutory consultation on its proposals. While...
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05 Jan 2026
Looking To 2026: Our Focus For Rural Communities
As we look to 2026, the context for rural services and local governance continues to evolve. Local government structures may shift. Strategic authorities may develop. Boundaries may change. But regardless...
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05 Jan 2026
RSN Chair Roger Phillips Awarded OBE In New Year Honours
We are proud to share that Cllr Roger Phillips, Chair of the Rural Services Network, has been awarded an OBE in the New Year Honours List 2026 for services to...
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05 Jan 2026
Government Responds To RSN On Fair Funding Concerns
The Rural Services Network (RSN) has received a formal response from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government following its letter raising concerns about the impact of Fair Funding...
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05 Jan 2026
Government Sets Out Major Planning Reforms
In the days leading up to the parliamentary recess over Christmas, the Government set out a series of significant announcements on planning reform, housing delivery and infrastructure. Together, these measures...
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05 Jan 2026
New DfT Connectivity Tool Now Live
The Department for Transport has launched a new Connectivity Tool, designed to help policymakers, planners, researchers and communities better understand how well different places are connected by transport. The tool...
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05 Jan 2026
Call For Evidence: Young People And Work
The Government has launched an open Call for Evidence to inform a major new Young People and Work report, commissioned in November 2025 and led by the Right Honourable Alan...
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05 Jan 2026
New Satellite Technology Could Transform Rural Connectivity
The Countryside Alliance recently hosted a parliamentary roundtable on rural digital connectivity, bringing together parliamentarians, policymakers and industry experts to explore how next-generation technology could help close the digital divide...
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