Access to services
04 Jul 2018
£7.5m boost for online council services
A new “digital pledge” backed by £7.5m of government funding aims to help councils transform their online services. The new initiative would change the way councils invest in technology, share...
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20 Jun 2018
Framework could ease broadband provision
An updated wayleave framework could speed up the roll-out of rural broadband while ensuring fair treatment for landowners. The updated national Rural Communications Agreement was developed by the Country Land...
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23 May 2018
Call for urgent action on rural crime
Prompt and effective action is needed to deal with the serious issue of rural crime, says the National Farmers Union. It comes as new figures from the Home Office show...
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17 May 2018
Connect communities to ultrafast broadband
If you’re not included in any fibre rollout plans, or if you have fibre but want faster speeds, have you considered a Community Fibre Partnership with Openreach? Wherever you are,...
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17 May 2018
Rural police officers could be armed
Front-line officers in harder-to-reach rural communities could be routinely armed to deal with the threat of a terrorist attack, police chiefs have suggested. The National Police Chiefs’ Council said it...
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14 May 2018
Post office eases bank branch closure pain
An action plan aims to raise awareness of banking services available at Post Office branches among local communities grappling with bank branch closures. The five-point plan has been developed by...
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14 May 2018
Warning over special education funding
County councils say they are having to shift “unsustainable” amounts of money towards supporting children with special educational needs. In total, 21 councils have overspent on their high-needs block over...
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09 May 2018
Community fund for rural east Devon
Rural communities planning capital building projects or refurbishments in east Devon can apply for financial help from the district council. Applications are now open to apply for funding from East...
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03 May 2018
Bank branch closures in market towns
Market towns are among those affected by another round of bank branch closures by the Royal Bank of Scotland. Some 162 Royal Bank of Scotland branches will close in England...
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02 May 2018
Call to improve 4G rural mobile coverage
Rural businesses have called on Ofcom to reinforce calls for mobile network operators to improve 4g coverage in the countryside. The call was made by the Country Land and Business Association...
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