Politics
22 Feb 2016
MPs welcome rural funding plan
Rural MPs have welcomed revised proposals from the government on local authority funding. It follows an announcement by communities secretary Greg Clark who set out new measures to support rural...
Read more02 Feb 2016
Government faces ‘major revolt’ over rural funding
Up to 50 Tory MPs are preparing to vote against the government’s proposed funding settlement for rural local authorities. Prime Minister David Cameron faces a ‘major backbench Tory rebellion” over...
Read more27 Jan 2016
Listen to MPs on rural funding, government ministers told
THE Rural Services Network has told the government it must listen to MPs on the vital issue of rural funding. The network issued the warning after MPs slammed a proposed...
Read more22 Jan 2016
‘Disastrous’ proposals beggar belief
Government plans threaten to leave rural residents facing a hike in council tax and much reduced services. The Rural Services Network outlined its concerns as the government prepares to decide...
Read more19 Jan 2016
Funding settlement is ‘fundamentally unfair’
The government’s provisional funding settlement is fundamentally unfair for rural communities, the Rural Services Network has warned. The network outlined its concerns to the proposed settlement in response to a...
Read more15 Jan 2016
Government slammed over rural funding
MPs have blasted the government’s proposed funding settlement for rural areas, describing it as unfair and inadequate. The issue of government funding for rural areas was the subject of a...
Read more23 Nov 2015
Government urged to honour rural fairer funding promise
MPs and rural local authorities have called on the Government to honour a commitment to ensure rural communities receive fairer funding for public services. The call is being made by...
Read more19 Oct 2015
Defra to work more closely with partners
DEFRA plans to build stronger relationships with its partners in the public, private and voluntary sectors. Clare Moriarty – who has now spent just over two months as Defra permanent secretary...
Read more06 Oct 2015
Councils to keep £26bn in business rates
THE government has unveiled plans allowing local councils to retain £26bn of revenue from business rates. Proposals that the government says will promote growth and prosperity were unveiled by Chancellor...
Read more20 Sep 2015
Rural-proofing response ‘this autumn’
A long-awaited response is expected this autumn to a major report examining the impact of government policies on rural communities. Almost eight months has passed since the publication of an...
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