Politics
20 Mar 2017
Latest ‘rural proofing’ guidance published
The government has published its latest guidance to assess the effects of its policies on rural areas. Rural areas are home to one-fifth of England’s population and a quarter of...
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27 Feb 2017
Government commits to fairer rural funding
The government has underlined its commitment to ensuring that rural local authorities receive a fairer share of public funding. Communities secretary Sajid Javid said delivering the fair funding review was...
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13 Feb 2017
Refocus support to boost rural growth
European subsidies should be refocused to unlock wider rural growth after the UK leaves the European Union, says a think tank report. The IPPR North document says key Common Agricultural...
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29 Jan 2017
Keep neighbourhood plans watertight, say councils
Parish councils are urging the government to stand firm against developers who “want to ride roughshod” over the wishes of rural communities. It comes after developers challenged a government move...
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10 Jan 2017
Government’s response is a smokescreen
The Rural Services Network has called the Government’s response to a Sunday newspaper article “nothing more than a smokescreen designed to mask the real issue facing rural council tax payers”....
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07 Dec 2016
Defra pledges ‘certainty’ on Brexit
Defra secretary Andrea Leadsom has pledged to provide certainty for the rural sector as the UK leaves the EU. Mrs Leadsom was speaking at a rural conference held by the...
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25 Nov 2016
Government must urgently rural proof its Autumn Statement
THE Rural Services Network has warned the government to ensure that rural communities don’t miss out on measures contained in its Autumn Statement. The network said it welcomed a number...
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10 Oct 2016
Chancellor pledges funding for EU projects
THE government has guaranteed to continue funding rural development projects signed while the UK is still in the European Union. Chancellor Philip Hammond made the pledge during a speech to...
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04 Oct 2016
Leadsom wants rural opportunities for all
RURAL people should have the same opportunities as people in cities, Defra secretary Andrea Leadsom has said. Mrs Leadsom made the comments when she addressed the Conservative party conference in...
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02 Oct 2016
Government reviews business rates
THE government has announced a revaluation of business rates – a review it says will ensure fairer bills. The review is significant because by 2020 councils will be able to...
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