Rural Fair Funding

Amid reduced public spending, fair resource allocation across regions is crucial. Despite a population larger than Greater London, rural areas receive significantly less funding for essential services, even though delivering these services in rural locales is costlier.

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13 Jun 2023

RSN briefs Gove on Rural Unfair Funding

Yesterday afternoon Kerry Booth, RSN Chief Executive, was alongside a group of Council Leaders who met with Rt Hon Michael Gove MP to talk about the Local Government Funding Formula and...

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12 Jun 2023

Government announces new initiative ‘Unleashing Rural Opportunity’

At the Countryside Future Conference last week, the Secretary of State for Rural Affairs, Therese Coffey, unveiled the Government’s new initiative Unleashing Rural Opportunity. She told delegates: “Securing a fine...

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30 May 2023

Fairer funding for rural communities

Kerry Booth, Chief Executive of the Rural Services Network, recently wrote in the Care Management Matters periodical, asking the question how can we ensure an ageing rural population can access...

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06 Mar 2023

New Chair of Rural Services All Party Parliamentary Group

The All Party Parliamentary Group for Rural Services held it’s AGM last week and elected a new Chair for 2023-2024 Philip Dunne MP has held the position of Chair of...

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13 Feb 2023

RSN Statement on the Local Government Finance Final Settlement 2023/24

The Local Government Finance Final Settlement 2023/24 was announced last week, and the debate took place on Wednesday 8th February. The RSN extends our sincere thanks to all MPs representing...

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07 Feb 2023

Final Local Government Finance Settlement 2023/24 – Initial Reaction

INITIAL REACTION BY GRAHAM BIGGS – CHIEF EXECUTIVE RSN The RSN has carried out an assessment of the Final Settlement for 2023/24 announced on Monday 6th February That RSN assessment...

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23 Jan 2023

Levelling Up Funds announced

On 18th January 2023, the Government announced allocations to more than 100 projects who were awarded funding as part of Round 2 of the Governments flagship Levelling Up Fund to...

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09 Jan 2023

2023-2024 Provisional Local Government Finance Settlement Proposals and what it means for rural communities

Under the Provisional Settlement proposals, the gap in funding between rural and urban areas will, in fact increase. There is therefore a continuation of historic underfunding and unfairness for rural...

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03 Jan 2023

Levelling down – Public services in rural areas are not fit for purpose

The RSN Chief Executive, Graham Biggs MBE, has written an article which was featured in the Fabian Policy Report. A copy of this article is provided below. No-one should Be disadvantaged...

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20 Dec 2022

Initial Statement on the Provisional Local Government Settlement

The gap in funding is increasing yet further The Government yesterday announced the Provisional Settlement for Local Government for 2023/2024 and launched the consultation on the proposals which close on...

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