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.
16 Jan 2017
Network slams government’s double whammy for rural communities
RURAL communities face a double whammy of higher council tax bills and fewer public services, the Rural Services Network has warned. The warning is contained in the network’s response to...
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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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10 Jan 2017
Government’s response is a smokescreen
PRESS RELEASEFor immediate release Tuesday 10 January 2017 The Rural Services Network [1] has called the Government’s response to an article in the Sunday Express [2] on Sunday 8 January...
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23 Dec 2016
‘Sparsity’ funding to protect rural schools
Government plans will see small rural schools protected by a ‘sparsity’ funding factor have been broadly welcomed. Education secretary Justine Greening made the announcement in the House of Commons on...
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15 Dec 2016
Rural dismay at funding settlement
The Rural Services Network has slammed the government’s provisional funding settlement for local authorities. Rural communities will be severely disadvantaged by the settlement, which covers proposed local authority funding for...
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15 Dec 2016
Rural dismay at local government funding announcement
PRESS RELEASE For immediate release Thursday 15 December 2016 The Rural Services Network – which represents more than 250 local authorities and organisations in rural areas [1] – has called...
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28 Oct 2016
RSN Response to “The 2017/18 Local Government Finance Settlement: Technical Consultation Paper”
Submitted by email 28th October, 2016 to LGFConsultation@communities.gsi.gov.uk We are responding to this consultation as the organisation Rural Services Network. We are a Special Interest Group of the Local Government...
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08 Sep 2016
Government consultation on 100% Business Rate Retention and Call for evidence on Needs and Redistribution
1) 100% Business Rate Retention – CCN, RSN and DCN Shared Principles Statement The County Councils Network (CCN), District Councils’ Network (DCN) and Rural Services Network (RSN) have jointly welcomed...
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14 Feb 2016
Fivefold rise in rural services grant
THE government has announced a fivefold increase in its Rural Services Delivery Grant from £15.5m to £80.5m. It follows months of work on behalf of rural communities and local authorities...
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02 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...
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