| Detail of spending cuts revealed |
 (Link: Evening Standard, 20 October) So now we know and on balance at a 20% overall average cut we were being slightly softened up. The situation is still desperate and grave and I believe this will be particularly the case for "County Towns" which host significant public sector jobs as administrative centres in rural Hinterlands. I did some work from an East Midlands perspective with my good friend Professor Glyn Owen on the likely implications of public sector jobs loses for the region and I think his projections will turn out to be ""right on the money". If you would like to see his analysis, which is simple to transfer to other areas please let me know. I have quoted from the Evening Standard because I was in London today (at Defra as it happens) and travelling back to Kings Cross on the tube you could spot every public sector employee on the train with their eyes fixed firmly on this story on page 4 of the paper. I apologise for this item being long - but these are exceptional times - from a rural perspective: Defra is facing overall efficiency savings of 29% in real terms by 2014/15. The headlines suggest the savings will come from reducing arms length bodies from 92 to 39, Defra will also focus its remaining spend on its "key priorities." Local Authorities need to save 27%, Justice 23%, Transport 21% and defence (important for rural areas) 7.5%. To view the full range of projected cuts have a look on the Treasury webite. |
| Warning: cold weather ahead |
 (Link: The Guardian, 20 October)According to this piece, "the cold snap [this week] coincides not only with public spending cuts announcements, but a range of natural indicators that this winter may be harsh". Apparently the abundance of Holly and other berries across the UK is considered a sign of cold conditions to come. In keeping with the Big Society approach, some Councils - including Merseyside and Knowsley - will be calling upon volunteers to help clear ice and snow from residential areas this winter. At this rate Jessica, and I will need to consider whether we will need to buy another "office jumper" and some blankets! I will be also be asking my colleague Paul Coathup who looks after Highways in Lincolnshire if the LCC "Grit Boat" has arrived - no simple lorry delivered grit in our huge county.
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| New council house tenants face trebling in rents to pay for new homes | |
I am increasingly fascinated and worried about the issue of rural affordable housing in smaller settlements under 3000. We already have major problems with the way planners think about and often constrain social housing development in these places. I am not sure the process, set out in this article, of potentially trebling council house rents and removing life tenancies will do anything to improve the already serious challenges which those seeking properties to rent in rural places face.
I also wonder how much pressure will be put on the recipients of these increased rents to address the challenges around the lack of sites in rural settlements in building the new houses planned. I fear we could end up with less secure and less affordable social housing in rural areas, where it is already too scarce, disproportionately supporting the cost of providing more social housing which will inevitably therefore be built in urban settings. The very settings where many planners and in many rural communities NiMBYs already prefer it to be. You might think this doesn't matter - if that is your view I urge you to think very hard about whether rural England should become increasingly only the domain of the affluent!
Whilst I am on my soap box I increasingly wonder where the voice of the ordinary rural dweller can be heard these days. In rural places you can encounter lots of affluent and worthwhile spokespeople and causes reflecting the views of affluent middle England, many who have chosen for positive reasons to live in rural places (yes you can include me!).
To me the key question is: how hard should current rural spokespeople and those planning the engagement of rural communities in future service delivery, through the "Big Soicety" work to ensure the quiet and often understated voice of long term indigenous rural dwellers is heard?
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Waitrose pork ad banned
over 'outdoor bred' pigs |
 (Link: The Independent, 20 October)I was really disappointed by this story as Waitrose (I will let them off this once!) really do seem to have a good approach to livestock. What seems very cynical however in terms of this story is the defence offered up by their lawyer that ""outdoor bred" was a standard industry term for pigs born in fields and kept there until weaning, when they were moved into "light and airy" sheds." Why no mention of the "light and airy" sheds on the labelling!!? Why can't we be more straightforward in what we tell consumers?( I know I am taking my life in my hands in some quarters by offering this view!) I fear stories like this all too often put farming and those who own their living from the land in rural England in a poor light. |
Every email and website
to be stored by government |
 (Link: Daily Telegraph, 20 October)A U.S. cartoonist called Randall Munroe has designed a 'map of online communities' to represent the level of social activities taking place via the internet. On the map each land mass/country is given a mythical label that equates to the name and popularity of a particular online community such as Facebook, Twitter and Skype. Interestingly, and from a rural perspective, 'Farmville' and 'Happy Farm' appear prominently on the map! The map was released on the day that the Government revealed how security and police authorities will be allowed to track every phone call, email, text message and website visit made by the public. Amid these articles and the notion that we are increasingly living in a ' surveillance society', let us not forget that all too often technology is focused upon towns and cities with rural communities missing out. A CLG study on Next Generation Access (NGA) in March revealed two supply side factors affecting internet coverage that are pertinent to rural areas: distance and deprivation. |
| Consultations | Here are some new ones:
Consultation on Reimbursement Arrangements for the Concessionary Bus Travel Scheme in England
This is a technical consultation on the reimbursement arrangements for concessionary travel. It is the country cousin of consultation on the arrangements for the moving of concessionary fare administration from Districts to Counties. Approaches to the implementation of the latter could have major impacts on rural authorities. To respond to the former, click here. To respond and lobbying in relation to the latter, contact Dan Bates at the RSN direct. Closes 11 November.
Town and Country Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 2010 - draft regulations
The consultation paper covers the consolidation of the 1999 Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations, as amended, and explains amendments for screening changes and extensions. It also explains the requirement for the competent authority to provide reasons for screening decisions. A bit technical but important - click here for more information.
Closes 25 October. |
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The
Rural Services Network - working with Knight Frank
 Knight Frank
is delighted to be working with the Rural Service Network as its
dedicated property partner.
As well as taking great pride in the
range and quality of rural property services that we offer our clients,
we also believe that it is vital to help the communities in which we
operate. That is why we are so pleased to be supporting the invaluable
work that the RSN performs on behalf of its members.
To find out
more about our services, please look at our website. To arrange a
complimentary initial consultation to discuss how Knight Frank can help
with any property issues you may have, please email rsn@knightfrank.com.
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| And finally... | | Completely quackers: Mother is told off by park warden for feeding ducks 'unhealthy' white bread
Daily Mail, 20 October 2010
This is vintage Daily Mail. I love their description of the council official - see if it makes you chuckle: "A mother feeding the ducks with her two children was stunned when she was told off by a council warden - for giving the birds 'unhealthy' white bread.
"Lisa Taplin, 34, was told by the park ranger to bring granary or wholemeal bread next time as it was better for the ducks.The fluorescent-vest clad official said giving ducks white bread was tantamount to feeding her two sons chips with every meal." |
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This week, the week of the "Grim Funding Reaper" I have tried to find a few smiles (ably abetted by the usual suspects) to accompany the rather sombre spending review affecting rural England.
(Link: 
