| Weekly summary - 10 December 2010 | |
A couple of interesting announcements this week. Rural Services Network "guru" Brian Wilson has just finished analysing our recent survey of rural attitudes towards the Big Society. His thought provoking results can be accessed here.
Secondly, I have been invited to a seminar at Defra for a modest group of people in late January to hear about the outcomes of the OECD review of rural policy in England.
I will report on progress but in the meantime if there are issues you would like me to raise, as the Rural Services Network representative there - please get in touch.
Now onto the "Rural World this Week".
Ivan Annibal
ivan.annibal@roseregeneration.co.uk
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Transport Secretary: 'Public
should access grit and salt' |
 (Link: The Independent, 8 December)This article explains how: "The public should have access to grit and salt supplies to help clear roads, the Transport Secretary suggested today as the worst December weather for 19 years continued. With icy weather warnings in place across much of the country, Philip Hammond said people should have access to supplies so they can tackle roads and pavements which are not treated by councils." Seems to me that in many rural places this happens anyway and in the world of the Big society it would be a good example of communities showing "true grit"! The important question more seriously underlying it is a discussion about the rationale used by local authorities to plan their winter maintenance, whether they are sympathetic enough to minor rural roads and paths and whether where they are if there is enough account taken on the costs in the overall funding formula. I suspect I have the rather negative answers to these questions but you might put my suggestion of a need for better rural proofing of this issue right with reference to your own patch! |
'UK must take a leaf out
of Barack Obama's book' |
 (Link: Daily Telegraph, 8 December) This article suggests that the solution to our economic woes lies in following the lead of the Obama administration (albeit he is criticized for coming to this approach a little late) of lowering taxes to stimulate growth. Now in terms of Rural England, the local tax proposals in the Local Growth White Paper are very interesting at the micro-level in this context. They could lead to the ability for local places to retain their business rates, with the introduction of some adjustment to cushion the greatest losers in any such scheme. I started in Local Government in Bassetlaw (North Notts) and I recall how the business rates from 3 power stations sustained a very positive spending approach from the Council. In those halcyon days the Council was able to routinely match all parish precepts to support village communities. All of which is both interesting and challenging. Should such an approach return I suspect it would lead to far greater disparities of funding in rural than urban areas between well endowed (pardon any double entendre!) and less well endowed rural areas. It would significantly change the context of local authority spending and I would be interested on your views in terms of its relative merits/downsides. |
Brothers' Lapland 'festive treat' was
hardly winter wonderland, court told | |
I had forgotten about this New Forest scam two years ago until the story re-surfaced in time for Christmas. What it does show case is the important and valuable role played by Trading Standards and how they can have a far wider brief than worrying about the selling of dodgy items at markets.
In some senses I feel it is a real shame this project was developed and managed as it was because it could have provided a really interesting rural version of the type of outcome linked to the many Christmas Markets which happen in towns but in a rural locale.
Having said that I cant let the opportunity to mention the cancellation of the Lincoln Market pass as it was absolutely tragic to see the City empty last week rather than full of its usual visitors (up to 160,000) in a good year. I am sure we can do more to harness the natural and festive capacity of rural landscapes to generate greater rural incomes at this time of year - your experiences/suggestions please.
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Coalition shelves plans for
'abstinence-based' drug strategy |
 (Link: The Guardian, 8 December)Rural drug problems are, as acknowledged in previous editions of Hinterland, wider and more prevalent than might traditionally have been expected. This article explains how: "James Brokenshire (great name for someone running a policy with no specific rural context), the Home Office minister responsible for drugs policy, said the new strategy was a major policy shift, putting more responsibility on individuals to seek help and overcome their dependency .The document marks a step away from the language of "harm reduction" that has dominated the past 10 years, but it stops far short of the abstinence-based policy demanded by some rightwing Tory think-tanks." I just wonder in the development of a new approach based on greater personal accountability for resolving the problems faced by addicts how much thought has gone into tackling the isolation and difficult to reach and support nature of rural drug addicts? On a philosophical point this is another example of this Government's view that the individual is more important than the place they exist in, a view strongly expressed in their new economic policy approach - I wonder what this view means more generally for rural places? |
| Police cuts 'disastrous' for service to public |
 (Link: The Independent, 8 December)This is an interesting article setting out how large budget cuts could impact on services. But it also reveals an interesting line of argument from the Government: "But Policing Minister Nick Herbert insisted the Home Office had been given a good deal in the negotiations. Contrary to what the Opposition suggested in terms of a poor deal being secured for the police, it was in fact a rather better deal than had been expected in relation to the non-protected departments, he said. "Although the reduction in central government spending in the police is 20% over four years, ... it is not the case that this means the reduction in the amount of money that forces might have will be 20% over the four years." "He said only a third of money came from central government funding, with the rest from the council tax precept, which had not been cut." Research I recently carried out to look at comparative spending patterns between rural and urban authorities - but not specifically police authorities, suggested that rural places were more dependent on funding services via Council Tax due to a funding formula which put too low a premium on sparsity and too high a premium on deprivation. I wonder if this means rural authorities which overall rely more heavily on council tax as opposed to Government grant than urban authorities will have more resilient funding for their police going forward. I suspect this it too simplistic an analysis and you will no doubt let me know why! |
| Consultations |
Draft Sustainable Development Guidance for Local Flood Authorities - Defra
This consultation invites views on our draft sustainable development guidance for Local Flood Authorities. Section 27 of the Flood and Water Management Act 2010 states that a lead local flood authority, district council, internal drainage board or highways authority must aim to make a contribution towards the achievement of sustainable development when exercising a flood or coastal erosion risk management function. The Act requires the Secretary of State to issue guidance about how authorities are to discharge this duty. This draft guidance has been developed for that purpose. Closes 16 Feb 2011.
A Long-Term Focus for Corporate Britain: A Call for Evidence - BIS
Let's make sure there are some rural responses to this. On 25 October, Business Secretary Vince Cable launched the first stage of a review into corporate governance and economic short-termism by issuing a call for evidence.
The review aims to establish whether there are further issues affecting the functioning of capital markets and, if so, what are the causes. It considers the role of directors and shareholders and asks fundamental questions; for example, about shareholder engagement, market short-termism and the functioning of the investment chain in the UK.
It also considers directors' remuneration and - following up the Takeover Panel's recent announcement - the economic case for takeovers. Closes 14 Jan 2011.
Consultation on Revising the Strategic National Transport Corridors - Dft
This 12-week consultation is on changing the criteria defining infrastructure included in Strategic National Corridors (SNCs) to promote connectivity with the capital cities of the United Kingdom. The consultation document explains the background to our proposals and the intended effects, and invites you to respond. Closes 10 December 2010.
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The Rural Services Network - working with Knight Frank
 Knight Frank is RSN's property partner and specialises in helping the Public Sector maximise the value of its rural property portfolios. This is particularly important at a time when budgets are under immense pressure.
Because we are the only Office of Government Commerce (OGC) approved rural property consultancy, we can provide immediate strategic advice if needed. Our specialisms include strategic asset reviews, Landlord and Tenant compliance assessments, enhancing capital and revenue positions and full or partial management.
For a no obligation discussion, please contact rsn@knightfrank.com. To find out more about our services, please look at our website.
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| And finally... | | Booked for speeding in England and New Zealand ... by the same policeman
The Guardian, 8 December 2010
This story all goes to show there is no justice - or too much of it: it reveals how "A British driver who thought that he had escaped the clutches of speedgun trigger-happy police in the UK when he emigrated to New Zealand was caught speeding by the same policeman who had pulled him over in London two years earlier.
"Constable Andy Flitton caught the speeder and was writing his ticket when the sharp-eyed driver recognised him as the man who had booked him two years previously on the A5 flyover on Edgware Road."
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| About Us: | Hinterland is an exclusive weekly service offering a rural perspective on national news events from the past week.
It is provided by the Rural Services Network - a national network devoted to
safeguarding and improving services in rural communities across England.
We are the only national network focusing specifically on this vital aspect of rural life.
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