Forum Brief: Rural regeneration

The rural affairs secretary conceded that her department had to do more to support and stimulate rural business.

Launching the Local Government Association's rural revival inquiry, Margaret Beckett also said the provision of key services in rural areas remained a problem.

Forum Response: Local Government Association

Councillor Paul Bettison, chair of the LGA's rural executive, said, "It is clear, not only from evidence from the local authorities themselves but from other organisations, that local authorities are in a unique position when it comes to stimulating rural revival.

"Through local strategic partnerships and their community planning responsibilities councils can develop initiatives to tackle issues such as rural service decline and unemployment, for the benefit of rural communities, economies and the environment.

"The LGA is committed to facilitating positive and sustainable improvements in rural life and this inquiry goes a long way to establish the action that needs to be taken by agencies committed to stimulating rural regeneration."

Forum Response: Countryside Agency

Sir Ewen Cameron, chair of the Countryside Agency, said: "I was delighted to be invited to give evidence to the LGA's rural revival inquiry and I welcome many of the conclusions in this report. In particular, the LGA's call to local authorities to 'think rural' and 'rural proof' their services and policies is well made. Many local authorities do this already, but there is always room for improvement.

"The Countryside Agency believes that rural proofing is as important a process for local authorities as it is for Whitehall departments. Good rural proofing means better quality services for rural communities."

"We look forward to working with local authorities in developing rural proofing and many of the other recommendations in this excellent report."

Forum Response: Countryside Alliance

Richard Burge, Chief Executive of the Countryside Alliance, commented: "It is astonishing that the LGA is only now realising the vital role it has to play in rural regeneration. It has been clear to us from the outset that current rural crises as regards planning, affordable housing and access would never have got to this low point had local governments led from the front in the first place. The role of the LGA is a vital one which links the people "on the ground" to the higher levels of government on so many issues, and for them to only realise this now is quite astounding.

"We have said for some time that we are keen to support LGAs in enabling rural regeneration - we know that all stakeholders in rural Britain must pull in the same direction to achieve results - so we welcome this opportunity and hope we can now get on with the task in hand: that of pulling the countryside into the 21st century".

Forum Response: Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors

A spokesman for RICS told ePolitix.com: "RICS recognises the important role played by local authorities in developing effective partnerships in rural areas. Without these crucial links, policy makers at all levels can not hope to revive the rural economy.

"We welcome the LGA's calls for further "rural proofing". This is the key mechanism to finding the specific solutions required to regenerate rural areas."