This ACRE Briefing summarises a New Draft Statement that brings together the Government’s main planning polices relating to the economy. 

It is a consultation and responses are invited by 28th July 2009.  ACRE would encourage RCAN members to send submissions as individual organisations but would be pleased also to collate a joint Rural Community Action Network submission.  In order to achieve this by the deadline, please email Martin Hawkins m.hawkins@acre.org.uk by 15th July.

Sustainable Development

Among the most critical challenges faced by rural communities are those of climate change, the decline in local services and risk to global oil supplies.  Creating sustainable rural communities requires a fresh look at how local people and community groups can jointly tackle the future, maintain the viability of their services and help deliver quality of life for all.

The sustainable development pages of the ACRE website highlight the role of our network in addressing these concerns. For example ACRE participated in the delivery of Every Action Counts, a three year government sponsored programme aimed at stimulating action by communities and community groups to take a lead in addressing climate change.  The Rural Community Action Network also delivered a project on the 21st Century Village, which specifically addressed the twin challenges of climate change and Peak Oil.  Our members took that challenge to the grass roots to explore the future for rural communities and how actions, small and large, could contribute to delivering a sustainable vision. 

Community Led Planning increasingly recognised for its contribution to community empowerment   
               
In the past few weeks, central government has twice cited Community Led Planning for its role in promoting community empowerment.  Community Led Planning is claimed to represent value for money and can improve collaboration between LSPs and Parishes and Neighbourhoods.

Read more here

ACRE briefing on the 2009 April Budget

This briefing covers selected extracts from the Treasury’s Budget report that have relevance for rural communities and for those that support their sustainability.  Some measures have been included since they may have specific rural impact, good or bad.  Many focus on economic resilience and measures to help those who are most disadvantaged through low incomes or worklessness.  

Amongst the issues highlighted in this ACRE briefing are:

• Help for SMEs including measures for keeping around 6,000 small businesses out of the VAT system.
• Regional and local investment.
• The launch of new £20 million Hardship Fund to provide grant support to third sector organisations delivering front-line services to the most vulnerable and disadvantaged in society.
• An additional £45 million for small-scale renewable electricity and heat technologies, primarily through the Low-Carbon Buildings Programme.

Click here for the full ACRE briefing.

Community Led Planning features in guide to the ‘duty to involve’  

Community Led Planning recognised as “one of the most promising strategies” for community involvement details...

Funding boost for local communities

Defra (Department of Food and Rural Affairs) have announced funding of £300,000 to the National Association of Local Councils and Action with Communities in Rural England in recognition of the importance of local (parish and town) councils and community action in rural areas.

This investment, for a range of projects over the next two years, is aimed at supporting the empowerment agenda at the local level in rural areas.

This latest round of funding complements investment announced by the department of Communities and Local Government in November last year to promote the local council sector.  It also strengthens links between rural community action and initiatives from both the Office of the Third Sector and Communities and Local Government on empowering communities to take a greater role in developing local facilities and services. 

Huw Irranca-Davies MP, Rural Affairs Minister, Department of Food and Rural Affairs, said: “We all need to be able to influence the decisions affecting where we live.  The role of the parish and town councils are critical in supporting rural communities. As the rural heart of government, I am pleased to announce this new programme of Defra funding to NALC and ACRE to help rural communities to make their decisions on the issues affecting them.”

Sue Shaw, chair of ACRE said: “This is very welcome recognition of the increasing need for parish and town councils and local volunteers and community groups to work together in providing services and benefit to local residents.  This portfolio of projects will definitely help to make communities more effective and show how, given appropriate support, rural community organisations can lead the way in demonstrating how to achieve genuine empowerment”.

view the full press release here