Post Office Local (February 2012)
This Briefing followed a meeting in January 2012 between officers from RCAN and Consumer Focus (previously Postwatch) with the aim of extending the mutual information flow at this important time of changes to Post Office Limited (POL), post offices and consequently rural communities. It looks at the potential impacts of the Post Office Local Programme.
Mutualisation of the Post Office (September 2011)
This Briefing about the consultation on the potential mutualisation of the Post Office. The Government supports a particular mutual model for the Post Office involving both employees (such as subpostmasters) and consumers so ensuring both groups have a say in running the network. As part of this arrangement the Government would withdraw from future ownership but would still retain a relationship as major contractor in terms of its services offered at post offices.
Public Services White Paper (July 2011)
This new ACRE Briefing provides an overview of the Government’s White Paper (published in July 2011), which aims to open up and improve public services delivery. The Briefing also highlights likely key implications for rural communities and the Third Sector.
The Government’s White Paper – Open Public Services – is driven by the Coalition’s imperative to reform of public services, especially for the poorest in communities, who rely on public services most. Its aspiration is to increase equity and opportunity of access for all in a situation where some public services fail to deliver the standards people need and deserve (such as schools, healthcare, civic space, children’s play, leisure and culture).
Workhubs - 'flexible spaces for micro enterprises' (2010)
ACRE has written a
Briefing on Workhubs to provide key information about how they operate, their development and relevance to rural businesses.
Workhubs are office centres offering flexible work spaces as and when micro-businesses and home and mobile workers need them. Funded by the public and private means and located in rural and urban areas, they are said to fill a gap between the ‘Starbucks office’ and ‘serviced offices’. Their emergence reflects increased demand for this resource over recent years.
Post Offices (2010)
ACRE prepared a Briefing about the changes to the post office network nationally and in rural areas
The Post office network has seen several significant changes and a number of other proposals in recent years. The changes and proposals have generated much debate, attracted strong views and opposition nationally not least in rural areas. The actual and potential impacts on services are significant nationally and in rural areas especially so because of the central community and services hub position post offices hold.
Pubs (2010)
The position of pubs (nationally and in rural areas) and their communities appears bleak if the current situation of closures and job losses continues. RCAN supports communities being empowered to bring about change for their communities but to enable this to happen additional action is required. ACRE has written a Briefing on Pubs in the rural context
