Consultations
ACRE actively engages in policy consultations to ensure that the needs of rural communities are recognised and considered in national, regional and local policy. It does this with the assistance of Rural Community Action Network members and their grassroots contacts. Such consultations are usually in response to government policy development. Recent consultations included:
Consultation from Department for Business Innovation & Skills on Post office banking
ACRE made a response to this consultation in February 2010 following input from RCAN members. Post banking proposals were strongly advocated in last year’s BERR Select Committee report on the future of the post office network above. ‘ACRE welcomes the opportunity to respond to the consultation proposals for post office banking and is pleased that the Government is considering ways to develop and extend the products and services that the Network provides. We hope that this is one way to secure its future as a fundamental service in rural communities’. Read more here
Consultation from Communities and Local Government on incentivising landowners to bring forward land for affordable housing
ACRE responded to this consultation in February 2010 following input from our Rural Community Action Network members (Rural Housing Enablers). The consultation is one of the outputs of the recommendations in the Matthew Taylor Review of affordable housing in 2008. In general ACRE supported the proposals of giving landowners greater control over the land landowners make available (through leasehold rights or nominating tenants) as long as appropriate controls are put in place. Read more here ..
The Legislative Reform (Minor Variations to Premises Licences and Club Premises Certificates) Order 2009
http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2009/draft/ukdsi_9780111477496_en_1
This Order introduces a simplified process for minor variations to Premises Licences and Club Premises Certificates.
Background information on both Legislative Reform Orders
Consultation document 28 November 2007
ACRE’s response
Consultation document 04 August 2008
ACRE’s response
ACRE response to CLG’s ‘Strengthening Local Democracy’ consultation
A recent consultation by the government department, Communities and Local Government suggested that local democracy could be strengthened by providing local authorities with greater powers to act on the behalf of local citizens. ACRE was pleased to see some specific recommendations such as additional scrutiny powers for local councillors and an onus upon local authorities to support community-led initiatives that contribute to a low carbon future. However, we were concerned with the lack of connection between the rhetoric of placing local government at the centre of decision making and the broader community empowerment agenda. We believe that local democracy cannot be strengthened without involving communities in local decision making. We also felt that the consultation’s proposals needed to be rural proofed.
To read a summary of our consultation response, please click here
BIG Lottery - BIG Thinking Consultation
The Big Lottery recently consulted on its strategic framework for 2009-2015, the consultation closed on 27th February 2009. The Big Lottery is the largest of the Lottery distributors, awarding half the money that the National Lottery raises for good causes. The Government has given them a mission to support communities and those most in need. They do this by funding a huge range of projects under the broad banners of community learning and creating opportunity, community safety and cohesion, and promoting wellbeing. More details about the Big Lottery proirities and the consultation questions can be found in their strategic framework document
Whilst ACRE supports the principle of supporting those in greatest need and the themes of "transition" and "isolation" we feel there needs to be a balanced approach to funding and the delivery of lottery funding should be rural proofed to ensure equitable delivery to all sections of the community. We also suggest the additional themes of support to community owned assests, climate change/environmental sustainability and also ageing should be considered when designing new programes. The full ACRE response to the consultation can be found here
In addition ACRE has produced a briefing paper on the role of community buildings which supports our consultation response. the briefing states that the role of community facilities is crucial to generating sustainable, active and resilient communities and to tackling isolation. The full document can be found here
ACRE Consultation Response: Transforming Places; Changing Lives: A Framework for Regeneration (Submitted on 31.10.08)
This framework sets out a package of proposals for consultation that aim to shape the way that regeneration is carried out in future in England. It focuses on three priority outcomes:
- improved economic performance in deprived areas
- improved rates of work and enterprise in deprived areas; and
- creating sustainable places where people want to live and can work, and businesses want to invest a copy of the framework can be found here
ACRE has responded to the proposals consultation a copy of our response is here.
Whilst we welcome the references to rural communities within the document, especially the recognition it gives to Community Led Plans, the role of Parish and Town councils and the opportunity given to local communities to have a say in the planning for their local community. We feel the analysis of need does not take account of the needs of rural communities. The framework has a strong urban focus and appears to have ignored existing best practice in rural regeneration. Our response addresses these concerns.
ACRE Consultation Response: Comprehensive Area Assessment Framework. Joint Inspectorate Proposals (Submitted on 20.10.08)
The Audit Commission consulted on the new Comprehensive Area Assessment [CAA] framework between July and October 2008. The new CAA framework for assessing the performance of local public agencies will be introduced from April 2009, it forms part of the proposals set out in the local government White Paper.
CAA information will help people to hold their elected representatives and public bodies to account, and make the most of their opportunities to influence local decisions. CAA will focus on the things that affect people’s lives and where they live, looking at local concerns and priorities. The process will cover a wide range of issues including the strength of the local economy, availability of affordable housing, children’s wellbeing, how safe people feel, support for individuals to improve their health, provision for the vulnerable, and the quality of the local environment. It will build on the work of seven inspectorates to put all this valuable information in the hands of taxpayers, service users and citizens.The proposals for CAA have relevance for rural communities.
ACRE's response to Unlocking the Talents: ACRE has submitted a briefing paper in conjunction with Action for Market Towns and NALC in advance of the publication of the Community Empowerment White Paper. (April 2008)
Financial Thresholds
The Charity Commission and Office of the Third Sector have jointly published this consultation on a package of proposals to increase various financial thresholds for charities in the Charities Act.
The aim of the proposals is to reduce administrative burdens on charities while maintaining an effective regulatory framework.
Closing date for responses is 31 March 2008, and full details can be found on the Charity Commissions website
ACRE's response to the Defra 3rd sector strategy (February 2008)
Sustainable Communities Act 2007: Consultation on Draft Regulations and Statutory Guidance published 19 February 2008
This consultation paper seeks views on the draft Regulations and Statutory Guidance for the Sustainable Communities Act 2007. The Guidance is being developed by the Government following the Act coming into force on 23 October 2007.
Issues under consultation include: economic development; energy and fuel; environmental protection; general environment; planning, land and premises
The consultation will run until the 12 May.
ACRE's response to the Rural Development Programme for England 2007-2013 (July 2007) |
