Archived News

Agenda for change: releasing the economic potential of England’s rural areas - 09/09/10

Rural England is making a major contribution to the nation’s economic recovery and stands ready to play its part in the UK’s drive to achieve full economic potential. Since the beginning of 2009 the Commission for Rural Communities (CRC) has led discussions with rural entrepreneurs, communities and their representatives about how to release this potential. From these discussions, we have drawn up ‘Agenda for change: releasing the economic potential of England’s rural areas’.
The CRC’s ‘Agenda for change’ highlights the need for:
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more attention to be paid to ensuring economic policies and delivery address the needs of rural communities;
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local authorities and other public bodies to demonstrate a commitment to responding positively to community-led plans (locally-developed plans which embody the ambitions in the Government’s Big Society agenda);
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the planning system be used to support rather than frustrate sustainable economic growth in rural area; and.
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improvements in communications infrastructure (broadband and mobile) in rural England (essential if rural businesses are to realise their potential and contribute to national economic growth).
Caroline Spelman, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said: “I welcome the work that the Commission for Rural Communities has done to capture the views of rural businesses and communities across England. I am confident that the resulting report ‘Agenda for Change’ will have useful insights and recommendations on ways to pursue and deliver further economic growth in rural areas. During the transitional period to our new Rural Communities Policy Unit, I have asked the CRC to discuss with relevant departments and other bodies how best the CRC can support them in considering and, as appropriate, working with their proposals.”
Dr. Stuart Burgess, Chairman of the Commission for Rural Communities said: “More of the potential of our local rural economies can and should be realised. Following this Government’s emergency budget it is clearer than ever that helping the release of this potential must be a big part of the next stage of our national economic growth.
“We are pleased that the coalition Government’s ‘programme for government’ includes a commitment to introduce measures to ensure the rapid roll-out of superfast broadband across the country and that Government will seek to introduce superfast broadband in remote areas at the same time as in more populated areas”.
Cllr Andrew Bowles, Chairman of the Local Government Association’s Rural Commission, contributed to the discussions leading up to this report. He said: “It is good to see the leadership role of local authorities being so strongly recognised in this report. Through the work of Local Enterprise Partnerships, local authorities are going to be central to releasing more of the potential of rural economies in future. I commend this ‘Agenda for change’ to rural local authorities and to rural local councillors.”

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