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We are the only organisation arguing about the 'rural premium', the inevitably higher cost of serving rural areas.
We have won a place at the table of the Government Settlement Working Group where we represent the rural dimension. Small changes in formula can result in hundreds of thousands of pounds in a Council's annual grant settlement figure
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RSNonline provides the most comprehensive rural news service available which serves over 20,000 people linked to SPARSE Rural. The website is updated daily.
Weekly email rural news digest, fortnightly hot topic briefing, monthly service news and organisation newsletter to Councillors and Officers provide the most comprehensive coverage of rural issues in England.
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We can provide comparative analyses of Local Area Agreements highlighting the rural aspect.
We will present a detailed bi-annual statement on the state of rural services in England harnessing your local experiences. |
Rural service information for Towns, Parishes, Local Organisations, Schools and Local Businesses in member areas to motivate discussion, debate and shared experience on rural service issues.
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Detailed diagrammatic comparison across member’s major services based on cost and performance.
Analysis to provide benchmarks for rural authorities as well as by authority type, audit commission family and county group.
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Point of reference to all current rural research from the other key rural websites.
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Budget comparison across 95 rural authorities to identify how your authority performs in relation to others in every main area of the budget as well as identifying its comparative direction of travel.
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‘Calls for Evidence’ service and a catalogue of information across the rural hot topics.
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Economic comparisons with true peer groups in rural England. Prosperity, deprivation and access to services all given in comparison tables, both at the authority and individual ward level allowing inter authority comparison.
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A detailed report has been prepared and three pilot studies undertaken to give focus, and provide information about, this essential rural issue.
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We are doing a lot of work in this area around the availability of public services in rural localities.
We are also looking at the big question of digital inclusion and broadband speeds in remote areas. |
Emergency service at low cost to members to cover crisis periods.
Temporary assistance at less than commercial rates.
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We will run an annual seminar and Academic Network Meetings which we have established with the major rural Universities. We also run RDPE Liaison Meetings and Meetings of Authorities Rural officers to encourage information exchange.
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Facilitating an All Party Parliamentary Group on Rural Services to give Westminster focus to the rural issues expressed in the production of our Rural Manifesto.
Quarterly news bulletins to rural MPs detailing members’ specific concerns.
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SPARSE RURAL is a grouping of 80% of the most rural councils in England as identified by Government; Counties, Unitaries, and Districts. These local councils work together to give heart to the delivery of rural services across the country with a grouping of over 140 non council service providers called the RURAL SERVICE PARTNERSHIP that comprise an alliance of Police, Fire, Health, Housing, Educational, Business and National Rural Bodies. The two organisations work together as the RURAL SERVICES NETWORK. This is the only organisation in the country dedicated solely to the promotion and betterment of rural services. The group provides the vehicle for representation, the establishment of joint service working and the dissemination of best practice in service to England’s predominately rural communities.
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