APPG Chair Writes To Minister On Rural Funding Settlement

Following last week’s Annual General Meeting of the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Rural Services, the Group’s Chair, Sarah Dyke MP, has written separately to Alison McGovern MP, Minister of State for Local Government and Homelessness, setting out her concerns about the Provisional Local Government Finance Settlement for 2026/27.

In the letter, Sarah Dyke MP highlights a number of issues affecting rural councils, including the removal of remoteness from most Relative Needs Formulas, the continued use of outdated data within elements of the settlement, and the lack of transparency around the calculations used. She warns that these changes risk increasing pressure on rural authorities and rural council taxpayers, with potential consequences for the delivery of essential local services.

The letter calls on Government to publish the data underpinning the settlement, reconsider the treatment of remoteness within the funding formula, and ensure that the additional costs of delivering services in rural areas are properly recognised.

As reported last week, the APPG for Rural Services used its AGM to agree priorities for the year ahead, with fair funding for rural public services identified as a key focus of its work. As the only body representing rural service providers across England, the Rural Services Network continues to act as Secretariat to the APPG, supporting its programme of engagement with Parliamentarians and Ministers and ensuring that rural services remain firmly on the agenda for policymakers.