Championing Rural Fairness: RSN Drives Response to Fair Funding Consultation

The Rural Services Network (RSN) is leading a proactive response to the Government’s Fair Funding Review consultation, calling for urgent action to end the funding inequalities that continue to disadvantage rural communities — and to unlock their full potential as drivers of national growth.

Rural councils are consistently expected to deliver more with less, despite facing higher costs and greater service delivery challenges. This must change if we are serious about building a balanced and resilient future for all parts of the country.

Recent RSN analysis reveals:

• Urban councils receive 40% more in Government Funded Spending Power per head than rural councils
• Rural residents pay 20% more in Council Tax per head than urban residents

“These stark figures show the scale of the unfairness,” said RSN Chief Executive Kerry Booth. “Rural communities are subsidising services through higher council tax, while receiving less support from central government. That’s not fair — and it’s a missed opportunity.”

As the Ministerial Foreword notes, this review aims to ensure the funding system is “fit for the future.” For RSN, that future must be one where rural areas are no longer left behind. A one-size-fits-all model has failed rural communities - fair funding must reflect rural realities. When rural areas are properly resourced, they don’t just survive — they thrive, contributing skills, enterprise, and economic resilience to the wider national picture.

RSN is currently compiling its response and will share a draft with member local authorities this week. Feedback will be incorporated ahead of final submission.

The consultation closes at 11.59pm on 15 August 2025, and RSN encourages all rural stakeholders to respond.

Find out more about the consultation here.

Submit your response to the consultation here.

This work forms part of RSN’s wider Delivering for All campaign, which makes the case for fairer, needs-based funding for rural areas. If national renewal is truly the goal, fair funding must be part of the foundation.

Learn more about our Fair Funding campaign here