Commission for Rural Communities tackling rural disadvantage

1
Commission for Rural Communitiestackling rural
disadvantage

• David Gluck
• Regional Affairs Manager

2
Commission for Rural Communities

• Our purpose
• To provide well informed, independent advice to
  government and ensure that policies reflect the
  real needs of people living and working in rural
  England, with a particular focus on tackling
  rural disadvantage

3
The Rt Hon Tony Blair MP, Prime Minister

• I hope the Commission will challenge
  Government, to make sure the rural voice is well
  and truly heard, and listened to, at all levels
• 9th March 2005

4
Our role

• We will be the
• Rural advocate a voice for rural people,
  businesses and communities
• Expert adviser giving evidence-based, objective
  advice to Government and others
• Independent watchdog monitoring reporting on
  the delivery of policies, nationally, regionally
  and locally

5
What kind of organisation?

• Advisory body created by statute
• Independent objective advice
• Challenger speaking up!
• Ideas organisation a rural think tank
• Evidence based supported recommendations
• Forward looking - futures orientated
• Focused - on the rural disadvantage

6
How big?

• Initially a new division of the Countryside
  Agency until legislation c2007
• Overseen by a task-group of the CA Board
• Annual budget of 8-10m
• Small core staff, plus external expertise,
  secondments, short-term appointments
• No regional offices, but regional engagement

7
How will we work?

• Collaboration with others, bringing in ideas,
  skills and expertise from elsewhere
• Analytical objective and evidence based
• Focussed more in-depth work on fewer issues
• Actively seeking and listening to the views of
  rural practitioners, stakeholders and communities
• Self and external appraisal are we challenging
  government?

8
Who will we work with?

• Defra helping to set the policy agenda
• Other Whitehall departments expert advice on
  rural issues and solutions
• GOs, RDAs, Regional Observatories, Regional
  Assemblies gathering intelligence and sharing
  experience
• Regional Rural Affairs Forums special
  relationship
• National networks and representative groups
• Rural communities through inquiries and surveys
• Academic institutions and policy think tanks

9
What will we do?

• Thematic studies in-depth examination of rural
  issues and solutions, now and in the future
• Inquiries examining more immediate rural policy
  issues
• State of the Countryside the facts , the
  figures, the trends
• Rural proofing have rural needs been taken into
  account?

10
What will we do?

• Evaluations to make sure delivery meets the
  needs of rural communities
• Expert advice robust, evidence based advice to
  influence policy makers
• Good practice and innovation evaluating,
  benchmarking, promoting and sharing lessons from
  England and beyond

11
How will we work regionally ?

• Nationally we will work with organisations able
  to influence regionally and locally and provide
  intelligence eg LGA NALC
• Networks we will focus on small number of
  distinctive networks and key partners.
• Policy we will input to RRAFs RRDFs ,
  Pathfinders and regional strategies (spatial,
  economic, housing, transport)

12
What will we offer regionally?

• Identify, evaluate and share best practice and
  innovation across regions
• Provide effective guidance to help rural proofing
• Expert advice on policy development
• Build upon regional experience in thematic
  studies and inquiries
• Identify gaps in the evidence base and ensure
  they are filled
• Undertake independent monitoring and evaluation

13
Summary so whats different?

• New remit, new role, distinct identity
• Rural disadvantage focus
• Fewer but bigger, high impact activities
• New priorities - studies, inquiries and
  evaluations
• New ways of engaging with stakeholders
  nationally, regionally and locally