Supplementary memorandum submitted by
the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (V27a)
INTRODUCTION
1. This note sets out further information
requested by the EFRA Select Committee at the evidence session
attended by Lord Whitty on 30 November, supplemented where possible
to provide the latest position, on:
(a) the current membership of each of the
Regional Rural Affairs Forums, and how the Forums are being reformed;
(b) further clarification of the answer to
Mr Jack's query at Defra Oral Questions on 18 November[40]
about the input from rurally based business people at regional
level (so-called Rural Priority Boards), and how work under the
aegis of Government Offices will relate to the economic development
work being embarked on by the RDAs; and
(c) Defra's estimate of the up-front costs
of the changes proposed in the Rural Strategy and of the subsequent
savings (Transcript Q321, 346); and the relationship between these
estimates and those provided by Lord Haskins, which the Committee
have seen.
REGIONAL RURAL
AFFAIRS FORUMS—MEMBERSHIP
2. The Rural Strategy re-states the Government's
commitment to ensuring that the customer perspective is heard
in the decision-making process, and set out the ways it intends
to achieve this including:
— building on the regional rural affairs
forums to embed the voice of rural people into the new regional
rural delivery frameworks and into the work of the New Countryside
Agency; and
— uilding a strong relationship between
Ministers and rural people through regular meetings with regional
forums and their chairs.
3. The Regional Rural Affairs Forums were
established in the Rural White Paper 2000. In the Rural Strategy
2004, in order that the Forums could play a fuller role in the
devolved landscape, each region was charged with undertaking a
review to ensure that its forum has the means (the right people,
structure and focus) to meet the new challenges to be faced, and
in particular to ensure that:
— membership of forums reflects main
stakeholder interests;
— forums represent end customers and
the grass roots perspective; and
— rural stakeholders have an effective
voice in regional policy-making and delivery—and to Government
both through the New Countryside Agency, and direct to Ministers,
with whom the Chairs have regular meetings.
4. The Regional Rural Affairs Forums are
making good progress in conducting the reviews of their membership,
structures and ways of working which were announced alongside
the Rural Strategy last Summer. Appendix 1 sets out progress,
and the current membership for each Forum. The reviews are at
different stages of completion, with some having finished the
process while others are still in progress. Most reviews will
have been completed and implemented by 1 April 2005, although
this will be the start of a continuous process intended to ensure
that the Forums are permanently fit for purpose and capable of
delivering the role assigned to them in the Rural Strategy.
THE REGIONAL
PRIORITISATION AND
DECISION-MAKING
PROCESS
5. The Government agreed with Lord Haskins
Recommendation 21 that the decision-making process at the regional
level should be strengthened, but not that a standard piece of
machinery ("Regional Rural Priorities Boards") should
be imposed on each region. The Government judged that this would
risk imposing a "one size fits all" solution, and that
it might increase rather than reduce the complexity at regional
level, since some regions already operate some form of prioritisation
process or machinery.
6. Instead, in line with the principles
of devolution and in particular that not each region is the same,
the Government asked each region—co-ordinated by Government
Offices—to propose the framework for prioritisation that
will best meet their needs, against specific policy principles
set out in the Strategy. The diagram presented to the Committee
on 30 November 2004 set out how this might work. The key principles
are:
— regional and sub-regional/local prioritisation
and partnership working;
— joining up across sustainable development
at regional and local level; and
— the provision of customer-based feedback
to regional and national level on what is really happening on
the ground.
7. The regional rural delivery framework
is a key element in simplification of what is already a complex
picture at the regional level. This framework provides a process
to bring together delivery bodies and organisations to decide
the needs and priorities in their region, and how they can work
together to achieve them, including bringing together funding
streams from different sources. The framework will link with existing
strategies, and will help partners to pull together to best effect.
It will bring together bodies responsible for economic, social
and environmental issues, including the RDAs, to ensure that the
available funding is targeted on what matters to each region.
The strategic outcomes desired in rural areas are set out in Defra's
PSA targets and are reflected in the RDAs' Tasking Framework.
They therefore provide a common strategic framework for both GOs
and RDAs. In addition, we anticipate that a strategic representative
of the business community (eg Chambers of Commerce, Federation
of Small Business) will be engaged in each region.
8. The outcome from the delivery framework
will in effect be a strategic "action or project plan"
for each region which will, of course, remain live and evolve
over time, to take account of regional economic and social factors.
9. The members of the regional rural affairs
forums (which include businesses and their representatives) and
the Rural Advocate/New Countryside Agency will gather intelligence,
assess and feed back what is actually happening on the ground.
They will in this regard monitor whether rural proofing and regional
prioritisation and decision-making is having a tangible impact
on rural people, communities and businesses in delivering social
and economic regeneration. They will have a voice into the regional
rural delivery framework and direct to Ministers.
IMPLEMENTATION COSTS,
DOWNSTREAM SAVINGS,
AND LORD
HASKINS ESTIMATES
IN HIS
RURAL DELIVERY
REVIEW
10. Lord Haskins estimated that implementing
his recommendations would cost £107 million, and save £29
million per annum. The rationale for these figures was set out
in the business case and supporting information that the Haskins
team sent to the Committee in February.
11. In developing our own business case
for the changes set out in the Rural Strategy 2004, we did not
take the Haskins business case as our starting point. Defra had
not been a party to its development, and we wished to look afresh
at the potential costs and savings. In addition, some assumptions
made in the Haskins business case were overtaken by decisions
by the Secretary of State, for example to retain the Countryside
Agency as a small and refocused organisation. And Lord Haskins
assumed a very short timescale for implementation, including in
relation to major cost drivers such as breaking leases early as
part of estates rationalisation. As Lord Whitty indicated during
the evidence session, it is not therefore possible to make any
meaningful comparison.
12. We have worked closely with the relevant
delivery bodies to produce better estimates. This work is on-going,
and is being refined as part of the implementation. Many of the
actual costs, for example, will depend on how implementation is
carried out, eg in relation to estates rationalisation as indicated
in para 11. In the meantime, we estimate that the total main investment
costs required to implement the Modernising Rural Delivery programme
are approximately £40 million. These costs are expected to
fall between this financial year and 2008-09. They comprise costs
for:
— IT. We will build on and integrate
the IT systems already in use in the three organisations that
will comprise the Integrated Agency. We anticipate that any new
IT will be off-the-shelf or build on applications that are either
in place, or will be shortly;
— rationalising the current estate
holdings of the Countryside Agency, English Nature, and the Rural
Development Service;
— redundancies arising from transition
to the new delivery arrangements, and review of Defra's core policy
role;
— re-branding, training, and introducing
new ways of working; and
— supporting the sub-regional pathfinders.
13. We estimate that the savings that will
result from implementing the Modernising Rural Delivery programme
will be approximately £13 million per annum by 2007-08 and
roughly £21 million per annum by 2009-10. The savings will
come from a number of sources, principally reduced staff and estates
costs that come from the merger of three organisations and the
application of Gershon principles to deliver better value for
money from back office services. The "payback period"
would be roughly five years.
20 December 2004
APPENDIX 1
Review Progress and Membership of the
Regional Rural Affairs Forums—December 2004
1. EAST MIDLANDS
RURAL AFFAIRS
FORUM
Chair: Pam Smith
Secretariat: Meryl Whittingham,
Government Office East Midlands
Review Progress
The Forum considers that its organisation and
structure provides the right framework to undertake its role and
deliver its responsibilities under Rural Strategy 2004.
In developing this framework the following aspects
of the Forum's operation will be considered further:
— the requirements for membership,
including its size;
— the representation on the Management
Committee;
— the role and responsibilities of
Forum members, particularly their sectoral/interest representational
role;
— the links to rural groups, such as
young people, and rural stakeholders at the local level; and
— the roles of the Forum Co-ordinator
and Secretariat and the options for sustainable funding for the
Co-ordinator.
The review is being undertaken by a task and
finish group of the Management Committee, which will report back
to Forum's meeting in January.
The Forum should have formally agreed its future
roles, structure and organisation by March 2005.
East Midlands Rural Affairs Forum Membership
| Sector | Representing
|
| Land Based Interests | National Farmers UnionCLANational TrustCountryside AllianceTransport & General Workers UnionWomen's Food & Farming Union
|
| Environment & Conservation | CPRERSPBGroundworkWildlife Trusts
|
| Economic Development | Strategic Sub-Regional PartnershipsBusiness LinkBusiness in the Community/CBIFederation of Small Businesses
|
| Education & Outreach | Learning & Skills CouncilsFurther Education/Agricultural Colleges Universities
|
| Community Development | East Midlands ACRE Network (Rural Community Councils)ENGAGE (East Midlands Voluntary Sector Forum)
|
| Youth | Young FarmersVoluntary Youth Services
|
| Housing | Housing CorporationMidland Rural Housing
|
| Health & Social Welfare | NHS ExecutiveEast Midlands PoliceRural Stress Information NetworkEast Midlands Rural Churches
|
| Tourism, Recreation & Arts | Visit Hearth of EnglandSport EnglandArts Council England
|
| Transport | Rural Transport Partnership NetworkTransport Activists
|
| Governance(11 Representatives) | East Midlands Regional Local Government Association Parish Councils
|
| Regional Assembly Agencies | Peak District National ParkGovernment Office East MidlandsCountryside AgencyEast Midlands Development Agency DEFRA RDSEnglish NatureEnvironment AgencyEnglish HeritageForestry Commission
|
| |
2. EAST OF
ENGLAND RURAL
AFFAIRS FORUM
Chair: Richard Powell, RSPB
Secretariat Lead: Sandy Cruikshank, Government Office East
Review Progress
The Forum met on 3 December and discussed a paper prepared
by a working group focussing on the review. The paper outlines
proposals for a new membership structure, and a clear articulation
of the roles and responsibilities of these members to allow the
Forum to take on the critical role of stakeholder voice for the
regional rural community as envisaged by the Rural Strategy 2004.
The Forum has agreed to operate under the auspices of the
Regional Assembly in a linked yet independent capacity.
The working group has now been tasked with developing these
ideas in light of the Forum's suggestions, and begin the process
of developing the terms of reference for the new Forum with a
view to implementation following the local government elections
in 2005.
East of England Rural Affairs Forum Membership
| Name | Organisation
|
| Pamela Forbes | National Farmers Union
|
| David Wood | Rural Action East
|
| Michael Allen | East of England Sustainable Development Round Table
|
| Nick Charrington | Rural Business (Farming and Tourism)
|
| Revd Graham Hedger | Faith |
| David Hodge | Rural Business (Farming)
|
| Sally Reeves | Rural Business (Post Offices)
|
| Janet Ridge | Bedfordshire Rural Affairs Forum and Bedfordshire RCC
|
| Peter Medhurst | Transport & General Workers Union
|
| Dr Phil Wadey | Equine Industry
|
| Simon Garnier | National Trust
|
| Chris Jones | Sport England
|
| Philip Kemp | Health Service users
|
| Barbara Nelstrop | Business support services
|
| Thelma Wadsley | Rural Stress Information Network
|
| Jane Burch | Country Land and Business Association
|
| Wendy Silby | Local Authority (elected member)
|
| Hazel Williams | Local Authority (elected member)
|
| Mary Bayes | Hertfordshire Rural Affairs Forum and Local Authority (elected member)
|
| East of England Rural Network Core Group
|
| Emmy Smart | Countryside Agency
|
| Martin Edwards | Regional Director Defra RDS
|
| Tim De Keyzer | East of England Development Agency
|
| Jane Rabagliati | Rural Director, GO East
|
| Steve Scott | Forestry Commission
|
| Greg Luton | English Heritage
|
| Brian Stewart | East of England Regional Assembly
|
| Julia Barrett | Environment Agency
|
| Secretariat |
| Sandy Cruickshank | Government Office East
|
| Martin Gershon | Countryside Agency
|
| Lesley Anderson | East of England Development Agency
|
| Emma Powlett | RDS East |
| Jo Jones | East of England Regional Assembly
|
| |
3. NORTH EAST
RURAL AFFAIRS
FORUM
Chair: Miles Middleton
Secretariat: Vicky Willis, Government Office North East
Review Progress
The membership has not changed yet as members are keen to
build on what is already in place. It is likely that the new Forum
will comprise a combination of old community, business and local
delivery representatives along with some new members, to ensure
it builds on existing experience and commitment. We are also planning
to link into the Centre for Rural Economy's North Rural Network
as a wider reference group.
The Forum will be advertising for new members in January
2005, looking for a range of representation by business, community
and environmental interests.
The Government Office is planning some sub-regional events
in February linked to the Framework and may use this to promote
interest in NERAF for additional wider reference group members
and potentially attract new members. Once members are recruited,
we will conduct an induction programme to help clarify their role
and establish expectations/commitment in conjunction with partners.
The Government Office is also in discussion with the Chamber
and Business link on the best methods of engagement, which may
include development of a Rural Business Forum, but where possible
links will be made into existing rural groups eg Market Towns
business clubs.
New terms of reference are currently being drawn up to discuss
with the Steering Group on 10 January.
North East Rural Affairs Forum Membership
| Sector | Representing
| Name |
| Business | North East Chamber of Commerce
| Rachel Spence |
| ViRSA | Chris Checkley
|
| Durham | Durham Sub Regional Partnership
| John Banks |
| Durham Rural Community Council
| Jo Laverick |
| Tees Valley | Tees Valley Sub Regional PartnershipBob Barnes
| |
| Transport | Arriva North East
| Tony Batty |
| Regional Assembly | Malcolm Bowes
|
| Tees Valley Rural Community Council
| Trisha Brady/Di Harbron |
| Land Based Business | The National Trust
| David Ronn |
| Tyne & Wear | Tyne & Wear Partnership
| Allen Creedy |
| Community Development/Voluntary Activity |
Community Council of Northumberland | David Francis (Vice chair)
|
| Health | Northumberland Primary Care Trust
| Dr Gill Fraser |
| Regional Assembly | Jo-Anne Garrick
|
| DEFRA | Fiona Gough
|
| Northumberland Sub Regional Partnership
| John Hamilton/Andy Dean |
| Youth | National Federation of Young Farmers Club
| |
| One NorthEast Board Member
| Phil Hughes |
| Teesdale Community Resource
| Keith Jones |
| Housing | | Paul Keenan
|
| Environmental | Northumberland Wildlife Trust
| |
| English Nature | Tony Laws
|
| Centre for Rural Economy, Newcastle University
| Professor Philip Lowe |
| Education | Learning Skills Council Durham
| |
| Chair | Hadrian's Wall Tourism Partnership
| Miles Middleton |
| Northumberland Care Trust
| Lucy O'Leary |
| RDA | | Frances Rowe
|
| Land Owner | William Salvin
|
| Age Concern | Adrian Smith
|
| Tourism | Farm Holiday Operator
| Judith Stephenson |
| Northumberland National Park
| Graham Taylor |
| Rural Regeneration Unit |
Bryan Thistlewaite |
| Campaign for the Protection of Rural England
| Gill Thomasson |
| Training & Business | Small Business Service
| Jim Anderson |
| Government Office for the North East
| John Bainton |
| MEP | Member of EC Agriculture Committee
| Gordon Adam/Tony Bone |
| Government, Local Govt and relevant agencies
| Forestry Commission | Brendan Callaghan
|
| Countryside Agency | Susan Clark
|
| Environment Agency | Graeme Warren
|
| Secretariat | Government Office for the North East
| Vicky WillisGlyn Bateman |
| | |
4. NORTH WEST
RURAL AFFAIRS
FORUM
Chair: Rt Rev Alan D Chesters
Secretariat: Cathie Melling, Government Office North West
Review Progress
The review is complete. The Forum now consists of a large
open forum, which meets at least twice a year, and a small management
group of up to 12 people, appointed on the basis of their individual
skills, experience and regional standing.
Work being undertaken as part of the creation of a rural
delivery framework, will identify proposals on the future shape
of a rural strategic co-ordination body (priorities board) in
the North West.
North West Rural Affairs Forum Membership
| Organisation | Name
|
| ADAS Ltd | Jacalyn Evans |
| Age Concern | Adrian Smith |
| Arnside & Silverdale AONB | Ian Henderson
|
| Arts Council for the North West | Anthony Preston
|
| Aston Leigh and Wigan PCT | Dianne Hodgson
|
| Barclays Bank | Mike Fell |
| Booths | Edwin Booth |
| British Waterways | Christine Wall
|
| BTCV/North West Environment Link | Kevin Jones
|
| Business Environments | Peter Crompton
|
| Business in the Community | David Till
|
| Business Link Crewe and Nantwich | John Dunning
|
| Business Link North Manchester | Michael White
|
| Caterite Food & Wine Limited | Keith Graham
|
| Cheshire Agricultural Society | David Broster
|
| Cheshire Association of Local Councils |
Frank Thomas |
| Cheshire Association of Town & Parish Councils
| Julia Cooper |
| Cheshire Federation of Women's Institutes |
Christine Bailey |
| Cheshire Landscape Trust | John Gittins
|
| Cheshire Rural Forum | Robin Wendt
|
| Cheshire West Primary Care Trust | Bob Hodson
|
| Cheshire Wildlife Trust | Christopher Mahon
|
| Church of England, Diocese of Blackburn |
Colin |
| Community Futures | Mark Gutteridge, Paul James, Lena Lakha, Frank McGinty
|
| Co-operative Group | Wendy Wrigley
|
| Council for Agriculture & Rural Life (CARL)
| Andrew Humphries |
| Council for British Archaeology (NW) | Adrian Tindall
|
| Campaign to Protect Rural England | Terry Blackburn, Lillian Burns, Jean Stainthorpe
|
| Country Land and Business Association |
Douglas Chalmers Granchester |
| Countryside Alliance | Tom Fell
|
| Cumbria Chamber of Commerce | Viv Dodd
|
| Cumbria Constabulary | Les Richardson
|
| Cumbria Farm Tourism Initiative | Carl Bendelow
|
| Cumbria Federation of Young Farmers Clubs |
Janice Davidson |
| Cumbria Fells and Dales LAG | Geoff Brown
|
| Cumbria Rural Development Group | Elizabeth Braithwaite
|
| Cumbria Rural Enterprise Agency | Bob Clark
|
| Cumbria Tourist Board | Richard Greenwood
|
| Cumbria Wildlife Trust | David Harpley
|
| Cumbria Woodlands | Edward Mills
|
| DEFRA | Rob Paul |
| Diocese of Chester | Alan Chesters
|
| Drugs Prevention Advisory Service, NW Region
| Chris McCormack |
| Eden Rivers Trust | James Carr
|
| English Heritage | Judith Nelson
|
| English Nature/Voluntary Action Cumbria |
Des O'Halloran |
| EnviroLink NW Ltd. | Chris Shearlock
|
| Food and Health Taskforce | Angela Towers
|
| Forest of Bowland AONB | Don Mckay
|
| Friends of the Lake District | Ian Brodie, Jack Ellerby
|
| Farming & Wildlife Advisory Group | Alan Dodsworth
|
| Groundwork North West | Ian McArthur, Andrew Darron
|
| Growing Rural Businesses through Collaborative Solutions ICEP
| Nicky Connell |
| Kirby Stephen Community and Council Care |
Dorothy Waterworth |
| Lake District National Park Authority |
Andrew Herbert, Robin Yates |
| Lancashire Council for Voluntary Youth |
Ian Ferguson |
| Lancashire Rural Futures | John Welbank
|
| Lancashire Rural Stress Network | Vivien Middleton, Teresa Taylor
|
| Lancashire Wildlife Trust | Anne Selby, Robert Williams
|
| Landmark Environmental Ltd | Steven Miles
|
| Lantra | Janice Green, Madge Moore
|
| Learning & Skills Council Cumbria | Mick Farley, John Power
|
| Learning Skills Council | Julia Dowd, Andrew Fawtett, Neil Smith
|
| Leverhulme Estates | Sally Read
|
| Mersey Basin Campaign | Walter Menzies
|
| Morecambe Bay Primary Care Trust | Carolyn Nuttall
|
| Myerscough College | John Moverley
|
| Nantwich and South Cheshire Show | George Lawrence
|
| National Farmers Union | Terry Abbott, Adam Briggs
|
| National Federation of Young Farmers Clubs |
Catherine Cross |
| National Trust | Nicholas Hill, Tiffany Hunt
|
| Natwest Bank Plc | David Linton
|
| North and East Lancashire LAG | Judith Watmough
|
| North Cumbria Health Action Zone | Gwyn Jones
|
| North Pennines AONB | Chris Woodley-Stewart
|
| North West Churches | David Emison
|
| North West Fine Foods | Catherine Smith
|
| North West Food Alliance | Pat Foreman
|
| North West Tourist Board | David Crease
|
| North West Universities Association | Keith Burnley, Helen Ashworth
|
| Northern Marches LAG | David Boyce
|
| North West DEFRA Rural Development Service |
Sam Alston, Tony Percival |
| North West Forum on Ageing | Maria Grant
|
| North West Public Health team, DoH, GONW |
Cathy Wynne |
| Pataks Food Ltd | Kirit Patak
|
| Post Office Ltd | Andy Wright
|
| Ramblers Association | Brian Jones
|
| Reaseheath College | Vic Croxson, Meredydd David
|
| Red Rose Forest | Tony Hothersall
|
| Renewables North West | Julian Carter
|
| Royal Lancashire Show | Rennie Pinder
|
| Royal Society for the Protection of Birds |
Laurence Rose, Kay Brandist |
| Rural Business Centre | Lorna Tyson
|
| Rural Development Service | Simon Humphries
|
| Rural Regeneration Company | Richard Lancaster
|
| Rural Regeneration Cumbria | Kate Willard
|
| Rural Regeneration Unit | Sharon Rourke
|
| Rural Stress Information Network | Helen Ovens
|
| SCOSPA (Southern Pennines Rural Regeneration Company)
| Anne Atkins |
| Solway Lakeland Carers Association | Gill Ingram, Brenda Sykes
|
| Sport England | Chris Dodd |
| Sustainability North West | Mary Parkinson
|
| Tenant Farmers Association | Phillip Potts, Joan Potts
|
| The Housing Corporation | Helen Livemore
|
| The Methodist Church in Lancashire | Jillian Belford
|
| The Peak District National Park Authority |
Jim Dixon |
| The Princes Trust | Marian Kearney
|
| Tourism & Environment Project, Glasgow Caledonian University
| David Leslie |
| Transport & General Workers Union |
Ron Graham |
| United Utilities | Stephen Tomlinson
|
| University of Central Lancashire | Norman Burrows
|
| Univeristy of Liverpool | David Shaw
|
| University of Liverpool/Internal Tree Foundation
| David Halewood |
| Village Retail Services Association, Education Trust
| Des Hopwood |
| Voluntary Action Cumbria | Cathie Fleming, Gail Knopfell, Roger Roberts, Julia Wilson
|
| Women's Farming Union (Lancashire) | Alice Bradley
|
| Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority |
Steve Macare |
| Youth Hostel Association | Dave Waugh
|
| Allerdale Borough Council | Debbie Keir
|
| Blackpool Borough Council | Reg Haslam
|
| Carlisle City Council | Claire Rankin
|
| Chorley Borough Council | Jane Meek
|
| Cumbria County Council | Maxine Bodell , Iain Fairlamb, Stephen Greenhalgh, Ralph Howard, Michael Hyatt
|
| Copeland Borough Council | John Stanforth
|
| Cheshire County Council | Gaynor Bowen-Jones, Julian Pellat, Fil Provc, David Rowlands
|
| Countryside Agency | Ken Burgess, Chris Kolek, Colin Maddison, Kristine Riding, Richard Lord
|
| Eden District Council | Ian Bruce
|
| Environment Agency | George Ager, Dave Forster, Andrew Penton
|
| English Nature | David Henshilwood, Anne Powell, Ian Soane (Cumbria Team)
|
| Fylde Borough Council | Ken Lee
|
| Forestry Commission | Keith Jones
|
| GO North East | Alison Wiseman
|
| GO West Midlands | David Howaton
|
| GO Yorks and Humber | David Wilford
|
| GO North West | Keith Barnes, Elieen Chan/Janet Horsley, Gordon Jones, Rebecca Kitchingham, Michael Morris, Helen Sweeney, Peter Wilson, John Mortimer, Kirsty Williams,
|
| GO North West—Food & Rural Affairs
| Neil Cumberlidge, Barrie Gribben, Cathie Melling, Sonja Rewhorn, Martin Wood
|
| GO North West—Europe Manchester | Alex Findlay
|
| Lancashire County Council | Iain Aitchinson, Andy Ashcroft, Clive Grimshaw, Tim Ormrod
|
| Lancaster City Council | John Donnellon, Rick Patteron, Patricia Quinton
|
| North West Development Agency | Steve Heaton, Ray Kessler, Jennifer Wilson, John Dunning, David Hunter, Catherine White
|
| North West Regional Assembly | Oliver Bird, Tim Hill, Tom Sheppard
|
| Ribble Valley Borough Council | David Morris
|
| Rochdale Metropolitan Borough Council | Francis Comyn
|
| Scottish Executive | Gill Wylie
|
| South Ribble Borough Council | Jon Hesketh
|
| Vale Royal Borough Council | David Owen
|
| |
5. SOUTH EAST
RURAL AFFAIRS
FORUM
Chair: The Earl of Selbourne
Secretariat: Julie Price, Government Office South East
Review Progress
The Government Office has so far been unsuccessful in recruiting
someone to carry out the review, but has set up a South East Rural
Partnership steering group of delivery organisations to prepare
the regional rural delivery framework. It has also contracted
a consultant to provide the rural evidence to inform the framework.
The Forum was updated on the progress on all aspects of the
modernising rural delivery agenda at its last meeting in October,
but is not due to meet again until 3 February. The review will
therefore take place in 2005, and a paper will be put to the February
meeting recommending that it be conducted by a sub-group of the
current Forum.
South East Rural Affairs Forum Membership
| Organisation | Name
|
| Blackmore Estates Limited | John Selbourne (Chair)
|
| Business Link Surrey | Rosie Blackburn
|
| Cultural Consortium | Charles Freeman
|
| East Hampshire Patient Care Trust | Nicholas Hicks
|
| English Heritage | Bill Startin
|
| Farming & Rural Issues Group | Phillip Merricks
|
| London Food Link/SUSTAIN | Daniel Keech
|
| National Farmers Union & Farming and Rural Issues Group
| Shaun Leavey |
| Regional Action & Involvement South East
| Sue Dovey |
| Regional Action & Involvement South East
| Jeremy Leggett |
| Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) SE England Regional Office
| Stephen Gilbert |
| Rural Development Service | Terry Bradfield
|
| South East England County Associations |
Victor Scrivens |
| South East Food Group Partnership | Henritte Reinders
|
| South East Rural Community Councils | Jacinta Thorley
|
| Sparsholt College | Tim Jackson
|
| Sport England South East | Alex Abbott
|
| Thanet District Council | Ken Gregory
|
| Tourism South East | Roger BuddenSuzanne Austin
|
| Councillor | Bill Lidgate |
| Councillor | Robin Peirce |
| Countryside Agency | Duncan MackayLynnette Leeson
|
| English Nature | Alan Law |
| Environment Agency—Southern Region |
Ken Allison |
| Forestry Commission | Alan Betts
|
| Government Office South East | Daniel Chadwick
|
| Government Office South East | Alison Parker
|
| Isle of Wight Council | Harry Rees
|
| South East of England Development Agency (SEEDA)
| Poul Christensen CBEValerie Carter |
| South East Regional Assembly | Mile Gwilliam
|
| Thanet District Council | Ken Gregory
|
| |
6. SOUTH WEST
RURAL AFFAIRS
FORUM
Chair: Michael Winter
Secretariat: Joy Cheverton, Government Office South West
Review Progress
A recruitment exercise in October resulted in 100+ expressions
of interest, and Forum membership has now increased from 13 to
24. Interest came form a wide variety of backgrounds and experience
and the Forum has been able to fill several gaps in membership,
as well as keeping the regional spread of representation from
all counties. A further exercise is now underway in order to find
a young person to join the membership.
The Rural Policy & Partnerships team (RPP) in the Government
Office is taking forward other work under the Rural Strategy,
& organised a Rural Delivery Framework workshop on 24 October.
The Chairman of the Forum led the workshop and several members
attended. The RPP team is now developing a draft Regional Framework
document which will be discussed at the next Forum meeting on
13 December.
The secretariat is also working with public health contacts
to organise three regional workshops on access to rural healthcare
which ideally will be championed by the Forum.
South West Rural Affairs Forum Membership
| Organisation | Name
|
| Alvis Bros Ltd | John Alvis
|
| Bath & Wast Show Society | Jane Guise
|
| Bridport Community Project Trust | Tim Crabtree
|
| CG Fry & Son Ltd Building & Developing Company
| Philip Fry |
| Diocese of Salisbury | Revd Dr Jean Coates
|
| Dorset Community Action | Jane Raimes
|
| Exeter University | Michael Winter
|
| Gloucestershire County Councillor | Mark Hendry
|
| Gloucestershire Housing Association | Steve Watson
|
| Kerrier District Councillor | Pat Aston
|
| National Trust Director for Devon & Cornwall
| Mark Harrold |
| Royal Society for the Protection of Birds Regional Policy Officer
| Mark Robins |
| Stroud District Council | Phillip Sullivan
|
| SW Forestry Commission Advisory Committee |
Harry Studholme |
| Vice-Chair | Cate Le Grice-Mack
|
| Willis & Co Planning Consultancy | Marc WillisLorna PotterSonia PikeMal TreharneJonathan MoorhouseWendy ButlerSteve ParsonsRosemary MudgeKate Freeman
|
| |
7. WEST MIDLANDS
RURAL AFFAIRS
FORUM
Chair: Dr Tony Harris OBE
Secretariat: Mrs Audrey Wright—Government Office
West Midlands
Mrs Fiona Moore—Countryside Agency
Review Progress
The Forum started a review of some aspects of its operation
in June 2004, recognising that it needed to reach the wider rural
network to be more effective in gathering and disseminating information.
The Government Office will oversee the process to ensure
that it meets the criteria set out in the Rural Strategy, while
the Forum's Management Committee is responsible for leading the
review of the structure and operation of the Forum.
The consultation process was taken forward at the Forum's
"Devolve and Prosper" conference, and was continued
at the quarterly meeting on the 9 December. It is anticipated
that a final proposal on numbers, membership, purpose, activities
and method of working will be presented to the next Forum meeting
on 10 March.
An exercise to map members' networks is also underway. It
is envisaged that members will sign up to a "job description"
setting out their role and obligations to their constituencies.
West Midlands Rural Affairs Forum Membership
| Sector | Organisation
| Name |
| Countryside, Environment & Recreation |
Environment Agency West Midlands Biodiversity Partnership
| Nick KingSteve Holliday |
| West Midlands Regional Sustainability Forum
| Chris Carter |
| English Heritage | Chris Smith
|
| Visit Heart of England |
Nigel Russell |
| National Trust | Hugh Devlin
|
| Rural Economy & Employment | National Farmers Union
| David Collier |
| Country Land & Business Association
| Frances Beatty |
| Learning & Skills Council—Shropshire
| Dr Phillip Extance |
| Confederation of West Midlands Chambers of Commerce
| William Lyons |
| Business Link | Paddy George
|
| Transport & General Workers Union
| Sean Glennon |
| Rural Communities & Services (Inc Voluntary Sector)
| Chaplaincy for Agriculture& Rural LifeWest Midlands Network of Rural Community Councils
| The Rev'd Peter DakinMalcolm Kimber |
| Department of Health—West Midlands Public Health Group
| Rowena Clayton |
| National Federation of Young Farmers and Youth Issues
| Lionel Hill MBE |
| Association of Colleges |
Dr Heather Barrett-Mold |
| Regional Action West Midlands
| Sharon Palmer |
| Regional Housing Partnership
| Mike Atherton |
| Regional Transport Strategy
| Bruce Undy |
| Regional/Sub Regional Forums | Herefordshire Partnership
| Jennifer Watkins |
| The Shropshire Partnership Team
| Paul Shelvin |
| South Shropshire District Council
| Graham Biggs |
| Worcestershire Partnership
| Peter Smith |
| Coventry, Solihull and Warwickshire Rural Forum
| Jef Tyun |
| West Midlands Rural Network
| Fiona Moore |
| West Midlands Life | Gavin Willetts
|
| Regional Assembly | David LittlemoreCllr Roger WalkerSimon Hodgson
|
| Central Government Bodies | GO West Midlands
| Brin Davies |
| Advantage West Midlands |
Dr Richard Hutchins |
| Countryside Agency |
Sally Rwalings |
| Rural Development Service
| Geoff Sansome |
| English Nature | Dr Peter Knights
|
| Forestry Commission |
Bill Heslegrave |
| Local Government | West Midlands Association of Parish & Town Councils
| Roger Evans |
| West Midlands Local Government Association
| Alwyn Davies |
| | |
8. YORKSHIRE & THE
HUMBER RURAL
AFFAIRS FORUM
Chair: John Napier
Secretariat: David Wilford—Government Office Yorkshire
& the Humber
Ian Deans—Countryside Agency
Liz Kerry—Yorkshire & the Humber Assembly
Review Progress
As the required structure of the Forum will be determined
by the framework, the Government Office intends to conduct its
review once the framework is in place. The Forum has however begun
the process of defining the principles of the review.
Yorkshire & the Humber RAF Membership
| Organisation | Name
|
| Association of Y&H Chambers of Commerce
| Martin Hathaway |
| Council for the Protection of Rural England
| Dr Neville Jones |
| Country Land and Business Association |
Dorothy Fairburn |
| Kelda Group | John NapierHedley Salt
|
| Learning & Skills Council North Yorkshire
| Caroline O'Neill |
| Humber & Wolds Rural Community Council |
Mary Cornwell |
| National Farmers Union | Richard Ellison
|
| National Trust | Judy Richmond
|
| North York Moors National Park Authority |
Andy WilsonHelen Schroeder |
| North Yorkshire Forum for Voluntary Organisations
| Neil Irving |
| Regional Youth Work Unit | Miriam Jackson
|
| Ritchey Tagg Ltd | John Robinson
|
| Small Business Service | Neville Myers
|
| Yorkshire & Humber Assembly | Wendy BundyLiz Kerry
|
| Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority |
Steve Macare |
| Yorkshire Forward | Heather Hancock
|
| Yorkshire Parish Councils | Cllr Michael Elsmore
|
| Yorkshire Tourist Board | David Andrews
|
| Calderdale Metropolitan Borough Council |
Cllr Geraldine Cater |
| Countryside Agency | Ian Deans
|
| East Riding of Yorkshire Council | Cllr Symon Fras
|
| Environment Agency | Jean Varley
|
| GO Yorkshire & Humber | Gordon Kingston
|
| Hambleton District Council | Cllr Artuhur Barker
|
| |
40
Official Report, Column 1459. Back
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