Rural Community Gateway

By Pip Tabor

Three years of research, discussion, interviews, visits and thinking has gone into this report – and the result is a refreshingly clear and stimulating read.

Those who work in rural development will find few surprises in the description of the current situation across rural UK – we are faced with a shifting demography, declining rural economies, lack of affordable housing and public transport. Most of us are frustrated by the short-term political thinking, the lack of real joined-up working, the plethora of grant sources (each with a uniquely arduous application procedure) and the need to contort a project to fit funding criteria. It is therefore comforting to see these issues so well set out.

The report acknowledges that the future holds an array of challenges and opportunities for rural communities. Issues such as CAP reform, globalisation, depletion of fossil fuels, climate change, information technology and house prices are all impacting on us all.

Against this back-drop, the report sets out a vision for a vibrant and sustainable rural sector and it identifies ten key characteristics that would apply to the rural communities of this future. These include communities taking ownership of assets which generate lasting public benefit, communities having systems of meaningful local governance, communities achieving greater fairness for everyone, delivering reliable infrastructure and making more of local distinctiveness.

Based on case studies and experience from across the UK, the report then addresses each characteristic in turn, setting out why action is needed and making proposals that would ensure that rural communities are helped to develop these key characteristics.

Some of the proposals are radical. For example there is a clear call for real powers to be delegated to Community Councils so that they take on a meaningful role in local planning. This would include the power to raise funds through local taxation.

It is suggested that each community be required to commission a "community action plan" every four years which Local Authorities would be required to take heed of. It is also suggested that elections to Community Councils are given a specific national day so that the profile of the elections is raised.

The view that community ownership of assets is important is also forcefully made. Ownership of assets such as land or buildings, is seen as a logical extension of a community using the existing strengths within any community, be this an association or social network. "Use what you have to secure what you have not" is the motto – develop a funding stream from the use of a local asset will enable a community to develop further social and economic opportunities.

Funders are therefore urged to support Asset-Based Community Development and the government is called upon to introduce measures to facilitate asset transfer.

It is acknowledged that this is a major area of development, that caution is needed and good advice will be vital. Agencies are urged to ensure that training is provided to allow community development workers to develop the skills needed to support such developments.

It would be good to think that the new administration in Edinburgh have this document on their reading lists – it offers some really good sound advice on what we need to do to re-energise our rural communities and the Carnegie Commission are to be congratulated for producing such a succinct, considered and action-based report.

About Pip Tabor

Pip Tabor graduated in Biology at the University of York, went on to do a teaching qualification and then taught science in Humberside for four years and then in Bhutan for the next three, after which he joined Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO) as Bhutan Field Officer running a programme of 35 volunteers. He then took an MSc in Natural Resource Management at Edinburgh University and joined Scottish Natural Heritage in the Borders for 5 years. In 1999, he was appointed Project Manager of the Southern Uplands Partnership.

Links

Charter for Rural Communities to be reviewed
Download A Charter for Rural Communities
Local People Leading review Charter for Rural Communities
Geoff Fagan reviews Charter for Rural Communities
Scottish Crofting Foundation review Charter for Rural Communities
Three million? Not likely! Carnegie's Charter was "tremendous value for money"
Frank Burns reviews Charter for Rural Communities

• Privacy
• Help
• Contact Us
• Disclaimer