Rural Social and Community Programme
Where we are: Programme implementation
In summer 2005 Defra held a consultation exercise setting out proposals intended to empower and enable voluntary and community sector organisations with rural interests, Rural Community Councils (RCCs) and parish councils (collectively referred to hereafter as ‘the VCS’) to build on their work to develop the capacity of the rural VCS and address social exclusion in rural areas.
By the close of the consultation, more than 200 written responses had been received. In addition to the written consultation, responses were collected by way of a number of workshops, meetings and other events held across the country. A Government response, ‘Conclusions from the consultation and the way forward’, to the consultation was published 9 November 2005. (http://www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/consult/rsc-programme/gov-response.pdf )
The two-year programme streamlines the social and community programmes of the former Countryside Agency and Defra and allow greater flexibility in the way Defra funds are used to support rural communities. The programme provides those who understand the problems with the means to respond to local priorities.
The budget
The budget for the programme is £13.5m per annum for 2006/07 and 2007/08. The largest part (approximately £9m for each of the two years) funds is for sub-regional activities, designed and delivered in partnership. Around £3.5m per annum is committed for three years, beginning 1 April 2005, for services provided under Defra’s agreement with the network of Rural Community Councils. The remainder of the funding will support the delivery of the programme at a regional and national level.
Sub-regional planning
Defra invited the VCS to come forward, in partnership with parish councils and principal local authorities, with sub-regional business cases for community action and capacity building that fit with local needs. Business cases for each of the 47 sub-regional programme partnerships are now in place. These cover the whole of rural England and were subjected to a rigorous challenge process, with the final decisions being taken by the Government Offices for the Regions.
Rather than specify particular activities to be funded, the programme provided VCS organisations and the communities they serve with the means to respond to local priorities and to mesh the resources with other activities and funding sources. Regional rural delivery frameworks provide the strategic overview within which the activities fit.
Most of the business cases include activities that follow on from previously separate funding streams for rural housing enablers, community development work and parish / community planning. They also include, some good examples of innovative new projects – on matters such as migrant workers integration in rural communities; addressing health inequalities through local food sourcing; targeting learning and skills opportunities; and supporting social enterprise.
Delivery of the programme
It was agreed in 2005 that the RSCP sub-regional funding should be included in the list of funding streams that could be pooled for a Local Area Agreement (LAA). For 2006/07 just a handful of LAAs include the RSCP in their pooled funding. The majority of RSCP business cases have been aligned with LAAs. From April 2007, the majority of RSCP funding will be pooled with LAAs.
Funding for Rural Community Councils
The programme funding includes support for the RCCs through three-year strategic funding agreements. Our proposed funding for RCCs focuses on support for:
- influencing at regional and local level on behalf of rural communities.
- developing the capacity of staff and key partners, such as the County Associations of Local Councils.
Supporting national and regional delivery
A number of national bodies have a strong track record and specialist skills in developing community capacity building and in helping communities plan for and achieve their local goals. To this end, Defra have entered into an agreement with Action with Communities in Rural England (ACRE) to strengthen the capacity of the RCC network to deliver Defra’s objectives and Defra has also made funding available to the National Association of Local Councils and the Society of Local Council Clerks, to assist parish council organisations, with the delivery of the QUALITY parish initiative.
Programme Management Board
The RSCP has a management board whose purpose is to monitor progress and ensure accountability, through external scrutiny, involvement and debate, on the implementation of the Rural Social and Community Programme. The Board meets on a quarterly basis and is made up of nominated individuals drawn from within the Department, local councils and from amongst it’s voluntary and community sector stakeholders.
- 15 December 2006 - minutes of meeting
(38 KB) - 18 October 2006 - minutes of meeting (40 KB)
- 12 July 2006 - minutes
of meeting (40
KB)
Contact us to find out more: Rural Communities Division
Telephone: 0207 238 6412
Email: rural.communities@defra.gsi.gov.uk
Fax: 0207 238 6502
Page last modified:
28 March, 2007
Page published: 21 July, 2005