Modernising Rural Delivery - What's New
Public Update on implementation of Lord Haskins' Rural Delivery Review
As the Modernising Rural Delivery programme comes to an end, we publish our final report on progress against the 93 commitments made by the Government, in response to Haskins’ Rural Delivery Review.
The “public update” demonstrates that the majority of commitments, 84%, have been implemented, 11% are on track and 5% have been delayed or partly delayed. The full report can be seen at http://www.defra.gov.uk/rural/ruraldelivery/final-report/index.htm
Final Modernising Rural Delivery newsletter
This is the final MRD newsletter. We hope you have found it useful and we would like to thank everyone who has contributed.
Archive of Modernising Rural Delivery newsletters.
Closure of Modernising Delivery Programme
The November newsletter covers the activities surrounding the MRD closure. Please note that this website will be amended over the coming months, and will simply provide a high level historical view of the programme. If there is anything you regularly use on the website, it may be advisable to save it.
Natural England and Commission for Rural Communities established 1 October
On Sunday 1 October Natural England, the integrated countryside and land management agency, and the Commission for Rural Communities, the independent adviser, watchdog and advocate for rural people were formally established, taking on their full statutory responsibilities. At the same time, as part of the wider Modernising Rural Delivery reforms, the Regional Development Agencies also took over the former Rural Development Service’s socio-economic funding responsibilities.
Natural England brings together English Nature, the Countryside Agency and the Rural Development Service. Its role is to ensure that the natural environment is conserved, enhanced, and managed for the benefit of present and future generations, thereby contributing to sustainable development.
The Commission for Rural Communities was formed from part of the Countryside Agency and has a particular focus on disadvantage. The Commission’s Chair is also the government’s Rural Advocate.
The Regional Development Agencies have taken on decision making and funding for the delivery of rural economic and social regeneration, working in close partnership with local authorities and others. As well as clarifying accountabilities, this removes the unhelpful distinction between urban and rural regeneration.
For more information, look at the organisation’s websites:
Natural England
Commission for Rural Communities
England's Rural Development Agencies
Public Update on implementation of Lord Haskins’ Rural Delivery Review as at July 2006.
The Modernising Rural Delivery programme is the first stage in the government’s implementation of Lord Haskins’ Rural Delivery Review. In the Rural Strategy 2004 we published our response to Lord Haskins’ 33 recommendations with 93 commitments for action.
As the detailed report now published demonstrates, the majority of the commitments, 67%, have been implemented, 27% are on track or ahead of schedule, and only 6% are delayed or partly delayed. This will add up to a significant and sustainable improvement in the way government works in rural communities and the natural environment, for rural businesses, rural people, people enjoying the countryside and coast, the environment, and the taxpayer.
Natural Environment and Rural Communities (NERC) Act
| Quick links |
|---|
|
|
The Modernising Rural Delivery Programme has recently achieved one of its major milestones. The NERC Act which enables many of the Government's plans on rural delivery to progress received Royal Assent on 30 March 2006. The Act was first introduced as the NERC Bill in the House of Commons on 19 May 2005 and to the House of Lords on 12 October 2005.
The NERC Act establishes the new integrated agency, Natural England. On 2 May 2006, some of the Act’s provisions were commenced which will allow early establishment of a ‘skeleton’ Natural England prior to vesting of the organisation on 1 October when it will take up its full range of responsibilities. The main purpose in establishing Natural England as a skeleton body is to ensure that it is well prepared for vesting through allowing the Chair and Board to take up their appointments, enabling the body to make key decisions (such as awarding contracts) and to put in place governance and financial frameworks prior to vesting day.
At the same time Section 98 of the Act was commenced which gives the Secretary of State power to give financial assistance for expenditure connected with or related to a Defra function. This is an important power which will be used as the basis for funding suitable projects carried out in areas across Defra’s remit. [Further information]
Page last modified:
30 November, 2006
Page published: 11 November, 2003