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Rural Affairs

Modernising Rural Delivery

 

The Modernising Rural Delivery Programme was Defra's way of implementing the bulk of the Rural Strategy 2004 – the government’s response to Lord Haskin’s 2003 review of Rural Delivery. It was a change programme aimed at delivering rural services more efficiently, in a more streamlined and customer focussed way, through a smaller number of organisations with clearer and more accountable roles, working in partnership within an overarching sustainable development context.

The programme started in July 2004 and was completed in December 2006. However, although the programme is officially over, central government’s commitment to it is not.

The new bodies have already taken responsibility for the delivery of this key vision but Defra will continue to be responsible for monitoring the 5 benefits of the programme, which are:

  • streamlined funding programmes deliver efficiently managed and effective funding streams with high levels of customer satisfaction;
  • the creation of Natural England leads to improved conservation, enhancement and management of the natural environment; delivered more efficiently, effectively and with greater customer satisfaction;
  • increased capacity of the delivery framework to enable a vibrant rural economy with successful and sustainable rural businesses, helping to support vibrant and inclusive communities with fair access to services;
  • rural communities, groups and their representatives are provided with a clearer voice through the establishment of the Commission for Rural Communities and the enhancement of the Regional Rural Affairs Forums;
  • the Modernising Rural Delivery programme delivers annual efficiencies of £13m by 2007/08, rising to £21m by 2009/20

A great deal of progress was made during the programme; 84% of the 93 commitments have already been implemented; 11% are on track and 5% are delayed or partly delayed.

A full report on progress against all the commitments was been published in November 2006.

Defra has also run a lessons learnt exercise to ensure knowledge from the programme is harnessed.

Formal Defra contacts from the sponsor bodies are:
Natural England

David Coleman
NE Sponsorship
Defra
Room 1/01, Temple Quay,
2 The Square,
Bristol
BS1 6EB

tel: 0117 372 8000
email: David.DE.Coleman@defra.gsi.gov.uk

Commission for Rural Communities

Steven Jones
CRC Sponsorship
Defra
2C Ergon House
Horseferry Road
London
SW 1P 2AL

tel: 020 7238 6409
email: steven.jones@defra.gsi.gov.uk

Regional Development Agencies

Diane Roberts
RDA Co-ordination Unit
Defra
2b Ergon House
Horseferry Road
London
SW 1P 2AL

tel: 020 7238 6825
email: diane.roberts@defra.gsi.gov.uk

Rural Development Programme

For information on the Rural Development Programme please contact the Rural Development Programme Team at RDP07-13@defra.gsi.gov.uk.

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Page last modified: 23 February, 2007
Page published: 11 November, 2003

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs