Howe can you olse POs and village schools and devstate the farming industry, the backnbone of rural areas and claim to be supporting rural communities? Cllr David Parker Teffont, Salisbury

01722 716268 

Local parish and town councillors undertake their roles on a voluntary basis, this is very limiting in the time and effort they have. Some thought need to be given on how the remuneration is shared between local level and unitary level for councillors expenses. Ultimately however funding is raised it is all from the same source, the local taxpayer. 

Having worked within the parish sector for many years, I welcome the main thrust of the recommendations but am aghast that Rec 9 ignores the stupendous work of CALCs, NALC and the SLCC in supporting parish/town councillors & clerks. This is where the experienced practitioners sit - not in the RCCs which have a very different role. Such ignorance is worrying if these organisations are to be properly funded according to their roles and government expectations.

First and foremost - thank you for these comments.  Responding to each of these  in order.

 

Cllr parker - we do recognise the very real concerns you have around closure of post offices and local schools.  We also recognise the very real challenges faced by the farming industry but also the considerable contribution they make to our economy and managed enbvironment.  As an independent government body - we are actively working with rural communities and land managers to ensure that their voices are heard at the highest possible government levels.  For example, we currently have a call for evidence seeking to take on board comments from a braod cross section of society about the proposed school closures.  The responses to this call for evidence will be used inform how best we may support rural communities through this difficult period.  Similarly - we have been very active in seeking to support rural communities to keep their post-offices open - through our Chairman and rural Advocate and through our knwoedge and influence over the delivery of business support toward small rural bussiness. 

 

Regarding remuneration of  local councillors - our research validates your points very well.  Parish and town councillors  are a vital resource to their communities and their heavy workloads need to be recognised.  While our recommendations do not address remuneration directly, we have worked closely with Jane Robert's and the Councillors Commission who do recommend that local councillors should be better finacially supported.  We like you will have a key interest in seeing how government will respond to these recommendations.

 

Finally - the CRC does indeed recognise the immensely valuable contribution of NALC, CALCs and the SLCC.  Indeed, througout our inquiry research and report development we have worked closely with the NALC head office team.  Might I also offer the following view.  The CRC - while providing strategic direction through these recommendations has been mindful not to be too prescriptive in so far as we would like to see Local Authrorities taking the lead in providing parish/ward liaison officers.  But we also encourage LAs to work with all local partners in all instances.    We would like to see - in addition to RCCs - all partners with a vested interest in seeing parish and ward liasion officers coming forward to offer their support and assistance to develop locally applicable working practices. 

 

John Coleman

Head of the Inquiry

Recommended reading - if you can find a copy, is "Parrkinson's Law" by Cecil Northcote Parkinson. It is all about "Empire Building".

The iniquitous spread of unelected bodies throughout our P & T Council spheres of former influence, with District Councils pulling their strings, is empire building at its worst.

Red in tooth and claw, these quangos leave P & T Councils wondering just what they can do!

 

Re Post Office closures, can I point you to the 'Rural Services Support' project here: http://www.expertsonline.org.uk/rssupport This project supported by the CRC and others and provides expert help to communities that face Post Office closure. Thanks

Thanks Simon

Like many BME people living in rural areas, I would be interested in hearing how the proposals speak to BME experiences of social isolation, lack of a voice around decision making tables and the prevalence of 'no problem' colour blind attitudes' which continue to inform the responses of elected councillors and statutory service providers. In the absence of a framework which acknowledges BME dsadvantage and their disproportionate experiences of racism, race and faith hate verbal/physical abuse in rural areas I am interested to learn how the proposed structures create an inclusive response to minority, disenfranchised and marginalised BME communities who are effectively invisibilised in rural areas . 

If your findings and recommendations are to have the influence you seek with central and local government is it not vital to demonstrate in terms which resonate with them how the role of parish liaison officers and parish plans will improve the effectiveness and managerial efficiency of service planning and delivery. Do you not think there is a need for further supporting evidence and research on this key point?

Thank you all for these comments - and taking these in turn."Parrkinson's Law" by Cecil Northcote Parkinson is not one I have read - but thank you for the direction.  I will acquire a copy and put this under our essential reading list. 

But your wider point realting to quasi non-governmental organisations is a valid observation but not entirely correct in this instance.  The CRC is fully behind and supportive of more empowered parish and town councils. Parish and town councils empowered and resourced to carry out effective local decision-making.  At no point in our report would this view be contradicted.  I believe that combining efforts (between elected bodies and non-elected bodies) toward addressing the issues that are important to parish and town councils we can make a much bigger collective difference.  Let's not be distracted by the messenger - and lets concentrate on the ways in which we can work together to continue stregthening parish and town councils alongside their local authorities.   

Dear Simon - Thanks for flagging up the experts online web-site. I couldn't agree more - this a fantastic resource!!

While our report does not acknowledge - directly - the voices from BME communities we do take very seriously the observations you have brought to our attention.  As an organisation we try to focus on all disadvantage and hidden voices in rural communities.  Our report has tried to highlight the need to reach out to all communities living and working in rural England - particuarly those who voices are most seldom heard. 

As we go forward with our recommendations - I would encourage you to continue to influence the way we move forward.  If there are important aspects to our work that neglect specific needs of BME group I would welcome some further discussion.  But on a more practical basis - let me also draw your attention to the report recently published by the councillors' commission.  They have highlighted some strong recommendations directing attention at increasing the diversity of local councillors - to better reflect the electorate they serve - including attracting more BME councillors.  Please see:  http://www.communities.gov.uk/communities/communityempowerment/councillorscommission/

But please do contact the CRC if you would like any further information.  I would very much welcome further discussion and to hear more about your views and experiences.

There is very compelling evidence that parish liaision officers and parish planning are already improving the effectiveness and efficiency of local government service and policy delivery.  Certainly from the communities perspective.   I have heard first hand - on many, many occasions - that communitiy planning is a fundamental route to bring influence over local decision-making.  Furthermore, where parish liaision officers currently operate - they bring in a vital link up role between communities, their parish councils and local authority decision-makers.  They help to highlight the scope of influence a community plan may bring over the local decisioon-making processes and ensure that best practoices are adhered to (e.g. in community engagement). 

But - we also ackowledge that integrating community planning is not without its very real challenges - some of these challenges have been outlined in our report.   There are some fundamental shifts in decision-making that need to happen if this is to become a reality.  Not least giving local authorities the freedom and flexibility to incorporate local level influence into their decison-making processes. 

We must look to capitalise on good practices that currently exists and spread these experiences more widely.    This won't happen overnight - we accept - but the mechanisms to incorporate community voices more coherently into local decison-making do exist.  They need to be invested in and extended.