My opinion is that the key quote from the video is that it is people who make communities, and while the issue of affordable housing has been mentioned, there is no leed into how that would be achieved in order to sustain rural communities.

Otherwise an excelent video, explaining the role, but with no real identity of how the issues can be resolved, other than an annual report and a "word in the ear".

 

Thanks for your comments, which I'll pass onto Stuart.

As well as his annual report, Stuart's findings also contribute to our wider policy work, and visits are often themed around specific policy areas in order to add value and insight to our research.

For example, the information, views and opinions gathered during Stuart's visit to Cambridgeshire in December became part of our NHS evidence dossier, which we submitted to the NHS next stage review, to help ensure rural needs and circumstances are fully considered in the review process.

Perhaps Mr Burgess can whisper to the prime minister that services and policy meetings about services should be taken to the people who use services (especially disabled people) - not the persistent expectation, as inherent in Norfolk, that people have to travel many miles to get to the services. See PPlog for the scandal of Norfolk's preparation for LINks for example.

Thanks for your comments Mike, I'll pass them onto Stuart