WIREDGOV

Minister seeks your views!

The Local Government Minister, John Healey has commissioned a rapid and independent study on the impacts and implications of the ‘Credit Crunch’ on regeneration and economies. It is important that any action that the government may take is informed by an understanding of the challenges faced by rural communities, as well as those of cities and urban areas. Accordingly, we have agreed with the study’s principal author, Professor Michael Parkinson of Liverpool John Moore’s University, to collate and feed a rural perspective into the study. His report will be shared with Ministers in late September and October and published.

This is your opportunity to make the government aware of impacts and concerns in your rural communities and businesses. They want to know what is happening to economic activity and development, what might happen and who should do what about it.

To inform the study we are seeking and submitting information and commentary from rural communities and businesses, their representatives and agencies, concentrating on:

• What impacts are current financial difficulties having on employment; on investment; on property including housing; on community activity, on private and public sector economic development activity and plans?
• How can these impacts and risks be reduced? Are you taking such steps?
• What is needed to stimulate recovery and regeneration in future?

This will be captured in a short paper to be sent to Professor Parkinson by late September, and rural evidence and commentary will be incorporated into his report to the Minister.

To help ensure the rural voice is clearly heard, please send your comments and any supporting evidence, to CRC’s Rural Economies team by 15 September, via Louise Rixham. Please identify the type of organisation, agency or business that you are writing about, as well its local authority or post code to help us allocate views to the different rural areas. Please draw this opportunity to the attention of your network of peers and colleagues and encourage them to contribute.

If you prefer to offer your views directly and online, Professor Parkinson has created an online survey.