WIREDGOV

The Commission for Rural Communities has prepared a discussion paper, ‘The potential impacts on rural communities of future public austerity’. We prepared this following a literature review and a roundtable discussion last December chaired by Ben Lucas, Director of the 2020 Public Services Trust. This involved colleagues working in various central and local government bodies as well as in other sectors. This discussion paper aims to help those who represent and serve our rural communities with ideas on how future austerity measures might affect rural people and places and how any adverse impacts might be mitigated. It includes suggestions about: fair resource allocations between different local authority and other areas, and also within them; the use of Rural Proofing tools; further efficiencies to be gained in the rural public sector; and innovation and good practice and investing in potential.