A report (by an official advisory body) called for a large-scale, long-term pilot to assess how shared taxi services could transform rural transport and address a 'worrying' trend in social exclusion.
Source: A New Approach to Rural Public Transport, Commission for Integrated Transport (020 7533 5177)
Links: Report | CIT press release | RSN press release
Date: 2008-Dec
The postal services regulator called on the government and the Post Office to work with all stakeholders to develop a long-term strategy for the network of post offices. A strategy was needed to reduce uncertainty, safeguard against further unplanned closures, and build confidence in a sustainable post office network.
Source: Eighth Annual Report on the Network of Post Offices 2007/08: A year of transition, Postal Services Commission (020 7593 2100)
Links: Report | Summary | Postcomm press release | Telegraph report
Date: 2008-Nov
The government announced that the Post Office had been awarded the contract to continue providing the post office card account. It said that in order to support a viable Post Office network, a decision had been taken to cancel the competitive tender (announced in December 2006). Consequently a new contract had been awarded to the Post Office, running initially from 2010 to March 2015, with the possibility of an extension beyond that.
Source: House of Commons Hansard, Debate 13 November 2008, columns 965-982, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Hansard | DWP press release | DBERR press release | Consumer Focus press release | CRC press release | Age Concern press release | Help the Aged press release | Transact press release | Citizens Advice press release | Compass press release | FSB press release | Countryside Alliance press release | Conservative Party press release | Guardian report | FT report | Telegraph report | BBC report
Date: 2008-Nov
The government began consultation on new powers to help keep homes affordable for communities in rural areas. Rural communities with severe housing shortages could be designated as 'protected areas', ensuring affordable housing was retained for local families. All affordable housing providers in these areas could retain a share in new shared-ownership homes, or have the first option to buy back such properties, ensuring they remained available for families in the local community. First-time buyers in rural areas could own a home for as little as £60,000 through an expansion of community land trusts.
Source: Shared Ownership and Leasehold Enfranchisement and Designation of 'Protected Areas': A consultation paper, Department for Communities and Local Government (0870 1226 236) | Community Land Trusts: A consultation, Department for Communities and Local Government
Links: Consultation document (1) | Consultation document (2) | DCLG press release | CRC press release | RSN press release
Date: 2008-Oct
The government responded to reports by a committee of MPs on the closure of post offices, and on Post Office finances.
Source: After the Network Change Programme and Post Office Finance: Responses to the Committee's Sixth and Tenth Reports, Ninth Special Report (Session 2007-08), HC 1091, House of CommonsBusiness and Enterprise Select Committee, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Response | MPs sixth report | MPs tenth report
Date: 2008-Oct
Three linked reports (published by an official advisory body) examined the issue of sustainable transport in rural areas.
Source: The Contribution Of Transport To Sustainable Rural Communities, Commission for Rural Communities/Countryside Agency (020 7340 2900) and Transport Research Laboratory | Sustainable Rural Accessibility – Is It Really Possible?, Commission for Rural Communities and Integrated Transport Planning | The Potential Impacts of Road Pricing on Rural Areas, Commission for Rural Communities and Universities of Plymouth and Aberdeen
Links: Report (1) | Report (2) | Report (3)
Date: 2008-Sep
A report (by an official advisory body) examined the implications of an ageing rural population, in particular its likely impact on the future of adult social care.
Source: The Personalisation of Adult Social Care in Rural Areas, Commission for Rural Communities/Countryside Agency (020 7340 2900)
Links: Report | CRC press release | RSN press release
Date: 2008-Aug
A think-tank report said that the unplanned nature of post office closures threatened to hit the poorest communities hardest, undermining government efforts to increase financial inclusion. It called for an enhanced post office account to help safeguard the network and increase financial inclusion.
Source: Veronika Thiel, Keeping Britain Posted: How post office banking could save the network and combat financial exclusion, New Economics Foundation (020 7820 6300)
Date: 2008-Jul
The report of a government-commissioned review said that for too many people country life was 'challenging'. House prices were significantly higher than the national average, while rural wages were significantly lower. Affordable homes were few and far between, and business growth was too often restricted. A fundamental shake-up of affordable housing policy was needed to help rural communities. New planning policies were needed to revitalize market towns, creating new neighbourhood extensions with shops and community facilities.
Source: Matthew Taylor MP, Living Working Countryside: The Taylor Review of rural economy and affordable housing, Department for Communities and Local Government (0870 1226 236)
Links: Report | Review press release | DCLG press release | CRC press release | CPRE press release | CIH press release | Shelter press release | Housing Corporation press release | NHF press release | CHC press release | RSN press release | Carnegie UK Trust press release | RTPI press release | BBC report | Inside Housing report
Date: 2008-Jul
A report by a committee of MPs said that although it was 'reluctantly' accepted that some rationalization of the existing post office network was necessary, the network provided services of general economic interest: the committee did not want to see further shrinkage.
Source: After the Network Change Programme: the future of the post office network, Sixth Report (Session 2007-08), HC 577, House of Commons Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Select Committee, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Report | Liberal Democrats press release | Guardian report
Date: 2008-Jun
A report said that opening up the postal market to private sector competition had provided no significant benefit for consumers or smaller businesses – but represented a 'substantial threat' to the future of the Royal Mail.
Source: Independent Review of the UK Postal Services Sector, The Challenges and Opportunities Facing UK Postal Services: An initial response to evidence, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (0870 150 2500)
Links: Report | Postcomm press release | Liberal Democrats press release | Guardian report | BBC report | Telegraph report | FT report
Date: 2008-May
A report said that efforts to 'rural-proof' public policy had failed. A more rigorous and consistent analysis was needed of the state and scale of services in the countryside. It called for a recognition of the additional costs of providing services in rural areas in the distribution of public funds.
Source: Sustaining Rural Communities: A call for action, Rural Services Network (01584 813216)
Links: Report | RSN press release
Date: 2008-Mar
A government minister reportedly said that the government would support local councils that wanted to take over loss-making rural post offices by delaying branch closures, as long as it did not mean adding to the central government subsidy of the network. The government instructed Post Office Limited to enter into negotiations with local councils who wanted to try to take over running post offices earmarked for closure.
Source: The Guardian, 12 March 2008
Links: Guardian report | Telegraph report | LGA press release
Date: 2008-Mar
A report evaluated a government programme aimed at improving rural services in England. Partnership working was critical to success, and communities should be directly engaged in defining what they wanted and how to deliver it. Local authorities that showed leadership and innovation played an important role in delivering solutions.
Source: Rural Challenges, Local Solutions: Building on the rural delivery pathfinders in England, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (08459 556000) Links: Report | DEFRA press release
Date: 2008-Feb
A report by a committee of MPs highlighted shortcomings in the way the post office closure programme was being implemented.
Source: Post Office Closure Programme, Third Report (Session 2007-08), HC 292, House of Commons Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Select Committee, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Report | NFSP statement
Date: 2008-Feb
A report (by an official advisory body) examined how the role of local councillors could be strengthened. It recommendations included: central government should extend greater trust to both parish and town councils; the government should begin to end its council tax capping regime for rural local government; local government should be supported and encouraged to create neighbourhood budgets and involve local people in spending decisions; greater powers should be given to local strategic partnerships.
Source: Participation Inquiry: Strengthening the Role of Local Councillors, Commission for Rural Communities/Countryside Agency (020 7340 2900)
Links: Report | CRC press release
Date: 2008-Jan
A report (for an official advisory body) examined the distinctive features of financial exclusion in rural areas, and the successful elements of schemes which deliberately targeted it.
Source: SQW Consulting, Promoting Financial Inclusion in Rural Areas, Commission for Rural Communities/Countryside Agency (020 7340 2900)
Links: Report | CRC press release | Help the Aged press release
Date: 2008-Jan