Local authorities need to ‘think rural’ when setting their local Public Service Agreement (LPSA)1 targets to ensure they cover rural issues, according to new research published by the Countryside Agency today.  
Countryside Agency Archive

Breadcrumbs

Local authorities encourages to 'think rural' in target setting - 16 November 2004

The research and some practical guidance was published2 at a one day working seminar exploring solutions to the challenge of ‘thinking rural’ when setting LPSAs. The research - carried out in partnership with the LGA, Defra, and IDeA3 - shows that although a number of local authorities did tackle rural issues within the first round of LPSA targets, in general rural targets did not feature strongly. However, the research made clear that there is great potential to deliver benefits for rural people through the next round.

Speaking at the seminar, Pam Warhurst, deputy chair of the Countryside Agency, said:   “‘Thinking rural’ at a local level is vital to the well-being of England’s rural communities and businesses.   Now that authorities can set these local targets with a focus on their own priorities, there are real opportunities to enhance service delivery for both rural and urban areas alike.

“These LPSA targets can make a difference for people living in the countryside.   Through one of their LPSAs, Cornwall County Council helped overcome transport problems for those needing medical help in rural areas and East Sussex’s first LPSA contained a target to improve the rural economy of the county.   Rural areas have their own needs and these often require distinct solutions, but we realise that identifying needs and setting targets can be challenging.   From our research we’ve produced advice to help authorities set targets for the future that will benefit rural communities, economies and environments.”                                                                    

The practical guidance, Thinking Rural within Local Public Service Agreements  (CAX 165 – free of charge) and associated research report, Researching the Rural Dimension of Local Public Service Agreements  carried out by Cardiff University (CAX 166 – price £2) are both available from Countryside Agency Publications, PO Box 125, Wetherby, West Yorkshire, LS23 7EP Tel: 0870 120 6466 Fax: 0870 120 6467 and online at www.countryside.gov.uk/ruralproofing 

-ends-

Notes to editors

For more information or to attend the conference, please contact Mel Capper in the Countryside Agency press office on 020 7340 2909.  

The Countryside Agency is the statutory body working to make the quality of life better for people in the countryside and the quality of the countryside better for everyone. www.countryside.gov.uk

1The ‘ first generation’ of LPSAs, which ran from 2001 to 2004, involved 140 upper tier local authorities negotiating voluntary agreements with Government, through the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister. On average the agreements ran for three years. Through their LPSAs local authorities promise to meet demanding targets, in return for which ODPM provide grants that total 2 ½ % of a local authority’s net budget requirement.

2Thinking Rural Within Local Public Service Agreements will be held on Tuesday 16 November 2004 at the Congress Centre, 23-28 Great Russell Street, London.   The one day working seminar is for Local Authorities and their partner organisations to explore practical solutions to the challenge of ‘thinking rural’ within local public service agreements.  

3 The research was carried out in partnership with the Local Government Association (www.lga.gov.uk), Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (www.defra.gov.uk) and the Improvement and Development Agency (www.idea.gov.uk).