Post on 17-Jan-2016
Leicestershire & RutlandAssociation of Local Councils
Jake Atkinson
LRALC Chief Officer
Parish Councils Rural Survey
Leicestershire & RutlandAssociation of Local Councils
Leicestershire Rural Partnership
Serving rural communities for 20 years:• Deliver rural projects which fill gaps in
mainstream provision• Influence others to ensure they consider rural
within their policies, strategies and actions• Listen, facilitate joint working, advise and
lobby
Leicestershire & RutlandAssociation of Local Councils
Who?• LCC cabinet lead (Chairman)• Districts (tbc, Melton Chief Executive)• Leicestershire and Rutland Association for Local Councils• Rural Community Council• Voluntary Community Sector (Community Transport)• Federation for Small Business• Country Land and Business Association• National Farmers Union• Leicester and Leicestershire Enterprise Partnership• National Forest Company• Independent Business Representative• Leicestershire Promotions Ltd
Leicestershire & RutlandAssociation of Local Councils
What? The BIG 7!!• Active, inclusive & empowered Parish Councils &
meetings• Sustainable growth, high quality employment
opportunities & increased vocational training in rural priority sectors (land-based, F&D, tourism, creative & knowledge-based)
• Increased availability of affordable homes• Retain good access to essential village services &
facilities• Broadband• Effective and integrated public & community transport
(innovative travel solutions)• Communities & businesses reducing their carbon
footprint
Leicestershire & RutlandAssociation of Local Councils
Background to the Survey
• Commissioned by LRP to undertake research with parish councils around rural priorities
• Supporting parish councils came out as a high priority at the LT challenge workshops.
• Aim:– to maximise data availability for future LRP outcomes; – to develop robust evidence based on the needs of
these councils in addressing rural issues;– to improve engagement with PCs
Leicestershire & RutlandAssociation of Local Councils
Methodology
• Conducted survey in early 2013.
• Survey was available on-line and by hard copy
• Completed (in full or part) by 53 Local Council or Parish Meeting representatives
Leicestershire & RutlandAssociation of Local Councils
Some statistics
• Councils from Harborough and Charnwood had the highest response rate, with NW Leics and Melton the lowest.
• Majority of councils responding had electorates of 1001 or less.
• 57% of surveys were completed by the Clerk to the Council
Leicestershire & RutlandAssociation of Local Councils
Rural Issues – A priority?
• 92.4% said rural issues were a priority for their Council. Reasons included:
The parish is a small but active rural community and we are trying to keep it that way
The parish has few transport links and few facilities We feel the villages rural character is under threat There is still a farming community The digital age means rural communities are being
left behind when broadband speeds are so low. A key current objective is the implementation of the
refurbishment project at [the] Community Centre which will include a community coffee shop and meeting point
Leicestershire & RutlandAssociation of Local Councils
Rural Issues & the role of PCs
What do you believe is the role of parish and town councils in addressing rural issues?
05
1015202530354045
Direct provision offacilities/services
Providing funds tosupport the
provision of localfacilities/services
Lobbying highertiers of local
government andothers
Working with thevoluntary sector
and otherpartnerships (e.g.
the LRP) tosupport their rural
work
No role to play Not sure Other
Leicestershire & RutlandAssociation of Local Councils
Partnerships
• Councils primarily work with:– their District/Borough Council and LRALC,
followed closely by the Rural Community Council and Leicestershire County Council.
• A far smaller number of Councils already work with the LRP and VAL.
Leicestershire & RutlandAssociation of Local Councils
Partnerships
Which organisations, groups and/or partnerships does your council work with to support its work around rural issues?
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
Leic
este
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Rut
land
Ass
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tion
ofLo
cal C
ounc
ils
Leic
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rshi
reR
ural
Par
tner
ship
Rur
alC
omm
unity
Cou
ncil
Dis
trict
/Bor
ough
Cou
ncil
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Cou
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Vol
unta
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Not
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Oth
er
Leicestershire & RutlandAssociation of Local Councils
Localism
• Government sees local councils as having a key role to play in delivering localism (Eric Pickles: “Localism’s magic wand”).
• Localism Act 2011 gives PCs specific powers they can use to address local issues.
• Most powerful of these is the General Power of Competence (GPoC).
• 53% of respondents indicated that they may use GPoC to address rural issues in the future
Leicestershire & RutlandAssociation of Local Councils
Localism – GPoC & Rural Issues
Does your council plan to use the General Power of Competence to address rural issues?
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
Yes No Not at present but may do inthe future
Don’t know
Leicestershire & RutlandAssociation of Local Councils
Localism - Influence & Impact
Will the Localism Act (and the wider Localism agenda) allow your Parish Council to have more, less, or the same influence and impact when addressing rural issues?
0
5
10
15
20
25
More Less Same Don’t know
Leicestershire & RutlandAssociation of Local Councils
Countywide Priorities
• 38% of respondents were not sure whether their PC has a role to play in delivering county-wide strategic priorities.
• 30% considered PCs do have a role to play
• 32% consider PCs have no role to play
Leicestershire & RutlandAssociation of Local Councils
Countywide Priorities - Comments
We have an important role to play as the nearest level of local government
We are small and do not have the facilities Mainly time constraints Limited admin/Clerk support Councillors choice - mainly focus on issues that directly
benefit [the parish] We would like to if we knew precisely how to go about it! We have not been active in these areas and have little
knowledge of them Keeping heads above water is taxing. If LRP told us
what they thought we could do it would be easier to engage
Leicestershire & RutlandAssociation of Local Councils
LRP Resources
Which of the following LRP resources/activities has your Council used?
4
8
2 13 4 3
0
10 10
28
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
Leicestershire & RutlandAssociation of Local Councils
LRP Resources
• Why do you not currently engage, what might change this;
Lack of knowledge, lack of capacity Time mainly The activities do not seem to have particular
relevance to a very small parish More information on what the LRP is about The language used to describe them is often hard to
translate to parish level Lack of capacity and other priorities - would need to
see real benefit to the Parish Council We have not had particular issues where we
perceived that LRP could assist.
Leicestershire & RutlandAssociation of Local Councils
LRP Priorities (average score, descending order)
Leicestershire & RutlandAssociation of Local Councils
Recommendations• The creation of a “Parish Council Development
Fund”, to help build capability and knowledge to address rural issues in their areas; or
• Establish a Parish Council pilot scheme to look at innovative ways of addressing rural issues with an emphasis on one or more of the LRP priorities and / or areas of need identified in this report.
• The delivery of a one-day free “Rurality and Localism: Supporting Parish Councils” training day.
Leicestershire & RutlandAssociation of Local Councils
Recommendations
• Ongoing training/support (including sharing of case studies) for PCs in use of powers available to PCs under the Localism Act.
• Presentation on LRP Rural Framework & Priorities at each District PC liaison event.
• When reviewing/renewing LRP priorities ensure there is targeted consultation (including facilitated presentations) with PCs to feed into the setting of these priorities.
Leicestershire & RutlandAssociation of Local Councils
Recommendations
• Promote & encourage use of volunteers to increase capacity within PCs to address rural issues within their parish; explore linkages with local community coaches.
• Focussed LRALC activity around the 2015 PC elections to increase the number and range of candidates putting themselves forward to be parish councillors; link to communities in charge/taking charge.
• Jargon buster/plain English guide to explain Leicestershire structures and priorities including delivery organisations and how they can support/benefit PCs.
Leicestershire & RutlandAssociation of Local Councils
Recommendations
• Parish Councils to register on the LRP website (www.oakleaves.org.uk) to receive regular updates on LRP activity including services that can support / benefit PCs.
• The development of a parish council page on the LRP Oakleaves website, compiling useful information and links to assist PCs in their rural activities.
Leicestershire & RutlandAssociation of Local Councils
Next Steps
• Full draft report to be circulated to LRP Board shortly, followed by wide circulation.
• Consideration of report and recommendations at future LRP meeting
• Funding proposals to access additional LRP funds to support delivery of recommended actions drafted and submitted.
Leicestershire & RutlandAssociation of Local Councils
Feedback please!• Do the survey results reflect your
professional views and experience/the views of your council?
• Do you feel the recommendations are appropriate and would benefit your council and its parishioners?
• Any other comments about how we can improve the engagement of PCs with the LRP and its services, projects, & events?