🚨Global Conflict, Local Consequences
Around 1.4 million rural homes are off the gas grid, relying on heating oil to keep warm. With cars essential in many rural areas, rising energy and fuel prices are quickly felt.
The RSN Comments⬇️
rsnonline.org.uk/rsn-warns-ru...
How are funding cuts affecting local services in your area?
We’re inviting town and parish councils to complete a short survey looking at the impact on local services and communities.
Take part here 👇
www.surveymonkey.com/r/RMTGServic...
#SpringStatement If growth is about making every part of Britain better off, rural areas must be part of that story.
Our analysis shows the funding gap is set to widen further over the coming years.
Prosperity must reach every person, in every place.
📌 rsnonline.org.uk/page/rural-f...
👋RSN members, will you be joining us next week?
Our member-exclusive #RuralConnectivity seminar takes place on Wednesday, bringing together policy, telecoms and local government voices.
🗣️Meet the speakers: rsnonline.org.uk/rural-connec...
🔗Book your place: us06web.zoom.us/meeting/regi...
⏰Closing Friday
We’re recruiting a Rural Evidence Analyst to support RSN’s work as the national champion for rural services.
📊 Data-focused
🏡 Fully remote
⏱️ Part-time (22.5 hrs)
Apply by 20 Feb👉 rsnonline.org.uk/were-recruit...
#FairFunding #NationalChampion #DeliveringForAll
As the national voice for rural services, RSN is examining the Final Local Government Finance Settlement and its implications for rural councils.
Initial concerns remain. Further analysis to follow.
Our initial response: ➡️ rsnonline.org.uk/final-local-...
#FairFunding #DeliveringForAll
🚨Local Government Finance Settlement published. We’re reviewing the detail and will share our rural analysis and response in due course.
➡️ gov.uk/government/c...
#FairFunding #DeliveringForAll
Community-owned pubs are keeping rural places alive – but @plunkettuk.bsky.social warns the government’s new business rates discount won’t address the pressures they face. Plunkett is calling for more ambitious, long-term support for community ownership.
➡️ plunkett.co.uk/government-p...
The #WarmHomesPlan aims to upgrade up to 5 million homes by 2030, but rural housing needs tailored solutions to make it work.
Find out more 👇
rsnonline.org.uk/warm-homes-p...
💷Rural residents will continue to pay around 20% more in council tax on average than urban residents, because of lower Government-funded spending power. (RSN analysis)
➡️ rsnonline.org.uk/rsn-serious-...
#FairFunding #DeliveringForAll
📊The Funding gap between places remains stark.
Our analysis shows the most urban councils will receive 41% more Government-funded spending power per head than the most rural in 2026–27.
➡️ rsnonline.org.uk/rsn-serious-...
#FairFunding #DeliveringForAll
Join our Team! Thank you @countrysidejobs.bsky.social for sharing this fantastic opportunity within our team.
Find out more 👇
⏳Last chance!
Our Delivering for All survey closes tomorrow.
8–10 mins. Anonymous. Make your rural voice count.
👇
www.surveymonkey.com/r/delivering...
A fair funding formula must be transparent, evidence-based and work for rural areas too.
Read our full analysis 👇
rsnonline.org.uk/rsn-serious-...
#FairFunding #ProvisionalSettlement #DeliveringForAll #LocalGovernment
Call for Evidence: The Government is seeking evidence to inform a major review led by Alan Milburn on rising youth NEET levels.
Rural challenges, from transport to digital access, must be part of the picture.
🗓 Deadline: 30 Jan 2026
🔗 rsnonline.org.uk/call-for-evi...
📊 Taking place now: the Sparse Group (Fair Funding) meeting is discussing the provisional Local Government Finance Settlement and what it means for rural councils.
With insights from Adrian Jenkins, Pixel Financial Management
#FairFunding #RuralServices #DeliveringForAll
Devon County Council has responded to the provisional local government finance settlement, cautioning that headline claims of a “23% increase” in funding are misleading. Noting that Core Spending Power includes assumed council tax rises rather than representing new government funding.
Plunkett UK has shared its insights & policy suggestions to tackle deprivation in rural areas with the Labour Rural Research Group in response to its call for evidence to inform an upcoming report.
🚨With less than a week to go, we encourage members to submit their responses to the Provisional Local Government Finance Settlement 2026/27 consultation by 14 January.
➡️ consult.communities.gov.uk/local-govern...
#FairFunding #DeliveringForAll
Suffolk County Council says the provisional settlement leaves it “deeply disappointed”, with a £6m budget gap which is £3.5m worse than forecast.
More ⬇️
www.suffolk.gov.uk/council-and-democracy/council-news/statement-on-provisional-local-government-finance-settlement-202627
Shropshire Council has raised serious concerns about the provisional local government finance settlement, warning that the #FairFundingReview will leave rural authorities worse off.
Full response here ⬇️
newsroom.shropshire.gov.uk/2025/12/shro...
Early analysis of the Provisional Settlement suggests ongoing disparities:
• Urban councils could receive 41% more Gov funded spending power per head
• Rural residents projected to pay 20% more in council tax
• Funding growth: 21% urban vs 1% rural
More➡️ bit.ly/49eLxJ2
🎄 Merry Christmas 🎄
Wishing everyone a very Merry Christmas and a warm, hopeful New Year.
Thank you for being part of our rural community. 💚
www.rsnonline.org.uk
Devolution could unlock affordable homes in rural England but only if rural priorities are written into local strategies. New research from the #RuralHousingNetwork shows how local leadership, strong partnerships & early action can make the difference. ➡️ englishrural.org.uk/devolution-r...
Our thanks to everyone who attended the RSN & RSP AGM today. It was an important opportunity to review our work over the year and agree future priorities. We are pleased to confirm Cllr Phillips has been re-elected as RSN Chair for a fourth year.
#DeliveringForAll #RuralServices
Our final RSN #MemberExclusiveSeminar of 2025 is underway, focusing on Rural Health & Care.
We're hearing from Citizens Advice, The Churchill Fellowship, @harperadamsuni.bsky.social & the Lincoln Institute for Rural & Coastal Health.
#DeliveringForAll #RuralHealth
RSN Responds To Fair Funding 2.0: Every person, in every place, deserves the same fairness and the same chance to thrive.
➡️ rsnonline.org.uk/rsn-responds...
Exciting news! The CCRI will soon be releasing ‘The Rural Climathon Toolkit’, a comprehensive guide to organising your own rural #Climathons - launching 26th Nov2025
📷 Interested? Stay tuned for the toolkit launch, coming soon...
ccri.ac.uk
We’re disappointed that today’s policy statement fails to apply the remoteness adjustment across all services. Distance & sparsity clearly increase the cost of delivering local services in rural areas. We’ll share more once we’ve examined the detail.
➡️ bit.ly/4i7lkAg
#FairFunding #RuralServices
Will rural communities benefit from the Government’s new 10-year affordable homes programme?
📌 rsnonline.org.uk/a-decade-of-...
#RuralPolicy #RuralHousing #DeliveringForAll
