hampshire farming conference and rural forum 26 june 2012 john tickle (head of the secretariat for...
TRANSCRIPT
Hampshire Farming Conference and Rural Forum26 June 2012
John Tickle
(Head of the secretariat for the Wessex RFN)
The Wessex Rural and Farming Network (RFN)
Why RFNs?
Defra Minister Jim Paice said …..
“For too long, our rural communities have been overlooked and had too little say in decisions which affect them. We are putting that right through the Rural and Farming Networks. They will have direct access to Ministers and, just as importantly, Ministers will use them to ensure we understand the impact of our policies.
“Defra will be the ‘listening’ department that will understand and promote the interests of rural communities and businesses, based on direct contact with the people whose livelihoods we are championing.”
Oxford Farming Conference - 4 January 2012
The ‘ask’………
• New approach – Big Society principles – self formulating and self supporting – independent of government
• Bringing together representatives of rural communities, businesses and the land based industries
• Scale: big enough to provide a strategic overview – 10 to 20 groups across England
• To provide a link and two way communications between rural areas and the Government
The ‘offer’…………….
• Access to Ministers: Ambition to ensure that whenever Defra Ministers are visiting an area – they will seek to hold a meeting with the local RFN Chair/representatives - plus annual Ministerial meeting with the Chairs. These took place in April and June.
• RFN secretariat: provide communication channels between Defra and the groups with a promised ‘hot line’ to Ministers
• Policy and consultation: Defra Officials to engage with RFNs on Defra policy development
• 17 Rural and Farming Network Groups
• Inaugural meeting of RFN Chairs - 17th April
Wessex Rural and Farming Network Area – Land Classification
The Role of the Wessex Rural and Farming Network
The WRFN aims to be an effective and engaging network that acts as a rapid two-way conduit for information, a provider of robust evidence and an active policy making partner for Government. In particular it will :
• Seek, collate and analyse views to create robust evidence• Collaborate with other RFNs to broaden and deepen the
evidence base• Work with government to develop policies that build on the
evidence• Help to translate and deliver policies on the ground • Initiate collaborative projects • Seek appropriate resources to make things happen• Procure research to plug identified gaps
Wessex Rural and Farming Network Steering Group
Independent Chair - Lord SelborneFood/Farming
Interim Lead: Simon Browne
Farmers, Foresters, Land Managers, Processors and Retailers of food and other products and benefits derived from the land
Rural Communities
Interim Lead: Trevor Cherrett
Voluntary Groups, Community Groups and Rural Service Providers
Skills
Interim Lead: Mike Ridout
Further Education Establishments, Training Providers, Sector Groups
Leader Action Groups
Interim Lead: David Webb
From Various LAGs across the Wessex area
Local Authorities
Interim Lead: Cllr Ray Ellis
From Various LAs across the Wessex area
Business and Enterprise
Interim Lead: David Ramsden
( to be replaced)
LEPs, Small Business Federations, Rural Economic Partnerships
Secretariat
John Tickle HCC
Facilitation, administration, strategy and guidance
Wessex RFN Members / Partners
The Wessex RFN has over 40 signed up organisations and a very wide network of interested parties. Formalised partners include:
• Chambers of Commerce/IOD/Small Business Federation• Leader Action Groups (LAGs)• Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs)• County/Unitary Councils• Associations of Local Councils• National Park Authorities• Rural Community Councils (RCCs) • Sparsholt College
Some headline prioritiesFarming and Land Use
– CAP reform and the impact of a new RDPE framework
– Local Food – building on the success
Business– Broadband particularly the last 10%– Support for the development of the rural economy– Reduction in regulatory burden and dis-incentives for
expansion of small businesses– Finance and support for new businesses
Skills and Research– Business acumen and technical skills/development
Key Priorities Continued
Rural Communities– Tackling pressures on access to services – Making the most of localism
Rural Development– Removing barriers to funding and sustainable
development
Local Authorities– Using regulatory powers to enable not prevent– Supporting and pump priming local initiatives
So far ……Since the group was confirmed in late March:
• 2 meetings with Ministers the last one at the South of England Show with Richard Benyon and in association with the FRIG (more opportunities promised)
• Invitations to significant policy events/conferences, e.g. forthcoming briefing from the Independent Panel on Forestry
• Sector leads are developing the network and identifying key issues for the future including priority areas for collaboration and action
• An evidence base for key areas is being developed for the geography covered by the network with particular emphasis upon collaboration across the LEPs
• Communication networks are being established together with a regular newsletter the first edition of which will be posted on the network web site this week : Wessexrfn.net
The Promise.. ( Defra presentation to the Wessex RFN inaugural conference)
Government - from the Prime Minister down and as a Ministerial team in Defra - has really strong rural credentials at its heart.
Through your local leadership, and our shared endeavours, we can create the opportunities for prosperous and thriving rural communities.
Minister Richard Benyon – September 2011