Big Society – Call For Evidence

The Government recently launched its Big Society initiative. The Commission for Rural Communities (CRC) wants Central Government to recognise

the efforts and value of residents and organisations (like local councils) in rural areas. The CRC has developed a project to advise Government Ministers

of the value and importance of rural communities, so that they can develop fair and effective policies around the Big Society framework.

The Commission hopes to advise the Rural Affairs Minister in early September about the effect of the economic climate and current and planned changes in public spending on civic society organisations working in rural areas. The CRC then plans to provide the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) with a fuller report in October, 2010.

In order to assist the CRC as effectively as it can, the National Association would very much appreciate responses to the below questions being e-mailed to chris.borg@nalc.gov.uk at the latest by 17:00 on Wednesday 18 August 2010.

• Can you describe briefly your organisation?
  - Name of Local Council
  - Electorate Size (Approx.)
  - Services Your Council Delivers
  - Annual Precept Size and Other Income
  
  
• What are the principal services your council delivers in its rural area?
  
  
• To what extent has your council been affected/is expecting to be affected by the current economic climate including funding cuts?
  
  
• Have you experienced any recent change in demand for your council’s services?
  
  
• If you are being affected by these economic conditions or changes in demand, how have you responded/are planning to respond? (e.g. cuts in activities, alternative sources of funding, cooperation with other organisations etc.)
  
  
• Can you share with us any examples/case studies where reduction in income has affected/ is likely to affect your council’s service delivery in its rural area?
  
  
• Can you share with us examples/case studies where you have managed to continue delivering services?
  
  
• How have the lives of the communities that you serve been affected, or would you anticipate them being affected (by public spending cuts)?
  
  
• Are you facing specific (or additional) challenges when operating in rural areas? What are your expectations for the future?
  
  
• How do you think your council can contribute to or benefit from the ‘Big Society’? Do you think you have for example the resources and the capacity to have a greater role in the running of community or business services?
  
  
• What kind of response or support do you need from the government (local/central)?
  
  
• Do you have any other issue that you would like to raise with Central Government Departments?

The National Association will collate all responses and submit a report to the CRC after that. We look forward to hearing from you.