CEO’s Blog: ACT responds to the opportunities in the recent Queen’s Speech
25th May 2022
The Queen’s Speech - setting out the Governments legislative plans for the next term - was read in Parliament on May 10th. Action with Communities in Rural England (ACRE) has provided a review of potential implications for rural areas, which you can read here. In short, the plans for legislation will need a lot of further hard work on behalf of rural areas if they are to benefit us fairly.
On 31st March 2023 Cumbria County Council, along with the six district councils, will cease to exist. Cumberland, and Westmorland and Furness Councils will take over local governance and delivery with the shadow authorities we elected on the 5th May.
What ACTion with Communities in Cumbria (ACT) wanted from the Queen’s speech is much as ACRE identifies; some focus on policy that identifies and meets rural needs for affordable housing, heat and travel, because for those living in rural areas these basics cost more and are harder to access.
ACT would ask the same of the new unitary authorities; clear policy that works for rural people in their local areas. Not more. Just the same access to services and opportunities as those who live in our urban communities.
The Queen’s speech included further detail on plans to deliver the Government’s ‘Levelling Up’ agenda across the UK. Both ACRE and ACT ask that all the policies are rural-proofed, that is, assessed for their impact for rural people and businesses, before they are enacted.
ACT asks the same of Cumberland, and Westmorland and Furness in their levelling up approaches. We have a lot of opportunity ahead of us to develop and implement policy that is fairer for all. Let’s help our new authorities to do this:
- Contact your new councillors. You will know many of them. Tell them about the great, and not so great realities of living in our rural communities. Note that your existing local councillors (for district or borough) will remain in their roles until they hand over to the new Authorities on March 31st next year.
Westmorland and Furness Councillors elected May 2022
Cumberland Councillors elected May 2022
- Ask for your local projects to be considered for inclusion in the Levelling Up proposals the current district councils are developing as bids for government money. These bids are being developed now so this is worth doing now.
Share your plans and projects with us at ACT so we can:
- Help you deliver
- Include your ideas when we speak with policy makers
- Make the best of current opportunities to make rural living sustainable and fairer for all.