What Would ‘Good’ Look Like For Rural Services Under Local Government Reorganisation
Lorrainne Smyth, ACT Chief Executive
27th November 2020
ACTion with Communities in Cumbria is running a survey to collect views on what ‘good’ could look like if local government re-organisation happened in Cumbria. The survey, which is open until midday on the 1st December asks people to list things local government currently do well and not so well, as well, as ranking issues of most importance to rural areas.
Lorrainne Smyth CEO of the rural and community development charity ACTion with Communities in Cumbria (ACT) said: “Local government re-organisation debates are happening at a challenging time for us all, but this is still a big opportunity to make a case for a focus on the 50% of the population of Cumbria who live in communities that are nationally defined as rural. There is a case to be made that all of Cumbria is rural, so asking people their views on this important topic is timely and the answers may influence the way local government bodies make their bids for changes in our local government structures”.
Lorrainne continued; “Local government re-organisation is a complex issue and there are many bodies encouraging us to decide one way or the other. ACT do not have a view on the structures that any new local government should take, except to support an enhanced role for Parish and Town Councils and to see the benefit of communities relating to one tier rather than several”.
The short survey is available through this link:https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/C8BPQ7T . The survey closes at 12 noon on the 1st of December and a results summary will be on the ACTion with Communities in Cumbria website: www.cumbriaaction.org.uk on the 2nd of December.
Lorrainne commented: “We hope all local authorities will look at the results. We have over 350 responses already, with a wide range of comments and a clear desire for more local decision making emerging at present”.