The grant set up to help rural authorities deliver services in the countryside has been given a massive increase in the Government’s local government finance settlement announced last week. This breakthrough was welcomed by Rebecca Pow, Member of Parliament for Taunton Deane and Parliamentary Patron of the Rural Fair Share Campaign. It follows months of campaigning by the Rural Fair Share Campaign, including a joint letter signed by sixty rural MPs and a recent delegation to meet the Local Government Secretary.

The Rural Services Delivery Grant, which provides additional resources to councils in rural areas to meet the additional costs associated with sparse populations, will increase from £15.5 million in 2015/16 to £65 million in 2019/20.

This follows years of cross-party campaigning from members of the Rural Fair Share Campaign to close the funding gap, which sees urban areas receive on average 45% more funding per resident than rural areas.

Commenting after the statement, Rebecca said: “The increase in the Rural Services Delivery Grant is good news. It’s the most significant increase we’ve seen yet, and I’m grateful to the Secretary of State for listening to the concerns of rural MPs from all sides of the House. I am pleased that he recognises the unfairness of the current system, which sees poorer, older, and more heavily taxed rural residents receive fewer local government services.

“It’s disappointing that the Government hasn’t committed to the full £130 million which our campaign has asked for, and that next year’s increase will only see the grant increased to £20 million. There’s a long way to go yet, and we will be campaigning to improve the deal further before the vote in the House of Commons in February.” 

Graham Stuart MP, Chairman of the Rural Fair Share Campaign, said: “It is thanks to the excellent leadership and hard work of Rebecca Pow that the Government is listening and increasing the Rural Services Delivery Grant. Meeting after meeting, letter after letter, it’s been a hard grind, but this is the most significant step forward yet. It couldn’t have happened without the tireless support of Rebecca who has been a real champion for her rural constituents.”