CLA win: New mayors and councils must consider rural needs
Months of CLA lobbying results in ‘rural affairs’ being added to their list of responsibilities
Future mayors and councils must consider rural needs after the government listened to CLA lobbying and added them to their list of responsibilities.
It has confirmed it will support adding "rural affairs" as a core area of competence for mayors and councils under the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill.
The CLA has campaigned to ensure rural communities are not overlooked in the devolution of power away from Westminster, and this move aims to prevent the new structure of local governance in England from being too urban-centric.
“Real powers”
CLA President Gavin Lane said:
“Too often decisions made in Whitehall hold the rural economy back. So we asked government to devolve authority for rural affairs to local communities – and they have listened.
“This means that mayors and local authorities will have real powers to help businesses to grow the economy, create jobs, sustain our communities and protect our way of life.
“But we must not be naive. While devolution brings real opportunities, it also risks town halls making the same mistakes that national governments have for years. On this basis, local authorities must work constructively with business owners on transport, planning, housing, skills, land use and growth to maximise the impact of these new powers.”
The CLA is running a cross-party parliamentary inquiry to see how devolution will affect rural areas on the ground, with a full report this summer.