District Council / Post Rural Summit

Many rural authorities up and down the Country will at some point have considered within their community and economic development strategies, actions that will stimulate business growth, create employment, support an aging population, provide affordable housing, etc. etc.; All in the hope of maintaining a healthy economy and vibrant communities.. But are these traditional approaches working?

On the 19th November, 2014, Richmondshire District Council, (RDC) in association with the Yorkshire Post hosted a Rural Summit at the prestigious Auction Centre, Tennant’s Auctioneers in . The culmination of a very strong partnership, between leading Members and officers of RDC that drove the Rural Summit off the drawing board into what turned out to be a very stirring event.

For some time a concern has been at the forefront of economic activity and that is the decreasing younger population in rural areas together with the reduction, and in some cases, lack of access to essential public services. The Summit allowed all organisations involved in socio-economic development, an opportunity to explore working in partnership with others and how they intend to resolve these difficult issues. The key issues and concerns include the lack of affordable housing, quality job opportunities, and the threat posed by the continued reduction or withdrawal of essential services, including healthcare, public transport, education and community services.

The Rural Summit gathered together representatives from Richmondshire District Council, National Park Authority, County Council, , North Yorkshire and East Riding Local Enterprise Partnership, a local Building Society, Housing Association, as well as key business representatives and many other partner organisations.

The Rural Summit was an exceptional day and the success is owed much to the ‘speed dating’ format where speakers used their limited time to show their authority and/or organisation would act differently in the future working within their own remit and working with partners. Why – because what we are doing now is not working.

Throughout the day, attendees heard from local people who had been invited along to tell their story about life living in a rural area and what it means for them. The speakers included a young family relocating to rural Richmondshire from the hustle and bustle of London, a start up business in and the difficulties they’ve faced and obstacles they’ve had to overcome living in a National Park; a young mother and shepherdess who lives in one of the remotest areas of and the problems accessing healthcare services and a ‘young person’, the retired Richmondshire Youth Council Chair , who voiced the concerns and difficulties facing young people living and working in a rural area.

The consensus from the platform and the floor was that any ‘Rural Offer’ must be sufficiently attractive and conducive to attract young families and young people to rural and deeply rural areas, as well as retaining those who want to stay in these communities.

One of the main resolutions from the Summit came from Richmondshire District Council and the commitment to explore establishing a local authority trading company to deliver a range of housing options for the open market including affordable homes specifically for young people and young families, to buy and to rent. The cornerstone of this pledge has already happened and in January 2015, the Mercury Housing Company Limited was established.

The development and range of employment opportunities was also seen