Hampshire’s rural approach given national recognition
A Hampshire County Council strategy to deliver service improvements in rural areas at no extra cost has been highlighted as a case study for good practice by the Improvement & Development Agency.
Written by The Government’s Rural Advocate the Commission for Rural Communities, the case study states that Hampshire’s ’innovative approach’ tackles a number of challenges in rural service delivery.
The importance of partnership working has been key to Hampshire’s success with local communities, district and parish councils, businesses and other stakeholders all involved identifying issues and how to achieve objectives.
Consultations with nearly 60 organisations and individuals enabled Hampshire to identify both short and long term actions to improve the delivery of services to its rural communities.
Following the consultation process, Hampshire identified changes to service delivery which were underway inside one year with no new resources required. These ’immediate interventions’ were aligned to the key themes identified in the Rural Delivery Strategy consultation paper. The interventions included:
* using Hampshire’s ’Putting People First’ Personalisation programme to develop flexible approaches to care and support for people in rural areas;
* bringing specialist children’s services to rural areas in partnership with the NHS;
* applying rural weighting as part of the Early Years service;
* providing additional arts and performance activities in villages;
* combating anti-social behaviour by adding 24 villages and small towns to patrols by Accredited Community Safety Officers; and
* supporting a Village Hall Adviser post for which Government funding had been withdrawn.
The case study details examples of how the Rural Delivery Strategy has made a direct impact within villages across the county from funding of village shops to improving transport access in remote areas and developing more affordable housing.
Hampshire County Council Executive Member for Rural Affairs, Councillor Ray Ellis, said: "The Rural Delivery Strategy has enabled the council to improve services and offer greater value for money. A strategic action plan identified priorities most relevant to rural areas which address rural deprivation and inequality.
"From providing Grant Aid support for local communities to piloting high speed broadband access, rural areas in Hampshire have been receiving a local approach to services and I am pleased that the Improvement and Development Agency has recognised our successes in this way."
