The nine English regions have differing sizes of rural areas, from London with very little, to the South West where more than two million people live and work in the rural areas. The rural responsibilities of the Government Offices are similarly diverse. Government Offices provide a focus for delivery of the Government's rural agenda in the regions and work in partnership with a range of stakeholders in rural communities.
More information on the national picture
The Government’s Rural Strategy 2004 proposed a new approach to rural policy and delivery. At the regional level this is being taken forward through the development of Regional Rural Delivery Frameworks as a means of sustainably delivering rural policies, working with regional and local partners to prioritise funding and ensure that rural customers are involved. Government Office for the East of England is working with regional partners to write Action Statements setting out how their delivery will meet the Regional Rural Delivery Framework's objectives in 2008/09.
The Rural Strategy recognised that a number of extremely effective partnerships were already in place across the regions. The Fens Rural Pathfinder examined more closely how partnerships can provide opportunities for cross-boundary working and testing new delivery mechanisms. A national Pathfinder Report will be published and will include the work of the Fens Rural Pathfinder.
Government Office for the East of England has played an active part in the development of an East of England Regional Implementation Plan for the Rural Development Programme for England, A proportion of the funding for the programme is allocated to projects that will be delivered in partnership. Government Office for the East of England sits on the panel that assesses the bids.
Overall, Government Office for the East of England promotes rural proofing or “thinking rural” across all its work to ensure that the needs of rural communities are clearly taken into account.
