The purpose of the Forum is to give rural interests in the region a coherent voice; and to influence and contribute to the development of policy with particular reference to its effects on rural communities.
Being a member organisation, with representation from a wide range of rural interest
groups, the forum is well placed to feed "grass roots" views and concerns in to the national and regional policy makers.
The Forum holds a conference every spring and autumn for up to 150 members. This enables key decision makers on Regional and National policy to speak and listen to forum members on topical issues.
The forum is steered by an Executive of up to 12 members, which organises conferences,
responds to consultations, runs a check on how effectively rural policy is delivered and is working, and suggests and presses for improvement where it is needed.
The Executive, with its wide range of knowledge and experiance, is well placed to give a coherent rural voice in regional affairs, but can only do so effectively with the help of all members of the forum.
It is my privledge, as Chairman, to help build on the solid foundations laid by my predecessors the Right Reverend Alan Chesters and Jack Ellerby.
David Rowlands
Chairman
8th May 2009
