June 19th

Steering Group minutes - March 25th

Forum Meeting minutes - June 9th

Letter to MPs
With the significant changes to the role of regional organisations expected to be introduced by the new government and the pressure on public sector expenditure, our Chairman, Pat Holtom, has written to all the MPs in our region.

You will see from the attached letter that the aim is to inform MPs of our existence, raise understanding of the EERF and its activities and describe its contribution to the rural content of future policy and plans for East of England. We have also informed MPs of the planned launch of our Rural White Paper in September and to expect an invitation to attend.

Details for Forum Meeting on June 9th

Housing Sub Group report May 2010

Steering Group Minutes - 20th January

New Chair welcome

March 3rd Forum Meeting Minutes and Presentations

Rural White Paper Consultation Event (03/03/10)

Learning and Skills Sub Group February 17th Minutes and Presentations

February 12th

Defra is carrying out a Review of all the RRAFs in England. The purpose of this review is to consider the RRAFs’ operations, performance and impact at local, regional and national level. Defra expect recommendations to go to ministers in the first half of 2010. Key points from the recommendations will be shared with RRAFs as well as other significant stakeholders. This will both illustrate the relevance and importance of Rural Forums and help us to improve the way we operate to provide the service you desire. Defra prepared a very short questionnaire and the questions were designed to allow Defra to manage the information from as wide an audience as possible.

Commission for Rural Communities releases report on the effects of the recession on rural communities and economies

The CRC have this week, issued a report to the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on the impact of the recession on rural economies and communities. The report covers up to the end of 2009 and is an in depth assessment of the impact that the current financial climate has had on rural businesses.

Calendar dates

Regional Rural White Paper

January 13th

EE Rural Forum NEWS

Please note the following dates for events and reserve them for your participation.

EERF Members' Meetings, AGM and Conference
Our next meeting will be in morning Wednesday 3 March 2010 (not the 17th) on the theme of Rural Development (venue TBA). Our AGM will also be held during this meeting.

Our annual conference will be held on Tuesday 20 April (venue TBA).

Regional Rural White Paper
You will be aware of the good news that with support from EEDA, we are moving quickly forward on this activity and, after an open public tendering exercise, have appointed consultants Collison and Associates to produce the paper.

An important feature of the work is the consultation and full involvement of EERF members and regional stakeholders in the production of the paper. In the afternoon Wednesday 3 March 2010 (after our quarterly meeting), progress with the paper will be reported and draft ideas described. There will then be facilitated discussions and opportunities for you to have your say regarding the content, ideas and proposals for inclusion in the White Paper. We will be joined for lunch and the afternoon consultation session by colleagues and stakeholders from a wide range of organizations within our region.

The White Paper will be completed by the end of March and its regional launch will take place as the main feature of our annual conference on 20 April.

With all the uncertainties and changes anticipated over the next 12 months, we need to ensure "rural" features prominently and appropriately in economic, social and environmental plans for the future. The EERF Steering Group believes these events will help this ambition and look forward to your contributions in achieving this goal.

Finally, the EERF Steering Group would like to have your suggestions for a short, snappy title for the final document; we can't offer a prize for the winning suggestion only the glory and kudos of your "name in lights"!

November 19th

Invitation to Tender for consultants to carry out work to produce a Rural White Paper. 
The closing date for receipt of tenders is 5pm on Friday 4 December.

November 6th

Rural White Paper

October 14th

Steering Group minutes - 10th June

Meeting with Minister minutes - 14th May

Learning and Skills Sub Group - Report September 15th