Signpost May 2007

From Norfolk RCC

NRCC Free Roadshows ... coming to a town near you!

Building 21st Century Villages is coming to a town near you packed with advice and information about working with, and being part of, a rural community.

If you are part of a small or large voluntary group, Parish Council or Village Hall Committee and want to make a difference to the people in your community we will:- • help you find out what people in your area want and need • support you to find appropriate funding for future projects • advise you about transport/rural housing, fund raising, project planning and building stronger businesses. Our staff will be on hand to listen and help you achieve your project. Each roadshow will be followed by an evening event:-

Roadshows and Evening Event were held throughout June and July around the county.
For more information about these events e-mail nrcc@norfolkrcc.org.uk or telephone 01362 698216.

NRCC AGM – Date for your diary!

All members of the RCC will shortly be receiving a formal invitation to our Annual General Meeting on Monday 16th July 2007, Bawburgh Village Hall, 7.30 – 9pm refreshments will be available from 6.30pm. We would love to have the opportunity to meet as many of you as possible to share in a celebration of our achievements over the last year and to plan for the year ahead.

“Support your local economy”

If you read the Eastern Daily Press then you will be aware of their current campaign on ‘buying local’ – using local shops and businesses. This is an important issue for NRCC as pubs, shops, post offices, food producers and small local businesses are the mainstay of village economies and the community. In most villages there is a proportion of local employment and service provision through a range of small (and not so small) businesses. By using these businesses we are not only sustaining local jobs for local people we are also sustaining the local economy and adding to local prosperity.

The New Economics Foundation has been researching this issue and found that circulating money within the local economy has a multiplier of 5 as against 1.25 where money is removed. In simple terms for every £100 where 80% stays local that money generates about £500 of goods and services over a period of time. Whereas if 20% stays local it only generates £125 over a much shorter period of time. Most of the money goes elsewhere and has little positive effects for the local economy.

Not everything we need can be supplied locally. I can’t think of a local farmer who grows oranges! And indeed wider trading provides us with a greater range of goods and services. However if we are able to buy oranges that come from a small grower in another country who will receive a fair price then we are supporting another local economy with the same beneficial results for that economy and local prosperity.

NRCC has an environmental policy that commits us to buying local and positively supporting local economies. There is much that we can all do in our private lives, at work and in our communities. If you are holding a community event do you ensure any refreshments are sourced locally and purchased locally or do you buy things from wherever it is cheapest – usually a supermarket? Does your organisation use the local post office for its banking? Do you use a local builder for improvements to the village hall? These, and many others, are the sort of questions we should be asking ourselves. Supporting the local economy is supporting ourselves.

Focus on Funding

Norfolk Rural Community Council has joined forces with Norwich and Norfolk Voluntary Services to put on a Focus on Funding event:- Tuesday 15th May 2007 6.30 – 9pm, Bartholomew Read Room Merchants’ Court, 16 Church Street, Cromer Norfolk, NR27 9GW Book your place on this interactive workshop covering the essential elements of “Writing a funding application” by ringing Fay or Lynn on 01603 883832 or e-mail fay.sheldon@nvs.org.uk Staff from NRCC, Local Network Fund and NVS will be available to talk to. Will future development in North Norfolk affect you? North Norfolk District Council has been preparing two new plans to guide future development in North Norfolk and you may recall that last Autumn we consulted on the ‘Preferred Options’ Core Strategy and Site Specific Proposals. After considering the comments made we have now produced the ‘Submission’ Core Strategy which, on submission to the Secretary of State, will be subject to another six week period of public consultation and then an independent examination. From midday 18 June to midday 30 July the Independent Inspector will be seekingyour views on the ‘Submission’ Core Strategy. Up to date information and explanations can be found on North Norfolk District Council website but if you have any further queries please contact the Planning Policy Team on 01263 516321/516318 or email planningpolicy@north-norfolk.gov.uk

UKVillages Community Kitty – Second 2007 Round Open to Applications

Applications for the second round of funding are now being invited from community groups, societies, clubs and individuals that have a clearly identifiable project that will benefit the community. Eligible projects include the following:

• Playgroups/playgrounds. • Community/village halls. • Environmental projects. • Old people’s needs or causes. • Young people or youth initiatives. • Fetes/festivals. • Technology for local usage. • Local heritage organisations.

Funding of between £50 and £300 is available and projects are judged on relevance, uniqueness, regionality and other related fund raising. Applications can only be made on behalf of a group within the UK and applicants must be over the age of 18. More information from: www.ukvillages.co.uk The second 2007 deadline for receipt of applications is 10 October 2007.

Rural News in Brief

Right Direction

The Rural Services Survey
The Rural Services Survey made the EDP front page in March as the importance of the survey was recognised in providing a picture of changes in villages across the county over a 10 year period.

Local Network Fund
Local Network Fund has approved £193,000 in grants for organisations working with children and young people at the first meeting of the grant panel for this year.

Composting Scheme Expanding
Denton in South Norfolk is expanding the community composting scheme with the purchase of a shredder with help from the Rural Projects Fund.

Wrong Direction

Lack of interest in elections
Lack of interest (?) in local elections have led to 17 uncontested seats in West Norfolk and 8 in Breckland for district council elections. Parish Councils are even poorer with some parishes in North Norfolk having no-one put themselves forward and many not able to find enough people for a full council. This is at a time when central government is considering an increased role for Parish Councils.

Anger over PCT move
Moves by the new PCT to reduce its £50 million inherited deficit has led to proposals to reduce the number of hospital beds for intermediate care across the county. This has resulted in a huge surge of anger and opposition from local people. The bill for providing such care will land on Adult Services should these proposals be approved. So the NHS debt will be borne by the County Council.