Viper Rural

New Government’s Rural Appointments

- News article posted on Tuesday 18 May 2010 at 13:25 by Jim Hardcastle

RURAL leaders have welcomed the first ministerial appointments by Britain’s fledgling coalition government. Caroline Spelman, Secretary of State for Rural Affairs, has been joined at Defra by minister of state Jim Paice, the Tory MP for South-East Cambridgeshire. The Department for Energy and Climate Change will be lead by Liberal Democrat MP Chris Huhne (Eastleigh).

Margaret Eaton, chairman of the Local Government Association, said the new administration faced the most challenging period for a generation.

“Local government is ready with the ideas to help the incoming government deal with the choppy financial waters ahead and deliver vital public sector reforms. In return, we ask for the freedom to lead the areas we serve so we can deliver ever more efficient and effective services for local people.”

There was a pressing need to strip away excessive administrative burdens from councils to ensure money for services reached the local level. Councils had long shown themselves to be the most efficient part of the public sector, claimed Dame Margaret. But too much money that should be spent on front-line services and supporting local residents was tied up by central government bureaucracy.

“Much has been said by all the political parties about the need to give the general public a stronger and more influential voice. Councils will look forward to being given the powers which will allow them to take responsibility for delivering more with less.”

A flexible approach to communication and marketing will be required making best use of social media and digital platforms.

- Posted on Tuesday 18 May 2010 at 13:25 by Jim Hardcastle