Rural taskforce finds new challenges compounding decades-long countryside issues

The group, which was established last autumn, has published its 12-month report to highlight work undertaken to help alleviate the pressures on rural areas.

Newly-emerging issues range from soaring inflation and the cost of living, to the effects of the war in Ukraine impacting on feed for livestock and the price of fuel and energy. These have added to existing issues ranging from a lack of affordable housing and poor public transport links to a dearth of digital connectivity.

Rural Taskforce chairman Richard Flinton, who is also the chief executive of North Yorkshire County Council, admitted that a wave of unexpected issues on the global stage has had a profound impact on thousands of people living in isolated communities in the county.

He said: “A significant amount of progress has been made, but no-one could have anticipated the additional challenges which the nation, and in particular countryside communities, are facing.

“These new challenges are unquestionably mounting extra pressures on those who live across North Yorkshire’s rural areas, accentuating the issues from a lack of affordable housing to helping ensure young people are given the career opportunities they expect and deserve.

“The work of the Rural Taskforce has been invaluable in helping tackle these long-running issues, and we remain committed to working to resolve the new and emerging challenges.

“It will not be easy, but the future viability of the countryside is not only vital to North Yorkshire, but also the country as a whole.”

The chairman of the North Yorkshire Rural Taskforce, Richard Flinton, who is also the chief executive of North Yorkshire County Council

The taskforce was established as the result of key recommendations that were published in the final report of the landmark North Yorkshire Rural Commission.

The independent commission, the first of its kind nationally which was established by North Yorkshire County Council in the autumn of 2019, met 20 times, taking evidence from more than 70 participants, including MPs and government officials. Three visits were made to rural communities, while 27 written submissions were considered.

Among the commission’s most radical proposals were a levy on the owners of second homes, and an overhaul of the Government’s funding formula for both education and housing. The county’s economy also needs to focus on the green energy sector, according to the commission.

The commission listed a total of 57 actions in its original report, which have been streamlined into 47 individual topics by the taskforce which will be addressed over a five-year period. In the first 12 months of the taskforce’s work, four actions have already been completed, including work to support farming and rural schools.

The commission’s chairman, the Very Rev John Dobson, who is also the Dean of Ripon, said: “Whatever challenges there are in North Yorkshire, the county is now in a far better place and on the front foot thanks to the work of both the rural commission and the taskforce.

“It is heartening to see that the taskforce has taken on so many of the recommendations of the commission, and there is now a far more strategic approach to tackling issues.

“What was needed was to take a view of the county as a whole to tackle long-running challenges, and see how working together can bring about solutions.

“There is still a lot of work to do, but the significance of this strategic approach should not be under-estimated, and it will be of a huge benefit in the years to come.”

A constant theme throughout the commission’s final report was the need to secure a devolution deal from the Government for North Yorkshire, passing key decision-making powers and millions of pounds in funding from Westminster to the county’s political leaders.

A proposed devolution deal for York and North Yorkshire with an investment fund totalling £540m over 30 years was unveiled on August 1.

The leader of North Yorkshire County Council, Cllr Carl Les, stressed that the work of the Rural Taskforce needs to be carried forward with the launch of a new unitary authority in the spring of next year.

However, he added: “The challenges faced by rural communities in North Yorkshire cannot be separated out from the national context and the development and direction of national policy.

“The Government’s recognition and intervention is critical across all policy areas, from rural transport to more funding for education and support for the farming sector, which have been investigated by both the commission and the rural taskforce.

“Increased funding, additional support as well as a genuine commitment to fairness and equality in rural areas is critical if the Government is serious about realising its own ambitions to level up the country.”