Consultation Responses

RAF Responses to Consultations  

It is rather difficult to construct a true YHRAF response to consultations.  Not least because you as members have rather different views and so consensus is problematic,  but also because of resource.  We therefore tend to act rather pragmatically.   If it’s a regional response I use the Steering Group as a sounding board.   For national responses I am in contact with the other RAF chairs and where possible we agree a RAF position.  This I do by “judgment” of your views.   

This policy document has been produced by the East Midlands RAF.  It discusses the issues and how they deal with the conflicts (they have a big secretariat!!).

Digital Britain - The Interim Report  

Research published today by Analysys Mason into next generation broadband, it announces the launch of Broadband Delivery UK which will drive forward the Universal Service Commitment to deliver 2Mbps to every household by 2012 and will manage the spend of the £1billion Next Generation Fund to deliver next generation broadband to 90% of the country by 2017 (08/03/10

CLG Government report on risks of delivering next generation broadband. Accepts rural at greatest risk (08/03/10)

Digital Britain BIS Select Committee responds to Government proposals on Broadband
The full report seems to be available print only at £22  (24/02/10)

Silver Suffers awarded £2.9 million to Get Digital. A further step for digital inclusion. (18/01/10)

Royal Academy for Engineers looks at Broadband and makes recommendations to Government   A technical report for the IT literate but says we need 4 Mb not 2Mb.   Rural service can not be achieved by the market alone.

The Digital Britain Final report

Digital Britain Statement in Parliament by RT Hon Ben Bradshaw

CRC publish Mind the Gap, a rural prospective on Digital

CRC publish reference bulletin on Digital (Broadband) Inclusion in Rural Areas

BBC looking at Broadband coverage reference Government thinking on a 2Mbs service being essential for all homes to drive economic recovery.

Ofcom lays out plans for Delivering superfast Broadband to UK  

Y&H RAF response

The CRC response to the Digital Britain Consultation

Where you can access broadband via the mobile network.  Ofcom publish maps

Boost to Broadband funding.  We shall need to see how Yorks Forward plans to deliver

BT to create super-fast broadband network as regulator Ofcom paves the way for BT Group's fibre-optic roll out.

BT will replace the copper wires running between its exchange and the cabinets located near customers' homes with fibre optic cables.

BT Group is set to roll out its super-fast broadband network to six UK cities by 2010 after ending a stand-off with Ofcom over how to regulate the service.

From early 2010, internet users in parts of London, Manchester, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Cardiff and Belfast will be able to source a connection providing speeds of up to 60 megabits a second which is nearly eight times faster than the maximum speed available on BT's existing network. The upgrade is part of a £1.5bn plan to offer super-fast broadband of up to 100 megabits a second to 40pc of homes and businesses by 2012.

However the upgrade, which replaces the copper that runs between BT's exchange and the cabinet located near the customer home with fibre optic cable, had looked in danger after a spat between BT and telecoms regulator Ofcom. BT had threatened to pull the plug on the roll out unless the regulator ensured that it could make a fair return on its investment by not imposing restrictions on the price it could charge its rivals to use the fibre network. The regulator backed down in February which cleared the way for BT to overhaul its broadband network.

The new network trial will reach half a million homes and businesses. BT will also trial the new network in two rural regions - the Calder Valley near Halifax and Taffs Well in South Wales. The investment in exploring how to roll out super-fast broadband in such regions will appease those consumers concerned that only dense population centres would benefit from the network upgrade. BT will reveal the next stage of its network build-out in the Autumn when a further million homes will be connected.

CRC Uplands Inquiry

RELU publish a review of their evidence projects on Uplands and suggesting possible ways forward (26/02/10)

CRC now have a special section on their website covering this very important Inquiry.

Notes on the West Midlands Evidence Meeting 

The Yorkshire Evidence Session to CRC Uplands Enquiry

Notes on NE uplands CRC event

Views of the South West Uplands

The EU Agricultural Commissioner's view of farming in uplands 

Latest Progress report on CRC Uplands Inquiry

BERR Select Committee Inquiry into Post Offices – Securing Their Future
 YHRAF response and Evidence

The ACRE response to the BERR select Committee on Post Offices.

Direct Elections to National Parks
Response by a Forum member  and submitted to the consultation response by the RAF as a members views.

House of Commons Debate on National Parks 
Covers issues of elected representatives, housing and economy.

Transforming Places Changing Lives -  A Framework for Regeneration

The review of responses received.  Some little mention of rural concerns but no response.  Also look at next steps and listen to the wind in the long grass. 

The YHRAF response.

ACRE response.

Government has published its final policy paper after the consultation. Will it change Rural Lives?

Prosperous Places
Taking forward the Review of Sub-National Economic Development and Regeneration. 

The Sub National review consultation has been published (March 31st).  Be aware if printing that it is 76 pages long. Closing date 20th of June.   The RAF Steering Group will be responding on behalf of the RAF so please ensure we have your comments. 

The responses to this consultation are now being published.  We will try to list any which come to our knowledge for your information.

The YHRAF response to the consultation
Built up from members views and the Forum discussion.  I have had many one to one talks with the major interested parties and attended a considerable number of meetings.  I hope you agree with views expressed  but will be pleased to receive feedback for future stages of this process. Read the YHRAF response.

The English Regions Network (the RDA club) joint response.

SEEP Partners response.

The Chair of the Assembly has also written a letter. 

The regional responses are now available.  Yorkshire Forward and the Local Govt Yorks and Humber sent a joint response.

North East Rural Affairs Forum response.

SW Rural Affairs Forum Response to the Sub National Review consultation.

North West Rural Affairs Forum (NWRAF) response.

Response By The Yorkshire And Humber Regional Forum On Behalf Of Voluntary And Community Organisations To The Consultation On ‘Prosperous Places; Taking Forward The Review Of Sub-National Economic Development And Regeneration’.

CRC response to SNR consultation.

The East Midlands RAF response to SNR consultation.

Government Draft Legislative Programme 2008/2009.
Letter from Rt Hon Rosie Winterton MP our Regional Minister. 

Responses:

Yorkshire RAF

East of England RAF

East Midland RAF

Putting communities in control – Empowerment White Paper : Rt. Hon. Hazel Blears MP
I am writing to thank you for the valuable contribution you have made and ..............more>.

ACRE also submitted a response in conjunction with Action for Market Towns and NALC.

CLG Empowerment Response April 08 - Unlocking the talent of our communities
The CRC response to this consultation