On 18th January 2023, the Government announced allocations to more than 100 projects who were awarded funding as part of Round 2 of the Governments flagship Levelling Up Fund to create jobs and boost the economy

You can read about the fund at this link

The RSN congratulates those of its members who were successful in their bids to the Levelling Up Round 2 funds.

On the basis of the allocations to Councils covering rural areas the allocations seem quite favourable.

However, the type of schemes being funded generally appear to be largely based in the more built- up areas within those rural councils rather than benefitting rural needs per se.

Funding for projects also doesn’t change the core funding for rural services. 

The provisional Local Government Finance Settlement for 2023-2024 currently means that:

• Rural areas in will still receive some 59.4% (£111) LESS per head in Settlement Funding Assessment grant than their urban counterparts
• Rural residents will pay, on average, 20.6% (£110) MORE per head in Council Tax than their urban counterparts due to receiving less government grant

This leaves rural areas at a disadvantage where rural residents pay more, receive fewer services and on average, earn less than those in urban areas; this in inequitable.