Notes of last SPARSE Rural Special Interest Group meeting on 12 October 2020 - held online via Zoom

- To download the agenda and papers associated for this meeting, click here

- To download these minutes for this meeting, click here

- To download the attendance and apologies list, click here

PRESENTATION:

Presentation on Local Government Finance by Adrian Jenkins, Founder and Chief Analyst at Pixel Financial Management.

The Chair invited Adrian Jenkins (Founder & Chief Analyst, Pixel Financial Management) to present on Local Government Finance. Adrian explained that COVID has increased uncertainty around local government finance and exacerbated existing issues.

MEETING MINUTES:

1. Attendance & Apologies for absence
   Cllr Cecilia Motley (Chair) welcomed members to the meeting. The group noted apologies for the meeting. A list of attendees/apologies can be found here.
   
   
2. Notes from the previous SPARSE Rural meeting on 27th January 2020 (Attachment 1)
   Notes from the previous SPARSE Rural meeting which took place on 27th January 2020 were accepted as an accurate record.
   
   
3. Notes from the previous RSN Executive meeting on 2nd July 2020 (Attachment 2)
   Notes from the previous RSN Executive Meeting which took place on 2nd July 2020 were noted.
   Graham Biggs MBE (Chief Executive, Rural Services Network) noted that the RSN AGM/Rural Assembly will receive a formal report on the Executive’s decisions on Item 2 Thoughts for the Future of the Network.
   
   
4. Notes from the previous RSN Executive on 28th September 2020 (Attachment 3)
   Notes from the previous RSN Executive Meeting which took place on 28th September 2020 were noted.
   Graham Biggs updated on several items from the minutes:
   - Item 5: As stated above further feedback on the decisions regarding member engagement will be reported to the AGM. 
   - Item 6: Special discussion on planning white paper is being held on 20/10/2020. A paper will be presented to this meeting on the draft RSN response on planning proposals and final member consultation will take place immediately following the meeting.
   - Item 16: A Rural Services APPG meeting with Chief Secretary of the Treasury is being held on 13/10/20 to discuss the Comprehensive Spending Review.
   - Item 16: The meeting planned for 28/10/20 with Matt Warman MP (Minister for Digital Infrastructure) has been postponed due to Parliamentary recess and will be rearranged.
   
   
5. Presentation on Local Government Finance by Adrian Jenkins, Founder and Chief Analyst at Pixel Financial Management
   The Chair invited Adrian Jenkins (Founder & Chief Analyst, Pixel Financial Management) to present on Local Government Finance. Adrian explained that COVID has increased uncertainty around local government finance and exacerbated existing issues.
   
   Please note that full notes outlining what was discussed in this item are available only to SPARSE member of the RSN. If you are a SPARSE member of RSN and would like to view the full notes, please email us at [email protected] with the title of this meeting and date and a request for full notes and presentation, and we will forward you this information.
   
   
6. Any Other Business
   There was no other business.
   The next SPARSE Rural meeting will be held on Monday, 25th January 2020.