Rural Framework

2. "Rural Framework" was published by the Government in 1992 with the overall aim of providing a foundation on which organisations could work together more effectively for the benefit of rural are as. Government recognised that substantial resources were already deployed by itself and other bodies in rural Scotland and that the value of these could be increased by greater co-ordination and partnership working. The specific aims of the "Rural Framework" document were:

• to develop a common language which rural communities and those working in their support can use to build their own ideas for development.

• to bring together the effort in support of rural communities in a continuing and coherent manner.

3. "Rural Framework" put forward eight themes which were seen as fundamental to the improvement of life in rural communities. These were:-

Community Involvement: the strength of the rural community lies in its people; it is vital that they be involved in decisions about their future.

Diversity: once a common feature of rural communities, needs to be re-established and pursued.

Quality: rural communities deserve high quality services and need to produce high quality products.

Local Added Value: value added locally to the resources supplied by rural Scotland will retain profits locally and benefit its communities.

Effective Service Delivery: by working together local authorities, public agencies, the private and voluntary sectors will best deliver their services in ways which most benefit their customers.

Network and Communications: rural Scotland can use its remoteness to advantage through the development of networks and communications.

Europe: rural Scotland has a place in Europe which it can use to its own and others' benefit.

Sustainability: by pursuing our actions today in a sustainable manner, we will protect ourselves and safeguard our descendants.

Partnership: all those themes were set within the over-riding principle that policies and the delivery of policies will be most effective when the various Governmental and non-Governmental bodies involved in rural Scotland work together towards common objectives.

Rural Focus Group

4. To give greater pract ical effect to those ideas the Rural Focus Group was established by Sir Hector Monro MP, Minister for Agriculture and the Environment, in September 1992. This brought together, under Scottish Office chairmanship, representatives of Government Departments, agencies, Local Government, private and voluntary sector bodies concerned with rural Scotland. A list of the member organisations of Rural Focus Group is at Annex 1.

5. The broad remit given to Rural Focus Group at the time of its formation was: "to provide a forum for the examination of issues affecting rural areas and to promote collaboration among central Government, its agencies, local government and the private and voluntary sector for the improvement of the quality of life in rural areas". In particular, the Group was asked to take forward the ideas contained in "Rural Framework".

6. Rural Focus Group has met regularly since 1992. Its main activities have been:-

6.1 analysis of key issues affecting the future of rural Scotland, involving a programme of speakers from within and outside the Group. This included sponsorship of a major conference on "Incentives to Rural Enterprise" held in Inverness in May 1994 on the theme of the opportunities for much of rural Scotland under Objectives 1 and 5b of the EC Structural Funds. This activity has led to significantly improved collaboration between the organisations represented on the Rural Focus Group.

6.2 the encouragement of awareness and information sharing on research being undertaken by member organisations and the encouragement of joint research projects. Specific examples of the latter include a research project on rural child care in the Highlands and Islands funded by The Scottish Office and HIE, on rural transport options funded by The Scottish Office and COSLA and a research report on "Housing and Economic Development in Remote Rural Areas of the Highlands and Islands" jointly funded by Scottish Homes and HIE. In addition The Scottish Office Central Research Unit was commissioned to produce one report "Literature Review of Rural Issues" in 1994 which provides a comprehensive picture of the key issues affecting rural Scotland and identifies gaps in the information base which could be filled by further research.

6.3 promotion of improved information about the range of financial and other assistance available in rural Scotland. Rural Focus Group has overseen a project which aims to produce an information booklet, similar to one produced by Tayside Regional Council, for other parts of rural Scotland. Rural Forum was commissioned to prepare a national template for this initiative and is working with local authorities with a view to the preparation of local editions for publication when the new councils take control in April 1996. If the new rural authorities proceed with publication it is hoped that booklets will become available during 1996.

6.4 identification and encouragement of innovatory approaches to rural development. An example of this is the evaluation of the potential of a new model for rural development, pioneered by the Wise Group in Ross and Cromarty based on local training, job creation and environmental improvement.

7. Rural Focus Group has kept under review the themes outlined in "Rural Framework". Its report on progress and areas where further opportunities lie, in Section 2, forms the main part of this paper. A number of further reports have been published in the "Rural Framework" series and they are listed at Annex 2.