The rural community councils (RCCs) were established in rural
England
England is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is located on the island of Great Britain, of which it covers about 62%, and List of islands of England, more than 100 smaller adjacent islands. It ...
during the twentieth century to promote
rural
In general, a rural area or a countryside is a geographic area that is located outside towns and cities. Typical rural areas have a low population density and small settlements. Agricultural areas and areas with forestry are typically desc ...
community life.
Each shire county now has one, although some are relative newcomers. The RCCs also form a national coalition called Action with Communities in Rural England ("ACRE").
Each RCC is an independent, locally managed organisation but is dependent on external funding for its continued work. Historically, RCCs were primarily funded by the
Rural Development Commission, but this role was subsequently taken over by the
Countryside Agency
The Countryside Agency was a statutory body set up in England in 1999 with the task of improving the quality of the rural environment and the lives of those living in it. The agency was dissolved in 2006 and its functions dispersed among other bo ...
. Most RCCs are also funded through project work linked to their aims and objectives, and from work undertaken for their closely related county-wide organisations representing
parish councils and playing field committees.
Community council
A community council is a public representative body in Great Britain.
In England they may be statutory parish councils by another name, under the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007, or they may be non-statutory bodies. ...
s in
Scotland
Scotland is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It contains nearly one-third of the United Kingdom's land area, consisting of the northern part of the island of Great Britain and more than 790 adjac ...
and
Wales
Wales ( ) is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is bordered by the Irish Sea to the north and west, England to the England–Wales border, east, the Bristol Channel to the south, and the Celtic ...
are different and exist on a
statutory
A statute is a law or formal written enactment of a legislature. Statutes typically declare, command or prohibit something. Statutes are distinguished from court law and unwritten law (also known as common law) in that they are the expressed wil ...
basis.
See also
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Parish councils in England
A parish council is a civil local authority found in England, which is the lowest tier of Local government in England, local government. Parish councils are elected corporate bodies, with variable tax raising powers, and they carry out benefici ...
*
Parish plan
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Rural community development
Rural community development encompasses a range of approaches and activities that aim to improve the welfare and livelihoods of people living in rural areas. As a branch of community development, these approaches pay attention to social issues ...
*
Rural Development Council
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Rural district council
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Village design statement
External links
ACRECheshire Community ActionCountryside AgencyDEFRARural Community Council of EssexCommunity Lincs
Society of England
Organisations based in England
Rural community development
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