This year’s National Rural Conference was our biggest yet – four days of debate, learning and collaboration focused on the future of rural communities.
With more than 740 delegates, 38 expert speakers, and more than 1,400 hours of rural policy learning logged, it was a powerful demonstration of both the scale of the challenges and the determination to overcome them.
The conference made plain the inequalities that rural areas continue to face: underfunded services, fragile transport, patchy connectivity and a shortage of affordable homes.
But it also showcased the resilience and innovation of rural places, where councils, private sector members, voluntary organisations and communities are working together to find solutions.
We were joined by representatives from the Departments for Science, Innovation and Technology, for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, and of Health and Social Care, alongside other government departments and local authorities, businesses and community groups.
Their engagement highlighted the importance of cross-sector partnership in shaping policies that work for rural areas.
A central theme was fair funding.
Rural councils face higher delivery costs, yet often receive less government support per head, leaving residents paying more in council tax for fewer services.
The figures are stark: urban areas receive 40 per cent more per head in government-funded spending power, while rural residents pay on average 20 per cent more in council tax.
Unless funding mechanisms properly account for rural circumstances, communities will remain at a disadvantage.
Equally important is how we measure deprivation and success.
Too often, national metrics are designed around urban experience. They miss the realities of rural economies, where employment may look healthy but masks seasonal work, low wages and high housing costs.
Deprivation in rural areas is frequently hidden and easily overlooked, yet policy continues to be shaped by headline figures that reinforce the myth of rural affluence.
That is why the launch of our Delivering for All survey during the conference was so significant. This nationwide research project gives rural residents the opportunity to share their experiences of housing, health, transport, digital connectivity, and affordability.
It is designed to capture lived realities, not rely on measures that obscure them. The evidence gathered will help challenge outdated assumptions and press for rural-proofed policy.
The week’s discussions also highlighted the scale of untapped potential within rural areas.
A report from the Rural Coalition shows that, with the right policy framework, the rural economy could generate up to £19 billion more each year in tax revenues.
Rural England is not simply a place of need; it is a place of opportunity. Unlocking that potential requires investment in infrastructure, fairer funding, and policies that reflect rural realities.
Across the conference, we saw examples of how that potential is already being realised: from community-led transport schemes and local energy generation to digital inclusion projects and rural businesses driving innovation.
These initiatives show what rural areas can achieve when barriers are removed.
This is a pivotal moment. By ensuring fair funding, developing appropriate metrics, and recognising the £19 billion potential of the rural economy, government can turn words into action.
Through the Delivering for All survey and our continued advocacy, the Rural Services Network will make sure rural voices are heard, because stronger rural communities mean a stronger nation.
- The Rural Services Network is an LGA special interest group. Find out more on their website.