Cabinet considered a report setting out proposals to implement Rural Proofing, and which sought approval to develop a Rural Statement and regular Rural Summits. The proposals were designed to ensure that rural issues were firmly on the Council’s agenda, and that there was an appropriate balance between the needs of urban and rural areas.
The report included a draft Rural Proofing Checklist, based on national guidelines and best practice at other predominantly rural local authorities, which would be used by decision-makers to rural proof key decisions to ensure that rural areas achieved the best and fairest deal from Cheshire East Council policy.
RESOLVED
That
1. the Rural Proofing Checklist set out in Appendix 1 to the report be approved as an effective means of rural proofing for key decisions, and Rural Proofing be embedded into the Council’s Commissioning Cycle and Impact Assessments;
2. Rural Summits be developed as a mechanism which enables partners to work collaboratively on rural priorities; and
3. a Rural Statement be developed which identifies the Council’s rural priorities and joint action.