Unfair bias of the Government in favour of metropolitan areas - Full Council Meeting of SKDC September 2008

11.32.17am GMT Tue 16th Dec 2008

The decision of the Full Council Meeting of SKDC September 2008 in response to the Motion put forward reads:

DECISION

a. This Council deplores the continuing unfair bias of the Government in favour of metropolitan areas. This is eroding the infrastructure of country and rural areas and leading , in areas like South Kesteven District Council, to a situation, whereby our county towns and villages are unable to sustain their new generations because of lack of employment opportunities, absence of local transport systems and housing which has been priced beyond their reach.

b We call on the Government to address these issues urgently and reverse this decline. We seek particularly action on the heavy burden being placed on incomes by rising fuel prices in areas where there is no local transport system and people have to rely on cars.

c. This Council is of the view that this matter should be taken up with the Local Government Association and the Sparsity Partnership for Authorities Delivering Rural Services (SPARSE)

Cnllr Maureen Jalili introduced and moved the motion. She observed that policy was often made by Government with urban or metropolitan areas in mind. Cnllr Mike Williams, in seconding the motion, agreed that everything from Government was based on an urban model.

A number of members spoke in favour of the motion, none spoke against it. In summing up, Cnllr Jalili observed that, in rural areas, people without a car did not have ready access to shops, doctors surgeries, dentists etc.

Having been moved and seconded, the motion was put to a vote and was duly carried.