East Riding shortlisted for Beacon Council Award

East Riding of Yorkshire Council, the country's largest unitary authority, has been shortlisted for a Beacon award for its work in supporting the rural economy.

                             

Since its inception in 1996, one of the council's priorities has been to build an efficient and competitive rural economy and to secure vibrant, inclusive rural communities.

                             

Now this valuable work has been recognised by the Government who announced today (Wednesday, November 27th) that the council is one of only 11 shortlisted in the supporting the rural economy category of the latest round of Beacon Councils.          If successful this would mean that the council had been awarded Beacon Council status in four categories.

                             

"I am delighted that East Riding of Yorkshire Council has once again been shortlisted for Beacon status. We in central government are committed to supporting excellence in local government and the Beacon Council scheme helps us so this.

                             

"The example set by East Riding of Yorkshire Council clearly demonstrates that the authority shares this vision and is committed to delivering quality services, which can only be good news for local people. I wish them every success with the rest of the application process," said Nick Raynsford the Minister for Local Government..

                             

By setting up a Rural Partnership, one of the first in the country, the council has a way of involving the local commmunity in decision-making, delivery and ownership. Its Riding Around programme is an annual consultation event which involves 4,000 residents giving their input on quality of life issues.

                             

East Riding has been one of the country's leaders in using new technology to                               combat the problems associated with being a vast rural area. Its award-winning customer service centres and Citizenlink network, together with its innovative information services through libraries, means that people have direct entry to all council and partnership activity, a valuable asset for isolated communities and farm businesses.

                             

The Rural Partnership is also currently setting up a website which will provide a one-stop shop facility on rural economy and rural issues and will be fully interactive.

                             

Rural issues are sometimes seen as peripheral to mainstream council activity --- this is not the case in the East Riding where it is believed that a vibrant countryside underpins social inclusion and general wellbeing in rural areas.

                             

"East Riding of Yorkshire Council has, over the last six or seven years, demonstrated its commitment to the rural economy in a host of ways and we are very pleased that this has been recognised by central government," said Coun Stephen Parnaby, Leader of East Riding of Yorkshire Council.

                             

In one of its more rural areas, Withernsea and South Holderness, the council has secured SRB funding for its 'Widening Horizons' project which is aimed at building the economy from within. Key initiatives being progressed by this are the sea front environmental improvement scheme; the South Holderness Community Resource Centre; the appointment of a business development officer and a the establishment of a business enterprise centre.

                             

Regeneration programmes are also being run in areas such as Driffield, Hornsea, Howden, Pocklington and Easington. Market Weighton, where one of the wards (Wolds Weighton) features in the most deprived 10% nationally in terms of geographical access to services is getting assistance through the Market Weighton Area Regeneration Partnership.

                             

Revitalising the Riding is a scheme which has been successful in bidding for funding under the European LEADER+ programme for funding to improve the quality of life for people living in peripheral parts, the Wolds and the coastal areas. 

                             

The programme hopes to arrest further decline in agriculture and coastal tourism; between 1986 and 1996 there was a 16% fall in agricultural employment in the East Riding. It aims to create employment and successful local businesses and in so doing ensure vibrant communities.

                             

East Riding of Yorkshire Council has also been instrumental in securing funding for a number of major tourism initiatives including the Yorkshire Marina, which is                               currently the subject of a public inquiry, the Treasure House and the Beck in Beverley, sea-front improvements at Withernsea and Hornsea and the Museum of Rural Life at Skidby Windmill.

                             

The council also manages a portfolio of Business Centres currently located at Beverley, Bridlington, Driffield and Goole which provide high quality accommodation, ideally suited for new and fledgling firms. Plans are being made to use the network of Customer Service Centres and Citizenlink to link clients in isolated locations with the business centres.

                             

The East Riding will now progress to the next stage of the selection process, which

includes site visits and presentations, with the successful authorities being announced next April.       

 

If the East Riding is successful in this bid for Beacon status, it will mean that the authority now holds beacon status in three Categories: Drug Awareness, Community Legal Services and Tackling Fuel Poverty.