CCB chose to focus our 2016 AGM on the future of rural policy in the wake of Brexit, whilst using the event to highlight and celebrate the work achieved over the year and how to build solid foundations for the communities we work with in the future.
Held in the beautiful surroundings of Wasing Park Estate on the 26th October, Tim Parry, Chief Operating Officer gave highlights of the work the organisation has achieved which included:
• Providing a specialised advice service to 61 village halls and community buildings in Berkshire whilst delivering 8 training sessions on topics ranging from fundraising to using a hall as emergency accommodation.
• The breath of CCB’s funders was highlighted in its fuel poverty work which has enabled the charity to provide energy advise to hundreds of families throughout the county, particularly focusing on areas of deprivation. In Slough CCB worked to train and advice Children’s Centre frontline workers enabling 395 families to receive advice to reduce their home energy bills.
• Celebrating 10 years of the Berkshire Rural Housing Partnership which has funded CCB to provide housing need surveys, and enabled the development of rural affording housing for local people throughout Berkshire whilst recognising the Rural Housing Enabler as a Locality Neighbourhood Planning Champion.
Guests included CCB members – many representing parish councils and village halls from across the county - , an array of Mayors and Deputy Mayors including the Mayor of Slough Cllr Arvind Dhaliwal and Wokingham Borough Mayor Cllr Bob Pits and Deputy Lord Lieutenant Richard Griffith-Jones.
Tim Parry’s presentation on the ‘Future of Rural Policy’ described our work within the context of Defra’s* current priorities and discussed the implications of Britain’s exit from the European Union. The presentation generated discussion amongst attendees, identifying the most important issues currently facing people in rural Berkshire and suggesting priorities for CCB’s future work. In addition to continuing with our current programme of work that includes rural services, community energy, affordable housing, neighbourhood planning and rural community buildings, the meeting identified the need to address declining rural transport, the impact of the future development of Heathrow on surrounding communities and the pressures caused by devolving power to local areas.
*Department of Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
