Alison McLean, one of our Commissioners, spoke to the LGA Rural Conference yesterday, sharing some of the emerging findings and recommendations from our inquiry into 'strengthening the role of rural councillors'.

Read Alison's speech

Also speaking at the event was Jonathan Shaw, Defra Under Secretary of State, who spoke about the challenges facing rural communities, including affordable housing and climate change, which is covered in the Land & Environment section of our State of the Countryside report.

He'll be joining Stuart Burgess, our chair and the government's Rural Advocate, on his visit to Norfolk next week to see rural housing projects and meeting the people involved, as well as representatives of local organisations working to support migrant workers.

http://www.ruralcommunities.gov.uk/items/1974