West Midlands Rural Affairs Forum
The Rural White Paper 2000 made a commitment to establish national and regional sounding boards to enable Ministers to maintain regular and direct contact with country people. The launch of the Rural Strategy in 2004 charged each of the eight regional Rural Affairs Forums to undertake a review to ensure they were fit for purpose stakeholder groups. The West Midlands review was completed in June 2005 with representation across seven sectors, bringing together rural stakeholders from the region to inform and monitor the local delivery of policy in rural areas.
Structure and membership
The Forum provides a mix of rural representation under seven broad sectors:
| | Sectors | Reps |
| 1 | Countryside, Environment and Recreation | 5 |
| 2 | Rural Economy and Employment | 7 |
| 3 | Rural Communities and Services including the Voluntary Sector | 8 |
| 4 | Central Government Bodies | 5 |
| 5 | Regional Bodies (not represented in other sectors) | 6 |
| 6 | Local Government | 3 |
| 7 | Sub-regional Partnerships | 5 |
Role and Responsibilities
The Forum works with regional partners including the Regional Assembly, Advantage West Midlands, Central Government, Government Office for the West Midlands, Local Government, the Commission for Rural Communities, rural customers, delivery agencies, businesses and other regional and sub-regional bodies on the integration of the rural dimension in strategies and action plans. It supports, reviews and monitors progress in implementing the Rural Strategy 2004 and other key regional strategies to ensure that they address the needs of the end-customer.
The Chairman and Vice Chairs represent the Forum at meetings with Government Ministers and on the Rural Accord Group. Members will promote the work of the Forum among appropriate national, regional, sub-regional and local bodies and institutions and act as a conduit for the two-way flow of information.
It meets quarterly across the five Shire Counties of the region and holds an annual conference where it invites a wide range of stakeholders to attend. The Forum has a Management Committee and uses Task and Finish Groups to support its activities. More recently Specialist Seminars have been developed to offer the Forum a method of extending its influence across the region.
Task Groups
The Forum uses task and finish groups to progress issues and work arising from the Forum.
Forum meetings
The most recent Forum meeting was on Thursday 12 June 2008, at The Lady Emily Community Hall,Tarrington,Herefordshire.
Specialist Seminars & Briefings
The Forum has begun to host Specialist Seminars on topical issues affecting rural customers and has produced Briefing Reports to inform the Forum and its customers and influence regional policy.
Forum meetings and specialist seminars in 2008
| Date | Venue | Specialist Seminar |
| 6 March 2008 | Staffordshire | Water |
| 5 June 2008 | Herefordshire | No seminar held |
| 11 Sept 2008 | Warwickshire | England woodfuel strategy |
| 11 Dec 2008 | Birmingham | Technology-based business |
This website provides details of the Forum's work to a wider audience.
Click here for our Method of Working (or download it here in pdf format).
Visit our What's New page to find out about what is happening in the region.
West Midlands Rural Delivery Framework
The West Midlands Rural Delivery Framework was completed in April 2006, following intensive consultation with rural partners, including an online consultation developed by the West Midlands Rural Accord.