Home > Essex rural Partnership


Essex Rural Partnership

The Essex Rural Partnership was formed in 2002, the result of a merger between the Essex Rural Renewal Forum and the Essex Rural Strategy Steering Group.

The Essex Rural Partnership brings together key organisations in Essex (and some regional bodies) to consider, debate and act on major issues affecting the rural parts of the county.

The Essex Rural Partnership encourages not only co-ordination of activities, to maximise effectiveness of resources, but also joint-working to achieve greater buy-in, better chance of securing funding, and best value.

The Essex Rural Partnership is managed by Rural Community Council of Essex.

What is the role of the Partnership?
With over 70% of its land area in agricultural use, Essex is essentially rural. The county has a high quality environment and a larger number of historic sites and buildings. It is also home to many. In order to address the, sometimes conflicting, demands placed upon it and to promote the coordination of service delivery, the Essex Rural Partnership was re-launched in 2005. The Partnership is made up of a range of organisations that deliver services to rural Essex or that represent stakeholders. In order to identify the Partners’ priorities, an Essex Rural Strategy was launched in 2005.

How do I get involved?
If you would like to become a member of the Partnership, please provide your contact details to Suzanne or Kirsty, including the name of the organisation of which you are a member/will represent. If you are already a member, and wish to be included in one of the three Action Groups, please advise Suzanne or Kirsty, who will notify you of the next relevant meeting date.

ERP Strategy Vision
To create an environmentally and economically sustainable future for rural Essex, based upon :

  • local diversity and identity, conserving and enhancing the natural, built and historic environment
  • Thriving, economically diverse and inclusive communities that provide a good quality of life for all
  • Increasing bio-diversity and managing the impact of climate change
  • Increasing accessibility to the countryside

Terms of Reference (Summarised)

  • To provide a forum for bring together the main stakeholders, to agree a shared vision and to identify policies, proposals and recommendations for action
  • To provide a framework for integrated actions taking an holistic approach
  • To share and increase knowledge about rural issues and raise the profile of rural Essex
  • To identify and draw resources into Essex for the benefit of rural areas from regional, national and European sources
  • To contribute to regional and national European policy developments, management plan initiatives, and statutory plans, providing a collective voice for rural Essex
  • To act as a co-ordination point for receiving and disseminating information relating to rural economic, environmental and community issues
  • To ensure linkage with other mechanisms in Essex, including the Essex Prosperity Forum, Essex Local Government Association and Local Strategic Partnerships
  • To advise and champion the concept and practice of rural proofing of mainstream funding of key organisations

ERP Logo