The Devon Rural Network Action Groups are all sector specific groups designed to inform the Action Programme and to act as forums for discussion and networking around sector specific issues.

The following gives a brief overview of the current groups and previous time limited task groups.  More detailed information on each of the current groups can be found on their dedicated pages, along with Terms of Reference, minutes of meetings, current projects, and any other revelvant information for that group.

Consultation Response Action Group

The Consultation Response Action Group (CRAG) respond to consultations and represent the collective view of the Devon Rural Netowrk, and are pro-actively involved in rural proofing and lobbying on new policies and strategies that will affect rural Devon.

If you would like more information or know of any new policies or consultation documents that you feel it is important that the DRN respond to, please contact Phil Wagstaff by email.

Environment Devon

Environment Devon (ED) was an existing group, however it was agreed that a reciprocal agreement would be formed with DRN, in order to share information and help to inform the debate on environmental issues within the Devon Strategic Partnership (DSP) and at the strategic level.

The group is chaired by Paul Gompertz, of the Devon Wildlife Trust, and is in the process of reforming and restructuring in order to reengage and influence policy and strategic decision making.

For further informtation on ED, please contact Paul Gompertz by email.

Rural Business Network

Rural Voluntary and Community Sector Action Group

The Rural Voluntary and Community Sector Action Group (RVCSAG) was set up to bring together and assist all voluntary and community sector organisations operating in rural areas.

The purpose of the group is to:

• add value to the work that is already being done in rural Devon by CVS agencies
• to act as the representatives for the RVCSAG organisations on the ground
• to act as communicators to the organisations on the ground and lobby more strategic bodies

With the development of the Devon Consortium, a Partnership of third sector organisations and voluntary groups in Devon, it is anticipated that RVCSAG will form the 'Rural' arm of this .

For further information on either the RVCSAG or Devon Consortium, please contact Jay Talbot, of the Community Council of Devon, at jay@devonrcc.org.uk.

Devon Farming & Food Board

The Sustainable Farming and Food Reference Group (SFFRG) has produced a sector specific Action Programme, which is due to be updated.  The group have held a Strategic Review, for which the report will be available shortly.

The group is formed of representatives of the public and private sector, and is chaired by Mary Talbot Rosevear of the Small Farms Association.  For more information on the group, please contact Mary by email.

Sustainable Tourism Action Group

The Sustainable Tourism Action Group (STAG) was orginally set up to assist the Rural Renaissance "Sustainable Economies for Rural Communities" (SERC) bid process, and informed the development of the sustainable tourism priorities and outputs defined within this bid.

In early 2008, steps were taken to rejuvenate the group and it is now being developed to form the Sustainability arm of the new Devon Destination Management Organisation (DDMO), 'Destination Devon'.  The group has produced an Action Plan and work is already underway to achieve the targets set out within it.  For more information on this group, please contact Rosie Bates at rosie.bates@devon.gov.uk.

 

Time Limited Groups

Rural Business Support Action Group

The Rural Business Support Action Group (RBSAG) was set up to assist the Rural Renaissance SERC bid process.  It represented the Exeter and Heart of Devon (EHOD) Economic Partnership area, including Exeter, Teignbridge, Mid Devon, East Devon, and parts of Torbay.  The work of the group was informed by the EHOD Economic Development Strategy, which highlighted the needs of the business community for sustainable growth.

Currently, there is not a DRN group operating in this sector.  However, the DRN is activiely involved with the Devon Economic Partnership (DEP), and provides the Secretariat role for this Partnership, and there may be potential for reviving RBSAG in the future.

Rural Renaissance Action Group

This group was formed to steer the development of the SERC proposal.  It was made up of members of the various Action Groups, the Accountable Body, the Learning and Skills Council, Business Link Devon and Cornwall, the South West Regional Development Agency, and other stakeholders.  From this group, a task and finish group was also created to over see the development of a delivery plan for the programme.

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