THERE is rural unrest over the latest local government funding announcement.

Rural areas will be hardest hit by the government’s stance on council tax because in outlining communities the number of older people is growing at a much faster rate than elsewhere.

Rural Services Network chairman Cecilia Motley called the draft deal “an absolute choker for many rural councils”.

She said communities would be “severely disadvantaged” by the settlement, which covers proposed local authority funding for 2017 and 2018.

The network – which represents more than 250 local authorities and rural organisations – called for urgent talks following publication of the government’s provisional funding settlement for local authorities.

Mrs Motley added: “The minister has ignored completely the fact that rural areas will have inevitably already have borne more cuts than other areas as their services start from a thinner base.”

The Rural Services Network acknowledged the current care crisis, she said, “but it is a national problem which should be addressed through national funding".

“It is completely wrong for the Government to shift the burden of meeting the current shortfall in adult social care funding on to council tax payers,” she said.

The funding announcement, including plans bringing forward a six per cent rise in council tax to fund social care, was made by Communities Secretary Sajid Javid, on December 15.

Ms Motley added: “Already rural residents pay much more in council tax – from on average lower wages – than their urban counterparts and this proposal will simply make that gap wider still.

“It is grossly unfair. Recirculating money that is already in the system will not help anyone and will just inflict further hardship in my view.

“It will also hit the so-called ‘JAMS’ (just about managing) hard in their wallets and purses and will – at a stroke – wipe out the small amount of help included in the autumn statement.

Ms Motley added: “This proposed settlement yet again fails to recognise the special problems that rural areas have. This draft settlement is a disaster for rural areas. We are asking for immediate discussions with the minister. He just has to listen to us this time.”

The Rural Services Network is the only non-governmental organisation representing the interests of rural service providers and the communities that they serve.

It involves some 154 councils and more than 100 other service providers.

Its networks exceeds 10,000 parish council contacts and more than 3,000 local schools.