Terms of reference

Objectives

• To highlight and raise awareness of specific issues of rural concern
• To rural-proof mainstream policies and services, as far as practicable
• To be involved in rural policy making

Governance

Membership

Membership of the Rural Forum Steering Group will be limited to a maximum of 16 people (including the Chair) and will comprise representatives from major stakeholder organisations (those with a social and community, economic, environmental, and educational remit) who are able to take a strategic view of rural Oxfordshire's needs and interests, including a good understanding of the wider regional and political context. In the interests of balance, the membership will be drawn from across sectors (public, private, voluntary and community).

Meetings

Frequency: Meetings will normally be held four times per annum.

Substitutes: Substitutes will be permitted by agreement of the Steering Group and at the invitation of the Chair. Local authority officers will be permitted to send named substitutes as needed.

Failure to attend: In the event of any member failing to attend without good reason, a reminder letter will be sent after two missed meetings; after three, the assumption will be that the member has resigned.

Chairmanship: The Steering Group will elect its own Chairman.

Oxfordshire Rural Forum Steering Group - Relationships within Oxfordshire and within the region

NB: The list of groups, organisations and networks is for illustrative purposes only and by no means definitive.