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Leicestershire & Rutland Association of Local Councils LRP Leicestershire Rural Conference Big Society - Active Parish Councils Jake Atkinson Rosie McConachie Leicestershire & Rutland Association of Local Councils Big Society - Active Parish Councils Leicestershire & Rutland Association of Local Councils Big Society – A new concept? • “[The Big Society] is one in which people do not leave it to the person next door to do the job. It is one in which people help each other….. That is the starting point for care and support —the unsung efforts of millions of individuals, the selfless work of thousands upon thousands of volunteers. It is their spirit that helps to bind our society together.” Leicestershire & Rutland Association of Local Councils What is a Parish Council? • • • • • • • • • 1st (not last!) tier of local government Created by Local Government Act 1894 Approximately 9,000 PCs in England Tax raising powers (precept) Deliver local services to their communities Driven by local knowledge and choice Represent local views Safeguard local assets Instigate local activities Leicestershire & Rutland Association of Local Councils What is Big Society? • “We need to create Communities with oomph – neighbourhoods who are in charge of their own destiny, who feel if they club together and get involved they can shape the world around them.” Prime Minister David Cameron, 19 July 2010 Leicestershire & Rutland Association of Local Councils What is Big Society? • Flagship policy idea of the 2010 Conservative Manifesto • Forms part of the legislative programme of the Coalition Government • Aim is "to create a climate that empowers local people and communities, building a big society that will 'take power away from politicians and give it to people‘ • Dovetails with Localism agenda Leicestershire & Rutland Association of Local Councils Localism and the Localism Act – “The time has come to disperse power more widely in Britain today.” Coalition Agreement • Localism has broad political consensus • Localism Act (Nov 2011) gives new rights and powers for communities and individuals, and new freedoms and flexibilities for local government • General Power of Competence, etc. Leicestershire & Rutland Association of Local Councils Greg Clark, minister for decentralisation: "parish councils up and down the country would like to have greater influence and [the new legislation] will allow them to do this". • While there is no formal target he hopes a number of new councils will be formed and is looking forward to "a great revival" of parish politics Leicestershire & Rutland Association of Local Councils Leicestershire CC & Big Society • ‘Big Society aspirations’ for Leicestershire – aspirations that the County Council and its partners should be working towards: 1. Everyone can be involved in their community 2. Everyone has opportunities to influence decisions that affect them 3. Local people are able to shape and deliver public services 4. People and organisations grow the Big Society together • In short – the Big Society is about helping communities to help themselves. Leicestershire & Rutland Association of Local Councils LCC Big Society Grant Fund • ‘Helping communities to help themselves’ • £340,000 (2011/12) • For organisations/projects able to develop ideas & initiatives which will help to deliver the Big Society at a local level which: enable communities to identify and meet their own needs provide the best local solutions to tackle local problems demonstrate local community commitment and involvement create active and empowered citizens Leicestershire & Rutland Association of Local Councils Big Society and Parish Councils • Problem of perception – local authorities make people think of District/County Councils, not Parish Councils. • “Vicar of Dibley” image of Parish Councils • Issues of knowledge and capacity • Lack of consistency in quality and compliance • But, active, inclusive, and empowered Parish and town councils are localism and Big Society incarnate. • Success stories of active, inclusive, and empowered Parish Councils Leicestershire & Rutland Association of Local Councils Austerity – A Driver for Innovation ‘We haven’t got the money so we have to think.’ Ernest Rutherford (Noble Prize winning chemist). Leicestershire & Rutland Association of Local Councils How can you help make it happen? • • • • • • • Stand for election as a Councillor Attend Parish Council Meetings Help your Council become more ambitious Communicate with your Council Share your ideas Apply for funding for a project Community groups working in partnership with PCs. • Quality Council Status • Qualified Clerk (CiLCA) Leicestershire & Rutland Association of Local Councils LRP Big 7 - Active, inclusive and empowered parish councils • Undertake research/surveys with Parish and Town Councils around priorities in order to maximise data availability and develop a robust evidence base around need. • Deliver programme of core training to Parish and Town Councils, their clerks, and councillors. • Disseminate, promote, and embed use of the Rural Economy Planning Toolkit with Parish and Town Councils. • In partnership with District/Borough/County councils, support Parish and Town Councils in developing their capacity to innovate and grow through training and consultancy support. • Continue to increase quality within the Parish and Town Council sector through targeted support and promotion of Quality Council Scheme and CiLCA qualification for clerks. • Signposting, supplemented by targeted engagement and training with Parish and Town Councils to engage with powers around asset transfer, neighbourhood plans, devolved services, and right to buy/challenge/bid, etc. Leicestershire & Rutland Association of Local Councils LRP Big 7 - Active, inclusive and empowered parish councils • Raise the aspirations and confidence of Parish and Town Councils in addressing the root causes of local issues with partners and stakeholders (e.g. police, youth service, voluntary sector, etc). Focus on vulnerable families/groups (e.g. young/old people) and those who are isolated/hard to reach. • Provide training and toolkit for Parish and Town Councils on equalities and inclusion, including statutory compliance and best practice. • Support a programme of Parish and Town Council liaison events with principal authorities across Leicestershire to support activity around this and other LRP priorities. Leicestershire & Rutland Association of Local Councils Case Studies • Discussion in small groups (approx 4) • Each group to look at 2 case studies • Tell us: What you like about each one How the project or its principles could be applied in your areas What barriers do you think would need to be overcome