Transcript Slide 1

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?
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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
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‘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
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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?
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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
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Undertake research/surveys with Parish and Town Councils around
priorities in order to maximise data availability and develop a robust
evidence base around need.
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Deliver programme of core training to Parish and Town Councils, their
clerks, and councillors.
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Disseminate, promote, and embed use of the Rural Economy Planning
Toolkit with Parish and Town Councils.
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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.
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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.
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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
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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.
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Provide training and toolkit for Parish and Town Councils on equalities and
inclusion, including statutory compliance and best practice.
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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