Transcript National Indicator 7

The changing policy landscape
Robert Beard
Improving Local Partnerships Policy Adviser
+ NAVCA, The Tower, 2 Furnival Square,
SHEFFIELD S1 4QL
( +(0)114 289 3984
: [email protected]
: www.navca.org.uk/infobank
The ‘Big Society’
• not a programme
• an outcome
• 3 strands:
– new culture of voluntarism,
philanthropy, social action
– public service reform
– community empowerment
Localism Bill
• new powers for councils
• new rights for local people and
communities
– includes ‘virtual’ and ‘causal’
communities – Greg Clark
• planning reforms
• make housing fairer and more
democratic
• incentives for economic growth
Localism Bill – can it deliver?
• right to challenge
does not give right
to deliver
• procurement law
favours large
organisations
• protection for valued
local services?
Real power for communities
• www.rp4c.org.uk/
Localism Bill
• Labour amendment
– ‘too many powers for CLG
Secretary’
– sections on empowerment and
planning ‘put together hastily and
without adequate consultation’
• Committee stage
– evidence invited from community
groups and the public
nef report
Cutting it: The ‘Big Society’ and
the new austerity
• “The doors are wide open for
big global corporations… to
take over state functions…”
• “How much room will the big
corporates leave for… small
voluntary organisations…?”
Risk of less accountability…
“…everything from children's
services to doctors' practices
could end up outside the scope of
the Freedom of Information Act…
“There is a potential for services to
become less transparent and less
accountable.”
Christopher Graham
Information Commissioner
The Guardian, 21 January 2011
nef report
Cutting it: The ‘Big Society’ and the
new austerity
• Inequality means not everyone
can take part and benefit
• “… localisation and fiscal
retrenchment threaten to
undermine the Government’s
tenet that we are ‘all in this
together’.”
“In this world nothing is certain
but
1) death and
2) taxes.”
Benjamin Franklin
writer, diplomat & humanitarian
1706-1790
“In this world nothing is certain
but
1) death and
2) taxes.”
3) public spending cuts
‘Winners’ (< -1%)
‘Losers’ (-8.9%)
Local government settlement
• Many poorer councils have to find bigger savings
• NHS social care funding now included in settlement
Transition Fund
• £100 million
• for CSOs delivering high quality
services
• administered by Big Lottery Fund
• awards announced in April and May
Big Society Bank
• funded from ‘dormant’
accounts
• to capitalise CSOs
• to encourage retail banks
to lend to CSOs
• £200 million loans to
launch Big Society Bank
• BSB loans for existing or
only for new groups?
Because
it’s there!
Communities First fund
• targeted towards the most
disadvantaged areas
• start up funds for neighbourhood
groups
• charities and social enterprises
can offer support
• for “new and existing groups”
• match funding “not a requirement”
• “We want to support local
infrastructure organisations…
which play a valuable role… by
nurturing the small groups...”
• Stronger Civil Society consultation
Lord Taylor of Holbeach
Government Whip
National Citizen Service
• for young people to develop skills for engagement
and become active, responsible citizens
• £2 million government start-up funding
• incentive to take part?
Community Organisers
•
•
•
•
•
•
Govt will provide training
COs to find their own salaries
unaffordable for communities?
other types of communities
misunderstanding?
Labour: Movement for Change
God helps
those who
help
themselves!
Local Enterprise Partnerships
• “natural economic areas”
• 30 approved so far
Local Enterprise
Partnerships
• ‘local’?
• ‘rebel’ councils:
Business Connectors
• people who connect local
business and local organisations
• target of 1000 business
connectors
• BitC – “a crucial role”
• target “areas that need the
greatest help”
• address “problems that are of
greatest concern”
Big Society Network
• deliver the benefits of civic
participation
• encourage people to take part
in groups
• help groups and entrepreneurs
to access Big Society powers
• independently funded
• partner with government
Your Square Mile
• c. 1 million groups
• 93000 square miles
• enabling citizens to
join and create groups
• linking groups to
sharing resources
• ‘UK’s biggest mutual’
YOU ARE HERE
Public Services (Social Enterprise
and Social Value) Bill
• Public bodies must take account of
‘wider economic, social and
environmental well-being’
• Consider whether to consult
beneficiaries
The Compact
• voluntary agreement between
Government and civil society
• renewed Compact published on
14 December 2010
• accountability and transparency
• “shorter and more focussed”
• statement of support
• NAO study of Compact and
government – July 2011
The Compact – outcomes
• A strong, diverse and independent civil society
• Effective and transparent design and
development of policies programmes and public
services
• Responsive and high-quality programmes and
services
• Clear arrangements for managing changes to
programmes and services
The Compact
• An equal and fair society
The Compact
• Compact Commission abolished
• Compact Voice to champion and Cabinet Office
to promote
• increased funding for Compact Voice
Big Society – VCS response
• Reinventing the wheel?
From this…
to this?
What we can do…
• use relationships with local public sector
• engage with LSPs, scrutiny committees and
LEPs to identify priorities for community
– 42% of NAVCA members will advise on cuts
– 27% will campaign against them
• campaign for what’s important
• campaign against arbitrary cuts
– Compact
– public law
Why Big Society can’t work…?
“Lord Nat Wei has no private
income to fall back on, and is
cutting his voluntary hours to
earn more money and see more
of his family…”
The Guardian, 1 February 2011
Why Big Society can’t work…?
“Lord Nat Wei has no private
income to fall back on, and is
cutting his voluntary hours to
earn more money and see more
of his family…”
The Guardian, 1 February 2011
Why Big Society can’t work?
“… Liverpool City Council can no
longer support the big society
initiative, as a direct consequence of
your funding decisions…
“… the government has failed to
deliver a single change that we have
requested…”
Cllr Joe Anderson
Leader, Liverpool City Council
3 February 2011
Why Big Society can’t work?
“Big Society… It just came at
the wrong moment.”
Phil Redmond
television writer/producer
Liverpool vanguard area leader
Why Big Society can’t work?
“However well intentioned the Big
Society is, cuts to public expenditure
undermine it.”
Tony Travers
London School of Economics
"There are a lot of very worthwhile
programmes… which are now
under threat of closure.”
“… ways of saving money without
destroying the volunteer army"
“make a year of service a
prerequisite for all would-be
MPs?”
Dame Elisabeth Hoodless
Executive Director (outgoing)
Community Service Volunteers