Transcript About us
Third Sector Assembly 21st September 2012 The Localism Act Can it work for us? Moseley Community Development Trust Registered charity no. 1087949 1 About us Local community anchor organisation. Local neighbourhood forum helped to create the DT Key members of Locality in the region Driving social change Committed to community enterprise Developing assets Independent 2 The new context for our work? 3 decentralisation Shift power away from central government to local people 4 Decentralisation and the Localism Bill, HM Government, December 2010 5 The Government’s Localism Act Royal assent on 15th Nov 2011 1. New freedoms and flexibilities for local government 2. New rights and powers for communities and individuals 3. Reform of the planning system 4. Reform to ensure that decisions about housing are taken locally 6 New Community Rights Right to Build Right to challenge Right to Bid Neighbourhood planning 7 RIGHT TO BID delay the sale and bid to buy assets of community value RIGHT TO BID Sounds great; our questions: ‘Community’ geography? Timing -6 months not long Relationships LA, owners, community Conditions of building LA decides community value 9 RIGHT TO CHALLENGE challenge and take over a council service you think can be better run RIGHT TO CHALLENGE Sounds great; our questions: Do we want to deliver public services? If we do, how do we fit in with procurement ? Risks in launching procurement process ? Best bidders, may not be best providers? Trojan Horses & Bid Candy; corporate charities and private sector companies? 11 RIGHT TO BUILD small scale, site-specific developments without planning permission NEIGHBOURHOOD PLANNING Neighbourhood planning powers give people the chance to decide how their local area should develop and what should be built. 12 NEIGHBOURHOOD PLANNING Sounds great; our questions : Access to expertise – will we get any? Capacity - does our community have enough? Managing expectations- can’t buck approved planning policy? “Nimbyism” Consensus- often hard to get in communities? What makes a ‘valid’ Neighbourhood forum? 13 Our Learning to Date • Resources and skills in the public and third sector • Culture change and partnership • Motivated and supportive Councillors • Local leaders • Community participation and inclusion • Funding • It’s not a quick process • It’s early days 14 Challenges & Opportunities 15 Challenges Opportunities Rights not well known yet Competition brings private sector in as Starts bottom up approach Helps participation Encourages ownership Can help recycling wealth within neighbourhood. Greater collaboration New ventures Better services Greater resilience Promote equality well Shrinking market Potential for conflict with LA Rights don’t always empower 16 Progress in Birmingham 17 Birmingham City Council It’s early days Discussions between senior officers and members have begun. Likely to develop protocols next year. Localisation and CAT There will be a learning phase and opportunities for collaboration – engage with the 3rd sector? 18 Neighbourhood Planning 2 pilots in Birmingham, Handsworth/Soho and Balsall Heath BH will be complete next year Tensions between LA and community Understanding the Planning System Resources, technical skills It’s a slow process 19 Capturing Community Voices 20 21 Issues and Lessons from Moseley Ensuring community priorities and vision can be retained through process Resources to undertake the process Conformity Means to achieve ambitions? - ownership of land, property, assets - a problem at the heart of “localism” more generally but especially relevant in Moseley 22 Progress elsewhere Redevelop a former milk processing plant as a low carbon live/work space – Totnes, Devon Community Library Service – Huddersfield Seaside town neighbourhood plan – Lynton and Lynmouth, Exmoor. Community Hospital, created by residents to be protected – Cranleigh, Surrey. 23 mycommunityrights.org.uk 24 Local support agencies Locality members: Birmingham Settlement, Moseley CDT, Norton Hall, Heartlands Older Peoples Forum, Come_Unity Arts, Witton Lodge Community Association, Castle Vale Tenants and Residents Alliance Asset Transfer Unit BVSC Digbeth Trust Chamberlain Forum Birmingham City Council 25 What next? Third sector needs to survive if it’s to engage Each has to decide its position on public service cuts, enterprise and the growth of the big society Support services to help understanding at the grassroots Develop a dialogue with the City Council’s localisation plans. 26 Anna Hraboweckyj and Tony Thapar www.MoseleyCDT.com, 0121 449 6060 or [email protected] www.Locality.org.uk 27