Independent Group Spring Conference, York March 9th 2011

LGA Independent GroupConferencePark Inn, York

Bridget Harris March 9th 2011

Big Society – All in it together?

1. The Localism Bill

2. Our relationship to localismxxxx

3. Big societyxxxx

4. Councillorsxxxx

5. Challenges and way forwardxxxx

“We want society – the families, networks, neighbourhoods and communities that form the fabric of so much of our everyday lives – to be bigger and stronger than ever before” Coalition Agreement, May 2010

“..it will not come about unless communities at the most local level feel they

have a stake in the outcomes” Keith Ross, Leader, Independent

Group

“the most important piece of legislation for local government in a generation” Simon Parker, Director of the NLGN,

''It's devolution with a gun to the head'' shadow CLG Secretary Caroline Flint MP

The Localism Bill

1. Generally competent or generally powerful?

The Localism Bill

2. 'Right to Buy' meets 'Compulsory Competitive Tendering'

The Localism Bill

3. Open Source Planning

more mayorsxx

more referendumsxx

less inspection

more committeesxx

more place, less totalxx

less payxx

less officersxx

more transparency

more collaborationx

more parishesxx

4. Structures structures structures

The Localism Bill

more data

The Localism Bill

4. Structures structures structures

Less Pickles....?xx

More Councillors?xx

19th Century – health & safety a nationalised approach?

Municipal socialism.. or liberal community leadership?

According to his friend and colleague Jesse Collings,

Joseph Chamberlain left Birmingham:

“parked, paved, assized, marketed, gas & watered

and improved”

Public arts as important and public health"All may not use them, but all may do so if they like; and as they are means of instructing and improving some, all are directly or indirectly benefited by them.” Passmore Edwards, 1850

20th Century – wealth & education a centralised approach?

21st Century ????? An individual, localised approach?

The 20th century saw the privatisation of lifestyle – defined by personal preferences and consumption

The job of politicians is to turn that into some kind of public good - to see that as our collective value, and to use it as drivers for other public goods - like taking care of the vulnerable, protecting assets and resources, defining 'good' through collaborative acts, sharing feedback and thinking differently about outcomes

No job stabilityxNo housing securityxNo pension promisex

Welcome to the World

Big Society: All sound and no bite?

Big Society: Defined by David

Big society is about:

- Social action

- Public service reform

- Community empowermentxxx

(PM David Cameron MP July 2010)

Big Society: Who gets it?

Public and Voluntary Sectors are already doing it

Big Society: Who gets it?

Public and Voluntary Sectors are already doing it

Big Society: Who gets it?

Innovators have already predicted it:

Big Society: Who gets it?

The facebook generation is going to do it anyway....

Big Society: Who gets it?

Challenging the public / private sphere

Change is not going to be driven just by public policy announcementsx - going to be driven by a different type of citizen demand.

How should councillor's respond to this agenda?

Will expectations on them and their roles change?

Future role of councillors

1. Technocratic or democratic?

Future role of councillors

2. Wicked issues

Future role of councillors

3. Leading the Place – defining the terms

Future role of councillors

4. Protecting the public good

Living in our comfort zone?xx

Some questions for afternoon workshops..

1. If, by definition, Big Society can only be a description and vision, not a 'policy' that could be centrally directed - what is your alternative vision for the future shape of public services?

2. How can councillors influence culture change within their authorities?

3. Does community leadership mean the end of parties? What is the role for independent councillors? ?

Some questions for afternoon workshops..

And in the workshop on accountability and risk, Jeremy will go in more detail into the changes to national expectations on councils from the Localism Bill, and particularly what the implications are for accountability and risk:

- how well is your council performing?

- how do you know?

- what can you do about it?

?

director of politics and partnerships

[email protected]

co-ordinator of programme

[email protected]