The changing policy landscape

Robert BeardImproving Local Partnerships Policy AdviserNAVCA, The Tower, 2 Furnival Square,

SHEFFIELD S1 4QL+(0)114 289 3984robert.beard@navca.org.ukwww.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

• right to challenge does not give right to deliver

• procurement law favours large organisations

• protection for valued local services?

Localism Bill – can it deliver?

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 reportCutting 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 GrahamInformation Commissioner

The Guardian, 21 January 2011

nef reportCutting 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 and2) taxes.”

Benjamin Franklinwriter, diplomat & humanitarian

1706-1790

“In this world nothing is certain but

1) death and2) 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

Because it’s there!

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?

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?

God helps those who

help themselves!

Community Organisers

• Govt will provide training• COs to find their own salaries• unaffordable for communities?• other types of communities• misunderstanding?• Labour: Movement for Change

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

• An equal and fair society The Compact

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?

to this?

From 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 AndersonLeader, 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 HoodlessExecutive Director (outgoing)

Community Service Volunteers