The changing policy landscape

1

• The changing policy landscape
• Robert Beard
• Improving Local Partnerships Policy Adviser
• NAVCA, The Tower, 2 Furnival Square,
• SHEFFIELD S1 4QL
• ( (0)114 289 3984
• robert.beard_at_navca.org.uk
• www.navca.org.uk/infobank

2

• The Big Society
• not a programme
• an outcome
• 3 strands
• new culture of voluntarism, philanthropy, social
  action
• public service reform
• community empowerment

3

• 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

4

• right to challenge does not give right to deliver
• procurement law favours large organisations
• protection for valued local services?

• Localism Bill can it deliver?

5

• Real power for communities
• www.rp4c.org.uk/

6

• 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

7

• 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?

8

• 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

9

• 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 Governments tenet that we are
  all in this together.

10

• In this world nothing is certain but
• death and
• taxes.
• Benjamin Franklin
• writer, diplomat humanitarian
• 1706-1790

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• In this world nothing is certain but
• death and
• taxes.
• public spending cuts

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• Winners (lt -1)

Losers (-8.9)
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• Local government settlement
• Many poorer councils have to find bigger savings
• NHS social care funding now included in settlement

14

• Transition Fund
• 100 million
• for CSOs delivering high quality services
• administered by Big Lottery Fund
• awards announced in April and May

15

• 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 its there!
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• 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

17

• 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

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• 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?

19

• 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!
20

• Local Enterprise Partnerships
• natural economic areas
• 30 approved so far

21

• Local Enterprise Partnerships
• local?
• rebel councils

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• 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

23

• 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

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• Your Square Mile
• c. 1 million groups
• 93000 square miles
• enabling citizens to join and create groups
• linking groups to sharing resources
• UKs biggest mutual

YOU ARE HERE
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• 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

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• 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

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• 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
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• The Compact
• Compact Commission abolished
• Compact Voice to champion and Cabinet Office to
  promote
• increased funding for Compact Voice

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• Big Society VCS response
• Reinventing the wheel?

From this
to this?
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• 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 whats important
• campaign against arbitrary cuts
• Compact
• public law

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• Why Big Society cant 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

33

• Why Big Society cant 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

34

• Why Big Society cant 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

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• Why Big Society cant work?
• Big Society It just came at the wrong moment.
• Phil Redmond
• television writer/producer
• Liverpool vanguard area leader

36

• Why Big Society cant work?
• However well intentioned the Big Society is,
  cuts to public expenditure undermine it.
• Tony Travers
• London School of Economics

37

• "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