Oldham’s co-operative story An approach for our times Councillor Jim McMahon, Leader of the...

Oldham’s co-operative story

An approach for our times

Councillor Jim McMahon, Leader of the Council

First things first…

No one size fits all model. Local issues need local solutions

But…

Common values and behaviours which underpin our approach

For us in Oldham…

“A town where everyone does their bit and everyone benefits”

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1. Responsibility and self-help:People who live and work in Oldham are making positive choices to help themselves.

2. Co-production and engagement:Residents are empowered to shape services and decisions in their area.

3. Community leadership: The council and its elected members are playing a strong community and civic leadership role which enables residents and partners to do their bit.

4. Adding social value:The council and its partners are working together to get the best social value out of their business practices.

The co-operative response

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A wide approach

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Demand management

Commissioning

Social value

Community engagement

Co-production

Social enterprise

MutualisationLocal

democracy

Community capacity-building

Corporate social responsibility

Community finance

Social investment

Prevention

Cross-sector collaboration

Why this approach?

Our starting point

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Oldham

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Political control

LABLAB LDLD LABLAB LDLD NOCNOC LABLAB

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Where we were as a council

‘Weak Leadership’

‘Community Cohesion troubles’

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In the context of…

Savings already delivered…• £21m in 2009/10• £15m in 2010/11• £40m in 2011/12• £24m in 2012/13

What we’ve got to deliver…• £40m in 2013/14 and 2014/15• With every expectation of more to come

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• Some early wins

• Ethical framework underpins constitution

• Staff living wage and 3 days volunteering

• Co-operative Enterprise Trust established with £1.2m donations

• Co-operative Dividend Fund established with £900k dormant funds

• Co-operative Educational Trust established

• Social Value Procurement policy introduced

• Youth Council given constitutional powers

• Devolution and local leaders established

• Adult Social Care not for profit established £16m turnover and 100 jobs projected in 5 years

• ‘Industrial Provident Society’ awarded £8m leisure contract with planned £12m capital investment

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• Taking it to the streets…

• Fair Fares - address high cost of public transport

– Working in partnership with FirstBus to reduce ticket prices

– Success with 28% reduction and creation of ‘Oldham Ticket’

– Employment ‘express way’ routes planned

– Credit Union members receive further discounts

• Fair Energy - address high cost of energy

– Collective buying scheme: over 8,7000 households signing up

– Average saving £171 – biggest over £800

– Now rolled out across Greater Manchester and beyond

• Fair Credit - address high cost of credit for low income families

– Take on Brighthouse, Perfect Home etc.

– Expanded roll of Credit Union

– Watch this space!

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Some coverage

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We’ve come a long way…

• Fastest account closure• Children's services “performing excellently”• 2nd highest recycling rate regionally• Delivering major regeneration programmes freeing up

£100m of public funding to attract further £200m investment in town centre

• Public satisfaction tripled • Recognised nationally for innovation• Won Most Improved Council award and four award

winning campaigning councillors

Implementing the visionElected Members

- Community Leaders

- More power, budgets, support (17/staff)

- Responsibilities Accountable Training Behaviours Stepping up

Elected Members

In Practice- Devolution – Town Hall- Local Leaders Programme- Individual/Ward budgets- Annual Reports- Open Council – web streaming, twitter, Facebook

Implementing the visionWider Public

- ‘Co-operative Place’ belongs to its people – not the Council

- Can’t defer responsibility

- Get out what you put in

- ‘Basic’ offer v’s ‘Dividend’

Wider Public

- Council – open – transparent

- Value driven/Ethical

- Community in wider scene including businesses – all have a role

Wider Public

Implementing the visionProfessionals

- Business Case

- Pride in Employer

- Part of something bigger

- Rewarding (volunteering, discounts)

- Investment, training, think ‘BIG’

Professionals

Implementing the visionThe Business Case

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From2003

to2012

Police/Community

Safety

A post-it = a contact or intervention

Health Social Care HousingCommunityOutreach

CAFCo-ordination

AttendanceService

HousingBenefit

BarnadosFamily

InterventionProject

Public Sector Reform

- Network in place – a lot of the pain has been gone through in other places – share learning

- Legal, Policy, Political Learning

- Hard work Theory Practice

- Get house in order – people have an idea what ‘Co-operative’ means and will hold you to account

Learning

Learning- Invest in messaging

- Staff and Member Development

- Engage early – third sector, trade unions etc.

- Reinforce everything you do (not a standalone

project)

- Self police and hold to account

- Manage expectations 5 – 10 years

- Be realistic – not designing from scratch

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