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Sam AshbyBig Society and Community Rights DivisionDepartment for Communities and Local Government
Localism, Communities and CouncillorsHow will the Localism Act work on the ground?
The Challenge
‘There is a gap between the kind of future to which most people aspire and the future they are likely to create if they carry on thinking and behaving as they do now’
Matthew Taylor, RSA June 2011
The Strategic Context
• Financial climate is difficult and will remain so for the next few years
• Innovation is needed• Councillors can enable local communities to use
local knowledge and expertise to help improve local services and neighbourhoods
• Central government is an enabler: enthusing, informing, networking and supporting
Localism, Decentralisation, Big Society
Is the vision…
LocalismLocalismIs the ethos…Doing everything at the lowest possible level and only involving central government if absolutely necessary
DecentralisationDecentralisationIs the process…Giving away power to individuals, professionals, communities, local councils and other institutions
Big SocietyBig Society A society where people, neighbourhoods and communities have more power and responsibility and use it to create better services and outcomes
What Difference Will the Localism Act Make?
Right to Build
Neighbourhood Planning
Right to bid (assets of
community value)
Right to Challenge
Powers to Communities
Transparency
Governance and Accountability
Freedom over governance structures
Autonomy for local government
Greater control over
finance
Freedom to act(General Power of Competence)
Freedoms for Cities
The Role of Councils and Councillors
• Leaders of communities – councillors are democratic representatives of their local communities
• Greater powers over issues that matter to communities - councillors can use provisions in the act to foster greater localism and community engagement
• Councils are champion of public services in the area - working with other parts of the public sector
• Commissioner of services - in partnership with communities
New Rights For Communities
Neighbourhood Planning
Right to Bid Right to Challenge Right to Build
Gives communities a fair chance to bid to take over land and buildings that are important to them. Provides time and support to bid for assets
Gives community groups with ideas on how to run local services differently and better the right to challenge councils to run services
Gives communities new way to gain planning permission for small new developments – homes, shops, businesses, facilities - in their area
Gives neighbourhoods greater influence in deciding where facilities should be and the development they want locally. Plans subject to a local referendum
Community Right to ChallengeCommunity Right to Bid
Right to
challenge
Right to
bid
1. Community or parish identify
assets of community value
2. Local authorities hold and control a
list of assets of community value
3. Communities get time and support to bid for assets
4. More communities take control of
local assets
2. Expression of interest from VCS, charity, parish, or
staff
3. Relevant authority reaches a decision on
the expression of interest
1. Relevantservices are subject to challenge
4. Authority accepts, or accepts with modification then runs a
procurement exercise, or rejects and publish reasons
for rejection
Community Right to Challenge
Relevant services
subject to challenge
Voluntary or Community
Group
Charity
Parish Council
Relevant Authority
Staff
Expression of
InterestR
elevant Authority
Accept
Accept with modification
Reject
Relevant authority
undertakes procurement
exercise in line with legal
requirements
No procurement triggered; relevant authority publishes reason for rejection
1
Time during which expressions of interest,
can be submitted
2
Time for authorities to reach a decision on
expressions of interest
3
Time between accepting expressions of interest and
starting a procurement exercise
List of Assets of Community Value
List of land nominated by unsuccessful
community nominations
Community Organisation
Neighbourhood Planning Forum
Parish Council
Local Authority decides to list asset
No objection from owner
Owners objection unsuccessful
Owner’s objection successful
Local Authority decides not to list
asset
Added to list of Community Value
Local Authority publicises and maintains list
Community Right to Bid
Owner decides to sell listed asset and informs
Local Authority
LA informs nominator and publicises to community
Window starts when owner tells LA of intention to sellInterim window of opportunity ends
6 w
eeks
Full window of opportunity ends
6 m
on
ths
Owner can sell to community
group
Where Next?
• Helping communities use the new rights
• Helping local authorities to understand their duties and implementing the Right
• Support programmes launched
http://mycommunityrights.org.ukhttp://mycommunityrights.org.uk