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