Ben Page Chairman Ipsos MORI Social Research Institute How can we make “empowerment” work?

2 Where are we now? A decade of reform to boost involvement and accountability Surveys, user engagement, juries, workshops, consultation strategies, local area forums, ward sub- committees etc Voting in NDC elections Empowerment Plans, White papers etc New national indicator on feelings of influence measured every two years via the Place Survey, starting September  Real challenges of place! Public angrier than before?

3 As Hazel Blears said at the launch I believe that the biggest improvements in public services are driven not by the oversight of central government, but by local people – by communities having a chance to say what they want. In my experience there is no service that cannot be improved by the active involvement of local people, no challenge that cannot be better met by harnessing their energy and initiative.

4 Both major parties grappling with the challenge of the limits of state action and the need for “cultural change”

5 But it is not all good news People don’t feel listened to

6 Most People feel they are not listened to But may still be difficult to get them to take part in a particular exercise – or take part in existing structures Five challenges 1.Relevance Is the Council doing a good job in implementing its Agenda 21 obligations? 2.Credibility/efficacy problem - what’s in it for me? What will actually change? 3.Resources 4.Political and managerial commitment 5.Scale – most good examples are only working with a very small proportion of people

7 Most people favour local area forums of one kind or another Don’t know/no opinion Yes, support No, oppose Support QIn principle, would you support or oppose extending Community Partnerships to other parts of the Borough? Base: All residents (1,021)

8 But many fewer SAY they personally want to get involved Don’t know/no opinion Yes, support No, oppose Support Involvement QIn principle, would you support or oppose extending Community Partnerships to other parts of the Borough? No Depends Yes QAnd would you personally be interested in getting involved? Don’t know Base: All respondents who support the idea (835) Base: All residents (1,021)

9 And in practice only a tiny proportion ever do… Don’t know/no opinion Yes, support No, oppose Support Involvement QIn principle, would you support or oppose extending Community Partnerships to other parts of the Borough? No Depends Yes QAnd would you personally be interested in getting involved? Don’t know Base: All respondents who support the idea (835) Base: All residents (1,021) Actual Proportion - 2%

10 But it is not all good news And what matters? analysis from our forthcoming “Impact of Empowerment” report

11 What drives Satisfaction with Area at the resident level? Satisfaction with area 46% of variation in satisfaction with area explained Cleanliness score Feel area cohesive Concern about ASB Satisfied with housing, Education, planning Satisfied with housing, Education, planning Parks and Open spaces How well Informed kept Feeling can influence council 32% 14% 13% 10% 4% 2%

12 But it is not all good news Looking at 15,000 face to face interviews in the poorest wards in England

13 Comparisons of actual involvement, Yes QHave you been involved in any activities organised by (local NDC) in the last two years? No Source: NDC Surveys 2002, 2004, 2006 Base: All residents aged 16+

14 Influence vs. community cohesion Neighbours look out for each other Know most/many people in neighbourhood Feel part of the local community Feel able to influence Don’t feel able to influence Source: Ipsos MORI NDC Household Survey 2006 Base: 15,792 residents aged 16+

15 Influence vs. contentment with local area Good quality of life Satisfied with area Feel NDC improved area Feel able to influence Don’t feel able to influence Source: Ipsos MORI NDC Household Survey 2006 Base: 15,792 residents aged 16+

16 But it is not all good news But this falls away when we look at overall differences by each area…

17 Involvement vs feeling NDC improved area Feeling NDC improved area 2006 (%) Levels of involvement 2006 (%) Source: NDC Survey 2006 Base: 15,792 NDC residents aged 16+

18 Involvement vs perceived quality of life Perceived quality of life 2006 (%) Levels of involvement 2006 (%) Source: NDC Survey 2006 Base: 15,792 NDC residents aged 16+

19 Involvement vs feeling part of community Feeling part of community 2006 (%) Levels of involvement 2006 (%) Source: NDC Survey 2006 Base: 15,792 NDC residents aged 16+

20 Involvement vs satisfaction with area Satisfaction with area 2006 (%) Levels of involvement 2006 (%) Source: NDC Survey 2006 Base: 15,792 NDC residents aged 16+ South Kilburn Preston Road West Ham & Plaistow Kensington Beswick & Openshaw

21 Involvement vs trust in local NDC partnership Trust in local NDC partnership 2006 (%) Levels of involvement 2006 (%) Source: NDC Survey 2006 Base: 13,008 NDC residents aged 16+ Marsh Farm Doncaster Central South Kilburn Braunstone Blakenall Greets Green

22 Involvement vs knowing other people Knowing other people 2006 (%) Levels of involvement 2006 (%) Source: NDC Survey 2006 Base: 15,792 NDC residents aged 16+

23 Involvement vs trust in local council Trust in local council 2006 (%) Levels of involvement 2006 (%) Source: NDC Survey 2006 Base: 15,792 NDC residents aged 16+ North Fulham

24 Influence vs satisfaction with area Satisfaction with area 2006 (%) Feelings of influence 2006 (%) Source: NDC Survey 2006 Base: 15,792 NDC residents aged 16+

25 Change in influence vs change in satisfaction with area Change in satisfaction with area (%) Change in feelings of influence (%) North Huyton Thornhill North Fulham Ocean Estate Source: Longitudinal data NDC Surveys 2002 & 2006 Base: 19,574 (2002) & 15,792 (2006) residents aged 16+

26 Change in influence vs change in trust in local council Change in trust in local council (%) Change in feelings of influence (%) Source: Longitudinal data NDC Surveys 2002 & 2006 Base: 19,574 (2002) & 15,792 (2006) residents aged 16+

27 But it is not all good news Looking at the 2006 BVPI surveys

28 Satisfaction with council (%) Influence much weaker correlation Base: BVPI 2006 (70 District, County and Unitary Authorities) Feelings of influence (%) Source: Ipsos MORI Southwark Northants Cherwell DC City of London

29 Satisfaction with council (%) Opportunities for participation matter a bit more Base: BVPI 2006 (70 District, County and Unitary Authorities) Satisfied with opportunities for participation (%) Source: Ipsos MORI Bromley Notts CC Gateshead Hackney Kensington and Chelsea

30 Satisfaction with council (%) Correlation Base: Standard govt surveys 2006 (130 Single, Upper Tier and District Ipsos MORI client authorities) Feel informed by Council about Services and Benefits it provides (%) Feeling Informed really matters… Kensington & Chelsea Haringey Oldham Bedfordshire Bury Westminster City of London Bromley

31 Familiarity vs. perceived effectiveness Police Courts Prisons Crown Prosecution Service Probation Service Youth Offending Teams Source: Ipsos MORI, 2003 Base: 2,001 adults aged 16+, GB, Feb-March 2003

32 But it is not all good news Giving people confidence they have influence – if they need it – will be key

33 Beyond research: empowerment and participative techniques!! …our recent citizens summit at Downing Street

34 Neither/nor Strongly agree Strongly disagree Tend to disagree Tend to agree The Government should conduct these type of exercises on a more regular basis – as long as they listen and take account of our views Base: 54 forum participants 3 rd March 2007 Overall participants are positive – if those in authority listen and act…..

35 Split on level of empowerment The experts who provide and manage public services know best – they should find out what we think and get on with it % Agree QWhich of these two statements is closest to your own view? The general public should be much more actively involved in shaping public services, through for example people deciding on priorities Base: 54 forum participants 3 rd March 2007

Involve service users hands on in creative ways…

37 How do we investigate this changing area?

38 Get people involved – workshops & Citizen Researchers

39 Conclusions Huge accountability problems for politicians Signs that can help achieve positive outcomes and has significant positive side-effects – but issue of scale But don’t set up to fail – recognise range of methods/levels of involvement needed/wanted  Need to communicate better, more than consult better Making people feel they can influence if they need to is key Avoid consumer politics – ultimately need to give more responsibility back to people, or persuade THEM TO TAKE IT

Thank you