1 Nandu Kerai, Ellen Reaich and Paulette Romain Department for Communities and Local Government July 2014 You’ve got the power

The Vision

The Challenge Doing everything at the lowest possible level and only involving central government if absolutely necessary Giving away power to individuals, professionals, communities and local institutions A society where people, neighbourhoods and communities have more power and responsibility and use it to create better services and outcomes

What do we want to achieve? Communities genuinely more in control of decisions, assets and services Build different relationships between people and services – with interaction, engagement and ownership accepted as the norm People to have an understanding of what they can do, what their role is and how they can make a difference

Neighbourhood Planning STEP 1 Get informed on mycommunity rights STEP 2 Designate Neighbourhood Planning Area + Forum... STEP 3 Consultation & community engagement... STEP 4 Local Authority publicise the plan... STEP 5 Examination of plan STEP 6 Referendum STEP 7 Love your Neighbourhood! Eg Locality Road Map

Examples of neighbourhood plan policies Exeter St James preventing conversion of houses to multiple occupation once a certain threshold is reached Upper Eden allows single dwellings in rural areas, where the local plan would only allow them where there are at least 3 existing ones. Lynton & Lynmouth prevents new housing intended for use as a second home

Community Right to Bid STEP 2 Parish council or 21 people support and nominate the asset STEP 3 Local Authority accepts/rejects nomination STEP 4 If asset is going to be sold, can have up to 6 months to raise funds to buy STEP 5 Could use community shares? STEP 6 Asset is brought into community control STEP 1 Get informed: mycommunityrights. co.uk Find an asset that you want to protect

Residents of Nunhead, south London, came together to stop the clock on the sale of their local pub, The Ivy House, and raised money to buy it using community shares.

Green Valley Grocer is a community-owned co-operative in Slaithwaite, buying seasonal produce from farmers within 30 miles to sell to locals. The shop has become profitable again, and eight paid jobs have been created.

Community Shares STEP 5 Develop a share offer document setting out why your community should invest STEP 1 Find out how : shares.org.uk STEP 2 Make the case and gather community support STEP 3 To issue shares: register community group as an Industrial Provident Society STEP 6 Launch and promote share offer to attract investors STEP 4 Set your funding target based on your business case £18,000

Community Right to Challenge STEP 1 Get informed: mycommunityrights Consider your capacity and strengths STEP 2 Speak to local authority STEP 3 Build your business case STEP 4 Complete & submit expression of interest STEP 5 Local authority responds STEP 6 Bid to run the service

Our Place STEP 1 Find out more about the programme mycommunityrights. org.uk/ourplace/ mycommunityrights. org.uk/ourplace/ STEP 2 Join the Our Place network and take advantage of support and learning STEP 4 Work with your council, police, GPs, business and voluntary groups STEP 3 Buddy up with like-minded people and communities STEP 5 Make changes in your neighbourhood Our Place

Our Place Haverhill

What we learned An Our Place approach can generate better services Services are tailored to the needs of the neighbourhood Communities can reach and influence hard to help groups Public service providers work better together, with the community and with business An Our Place approach can make neighbourhood spend go further Communities are taking control of local services and assets, to reduce waste and generate savings Local people are coming forward to volunteer alongside statutory services Free professional support for community organisations Businesses are coming forward with ‘in-kind’ support An Our Place approach can create more resilient communities Communities are influencing decisions about services and ‘spend’ in their neighbourhood New community role for councillors Increased democratic engagement

15 That’s all very well but this seems complicated… Funding expert support organisations to work with community groups, parish councils and local authorities. Find more info at Providing over £50m of grant support for communities using the new powers and opportunities Working closely with other government departments to make it easier for communities to understand the wider help available That’s why we’re: Supporting a resources website featuring a 10 step guide to running a community project and home to the Knowledge Bank filled with guidance on specific types of projectswww.justact.org.uk

….and support is available DCLG Community assets £19m 2012/15 Community assets £19m 2012/15 Right to challenge - £9.5m 2012/15 Right to challenge - £9.5m 2012/15 Community shares £590k 2012/15 Right to build £6.5m 2012/15 Right to build £6.5m 2012/15 Tenant Empowerment Fund up to £8m 2011/15 Neighbourhood planning £10.36m 2013/15 Neighbourhood planning £10.36m 2013/15 Our Place! £4.3m 2012/15 Our Place! £4.3m 2012/15 Parishes £900k 2013/15 Parishes £900k 2013/15

Where we are now Over 900 designated neighbourhood planning areas; 20 ‘yes’ votes 123 Our Place areas 93 Community Share offers £25m combined value 93 Community Share offers £25m combined value 245 Challenge organisations supported May 2014 Over 2,000 uses of the rights… and counting. May 2014 Over 2,000 uses of the rights… and counting Community assets listed under Community Right to Bid 2 Community Right to Build Orders approved 17 campaigns for new parish councils supported

We want to see… Thousands of areas designated Thousands of assets listed 145 share offers £22m 145 share offers £22m Over 100 Our Place areas 30 campaigns for new parishes supported Dozens of referendums

Community Rights made real! You’ve got the power to shape where you live and the responsibility that goes with it