1. The voluntary sector and devolution

2. Devolution 1: Regions @2000 North East North West Yorkshire and Humber
East Midlands
West Midlands
East of England
London
South Eat
South West

3. Big Picture Thinking New norms for public services
A changed and changing relationship between the state and the individual
Greater control by the individual and the community on the how? Where? and when? of services
Changed and changing behaviours and values
Tackling problems and improving lives…
Tackling disadvantage /inequalities...LOCALLY 3

4. What does this mean for the voluntary and community sector?
Devolution 2: Big Society
@2010
“Big Society represents an approach that seeks to give increased power to people to solve problems closer to where they live”
A cross-government policy programme which will create a climate that empowers local people and communities
What does this mean for the voluntary and community sector?
Big Society is not a process, programme or project with milestones and targets but an outcome. So what could this mean for an ageing population?
The environment we have known and understood up to now might have changed and is still changing but I would suggest to you that the issues have not changed and the issue today is how do we ensure that people in their later life are also empowered and enabled to solve their own problems.

5. What’s changed? The small print
Grants to Commissions to payment by results and personalised budgets
Single agency delivery to partnership delivery
Government reducing the level of direct services it directly provides
Citizens being encouraged to have greater involvement and participation in local decision ‘no decision about me without me’
Benefits and services being re-structured
Resources reducing
Grants to Commissions to payment by results and personalisation budgets (where the money follows individuals)
Single agency delivery to partnership delivery
Government reducing the level of services it directly provides preferring to put them out to tender. Opening up public sector contracts – giving Voluntary Sector a greater role in delivering public services
Benefits and services being re-structured and reducing resource
I want to pick up a little later the role of the citizen.
The question is how read are you to not only engage with this agenda but take up the opportunities that present themselves.

6. National picture of devolution @ 2015 / 17
Now we have city regions containing some
16.1 million people
9 new mayors to be elected
Focus on
West
Midlands

7. The scale of West Midlands Combined Authority
4 million people
20 local authorities
90% self-containment 8 4
 Observers
constituent
non-constituent
Economy Plus More than the sum of our parts

8. Vol & Com Sector Free Zone
A Combined authority – what does it really mean?
Vol & Com Sector Free Zone
But it could be more….Social Economic Plus zone - More than the sum of our parts

9. A Combined authority – what does it really mean?
The handing down of powers and money from central government to local authorities, so they can make decisions as they see fit
A handy video ‘Devolution Explained in 60 seconds’ can be seen here
Proposed Devolution Deal between WMCA and Chancellor of the Exchequer agreed and signed in November 2015

10. West Midlands Devolution Deal
WMCA Sector
An opportunity to secure powers, freedoms and flexibilities from government
Invited to negotiate, influence delivery of national government programmes to address local needs
Develop and resource an infrastructure inc: administrative (if not political lead)
Secure long term investment inc business rates control rather than short term budget allocations
Sell the positive that forming a Combined Authority has the opportunity of a devo deal

11. West Midlands Devolution deal cont’d
WMCA Sector
Opportunity to tackle the long term challenges faced by all local authorities such as:
transportation
Skills and employment
support for businesses
housing needs
land constraints
Mental health and wellbeing
Opportunity to be more transparent and accountable at local level
Sell the positive that forming a Combined Authority has the opportunity of a devo deal

12. Combined authorities are not
‘Super authorities’ delivering day to day services
About transferring local powers up to combined authority level but an opportunity for public sector reform
In fact:
All leaders acting as a board will be involved in decision making with the mayor as the chair person
The council will remain the key element in local democracy with current governance/political structures remaining in place

13. The socio-economic context
Strong foundations and enduring partnerships are in place.

14. Sector Response West Midlands Civil Society Forum + West Midlands VCS Network
The West Midlands Civil Society Forum is an open forum of organisations and networks from across all sections of civil society which aims to inform, support and enable the West Midlands Combined Authority as it develops to build an engagement platform. The West Midlands VCS Network is a network of VCS Infrastructure organisations of the 16 authorities on the WMCA board.
The West Midlands Civil Society and West Midlands Voluntary & Community Sector Network are working together to ensure voice and influence in work of WMCA

15. 8 4
 Observers
constituent
non-constituent

16. Questions for discussion:
How might West Midlands Charitable Trust support the wider sector to engage with this agenda?
What collective strategy could be put in place to ensure the widest range of sector organisations are involved in the socio-economic plus agenda?
HOW might we invest in and resource the delivery of services to achieve sustainability?
WHO should be involved with taking this agenda forward? (you and who else!)

17. Thank you Questions and discussion
Sharon Palmer
Chief Executive
RAWM