1. Hampshire rural workshop March 2011
Social capital: what is ‘it’, why
is ‘it’ important and how do we
work with ‘it’?
How is it relevant to the Big
Society in general and the
Localism Bill in particular ?
Trevor Cherrett,
Commission for Rural Communities, Town
and Country Planning Association, and
Rural Coalition

2. Social Capital

3. More definitions
’networks together with shared norms, values and understandings that facilitate co-operation within or among groups’ (OECD definition)
‘the institutions, relationships, and norms that shape the quality and quantity of a society's social interactions…Social capital is not just the sum of the institutions which underpin a society – it is the glue that holds them together’
(World Bank definition)

4. Different types of Capital
Forum for the Future (2005)
‘five capitals model’: natural, social, human, manufactured and financial capital.
‘Transubstantiation’ – exchange and relationship between the capitals.

5. Different kinds of interchange
Bonding – ‘getting by’
Bridging – ‘getting ahead’
Linking – ‘getting in’

6. Hampshire rural workshop March 2011
maintenance of social capital - important in maintaining environmental and local institutions

7. The Policy Context (1) The Big Society and Localism
Simplifying national policy (forthcoming NPPF)
Scrapping regional strategies ( RSS, RDAs etc) and introducing LEPs
Staying with Local Plans (core strategies)
New Neighbourhood Plans (and NDOs, Right to Builds, and Referendums )
Reducing social housing funds and grants
New Homes Bonus/ S106 / CILs ?
See HMG Decentralisation & Localism Bill: an essential Guide; and CLG: A plain English Guide to the Localism Bill (Jan 2011)

8. Policy Context (2) Future Challenges:
Demographic – a growing and ageing population (who desire to live in rural England......)
See Foresight Report: Land Use Futures: Making the most of land in the 21st century; Govt Office for Science (2010)
Climate Change: mitigation and/or adaptation
Pressures on resources: eg food, water, oil
Future rural roles ? See OECD report: Rural England (2011) for a critique of rural policy and delivery

9. Conclusions: prospects for the future
Brave new world of locality planning, or a Nimby`s charter ?
More opportunities for the private sector ?
Focused local delivery or strategic chaos ?
New models for new times ?

10. New Models for the Future
A national spatial plan ?
Regional and sub-regional co-operation (eg LEPs)
Local collaboration ( between the local state and community neighbourhoods)
Local action eg Community Land Trusts
Making more rural land available for sustainable development ?

11. Attitudes to the Localism Bill
Embrace with enthusiasm ?
Cautious welcome ?
Outright rejection ?

12. What to do about the Localism Bill (coming your way soon)
Check out the Local Plan (LDF )
Need for a Parish Plan ? What form might this take ? How would it convert to a Neighbourhood Plan / Neighbourhood Development Order (NDO) ?
Possible bids for local assets ? Land for affordable housing / workshops / play areas/ amenities etc ?
What do local people think or want ?