1. Open Public Services Overview of issues & implications for the voluntary & community sector London Civic Forum Seminar “Opening Public Services – a real choice for citizens?” 12 th June, 2012

2. Open Public Services White Paper  White Paper published – July 2011  Created a narrative for existing reforms e.g. Localism Act, NHS reforms etc  A narrative built on principles – choice & control, decentralisation, diversity, fairness & accountability  Listening exercise – results published, November 2011  Update paper published – March 2012  “New Propositions” – Increasing user Choice, Neighborhood Councils, Payment by results 2

3. What are the key drivers, what is different?  Big Society, smaller state (‘post-bureaucratic’ state)  Further shift from top-down controls to ‘localism’  Move away from ‘consensual’ community empowerment, to rights based relationship  Decentralisation, by working upwards – individual choice, neighbourhood, state commissioning  We have moved, from choice, to personalisation and, back to choice again.  From state vs. external provision, to private sector vs. VCS/social enterprise 3

4. Shifting models of funding for the VCS  Grants  Block Contracts  Spot Purchasing  Tariff-based contracts  Payment by results contracting  Personal budgets and direct payments  Prime Contractor / sub- contracting  Working through consortia 4  There are concerns about whether ‘new’ funding such as PbR and Personal Budgets are good for end-users and for VCS organisations  Prime Contracting – dilemma  Not seeing a “seismic” shift towards them, but grants and block contracts are reducing  Is this a short-term, one off, shift to due to cuts?  Or is further, shifting likely to happen?  Proposals to be published on extending payment to results to new areas – March 2013

5. Individual Services  Providing user choice is the preferred starting point for Open Public Services  Coalition Government wants to move quicker, and faster of pre-existing reforms e.g. children with SEN/or disabilities will have option of a personal budget by 2014 and adults social care by April 2013  Independent Review on the barriers to choice  ‘Choice Champions’, ‘You have the right to choose’ campaign  Legislating for a ‘right to choice’  Changing role for providers, and commissioners  New risks, implications for the VCS business and financial model 5  Call for evidence on legislating for choice – closes, 22 June 2012  Independent Review of barriers to choice published - Dec 2012  Government response to the Independent Review - March 2013  Call for evidence on legislating for choice – closes, 22 June 2012  Independent Review of barriers to choice published - Dec 2012  Government response to the Independent Review - March 2013

6. Commissioning  Shift to commissioning  ‘Intelligent Commissioning’  Creating a level playing field  Social Value 6  Changing role of commissioning  Community Budgets  The Compact  Public Services (Social Value) Act 2012, comes into force – tba  Proposals to extend payment by results - March 2013  Second Phase of Local Government Finance Review, on community budget concludes – March 2013  Public Services (Social Value) Act 2012, comes into force – tba  Proposals to extend payment by results - March 2013  Second Phase of Local Government Finance Review, on community budget concludes – March 2013

7. Neighbourhoods  Neighbourhood ‘Budgeting’, ‘Commissioning’ & ‘Delivery’  New Community Rights – Bid, Challenge, Build  Neighbourhood Planning  Neighbourhood Councils 7  Community right to challenge, regulations in place, July 2012  Community right to bid regulations in place, Oct 2012  Consultation on establishing new town and parish councils with consultation, July 2012  Develop model for town & parish councils, Oct 2012  Community right to challenge, regulations in place, July 2012  Community right to bid regulations in place, Oct 2012  Consultation on establishing new town and parish councils with consultation, July 2012  Develop model for town & parish councils, Oct 2012

8. Observations  Getting the funding shift working for the VCS and users  However, you cut the cake, it will continue to get smaller  It’s needs, priorities and resources, stupid!  Rights, yes, but its down to culture, relationships & imagination  New ‘spin out” mutuals – friend or foe?  Representative democracy and participatory democracy 8

9. Contact details Mark Upton Public Policy Strategies Tel: 07905 164 695 Email: mark.upton@publicpolicystrategies.co.ukmark.upton@publicpolicystrategies.co.uk Website: www.publicpolicystrategies.co.ukwww.publicpolicystrategies.co.uk Blog: www.blog.publicpolicystrategies.co.uk/www.blog.publicpolicystrategies.co.uk/ 9