1. Sam Ashby Big Society and Community Rights Division Department for Communities and Local Government Localism, Communities and Councillors How will the Localism Act work on the ground?

2. The Challenge ‘There is a gap between the kind of future to which most people aspire and the future they are likely to create if they carry on thinking and behaving as they do now’ Matthew Taylor, RSA June 2011

3. The Strategic Context Financial climate is difficult and will remain so for the next few years Innovation is needed Councillors can enable local communities to use local knowledge and expertise to help improve local services and neighbourhoods Central government is an enabler: enthusing, informing, networking and supporting

4. Localism, Decentralisation, Big Society Is the vision… Localism Is the ethos… Doing everything at the lowest possible level and only involving central government if absolutely necessary Decentralisation Is the process… Giving away power to individuals, professionals, communities, local councils and other institutions Big Society A society where people, neighbourhoods and communities have more power and responsibility and use it to create better services and outcomes

5. What Difference Will the Localism Act Make? Right to Build Neighbourhood Planning Right to bid (assets of community value) Right to Challenge Powers to Communities Transparency Governance and Accountability Freedom over governance structures Autonomy for local government Greater control over finance Freedom to act (General Power of Competence) Freedoms for Cities

6. The Role of Councils and Councillors Leaders of communities – councillors are democratic representatives of their local communities Greater powers over issues that matter to communities - councillors can use provisions in the act to foster greater localism and community engagement Councils are champion of public services in the area - working with other parts of the public sector Commissioner of services - in partnership with communities

7. New Rights For Communities Neighbourhood Planning Right to Bid Right to Challenge Right to Build Gives communities a fair chance to bid to take over land and buildings that are important to them. Provides time and support to bid for assets Gives community groups with ideas on how to run local services differently and better the right to challenge councils to run services Gives communities new way to gain planning permission for small new developments – homes, shops, businesses, facilities - in their area Gives neighbourhoods greater influence in deciding where facilities should be and the development they want locally. Plans subject to a local referendum

8. Community Right to Challenge Community Right to Bid Right to challenge Right to bid 1. Community or parish identify assets of community value 2. Local authorities hold and control a list of assets of community value 3. Communities get time and support to bid for assets 4. More communities take control of local assets 2. Expression of interest from VCS, charity, parish, or staff 3. Relevant authority reaches a decision on the expression of interest 1. Relevant services are subject to challenge 4. Authority accepts, or accepts with modification then runs a procurement exercise, or rejects and publish reasons for rejection

9. Community Right to Challenge Relevant services subject to challenge Voluntary or Community Group Charity Parish Council Relevant Authority Staff Expressio n of Interest Relevant Authority Accept Accept with modification Reject Relevant authority undertakes procurement exercise in line with legal requirements No procurement triggered; relevant authority publishes reason for rejection 1 Time during which expressions of interest, can be submitted 2 Time for authorities to reach a decision on expressions of interest 3 Time between accepting expressions of interest and starting a procurement exercise

10. List of Assets of Community Value List of land nominated by unsuccessful community nominations Identify Land or Building of Community Value Community Organisation Neighbourhood Planning Forum Parish Council Local Authority decides to list asset No objection from owner Owners objection unsuccessful Owner’s objection successful Local Authority decides not to list asset Added to list of Community Value Local Authority publicises and maintains list Community Right to Bid

11. Owner decides to sell listed asset and informs Local Authority LA informs nominator and publicises to community Community groups express interest in bidding Community groups prepare business plan and finance Owner can sell to whoever they choose at end of full window of opportunity Window starts when owner tells LA of intention to sell Interim window of opportunity ends 6 weeks Full window of opportunity ends 6 months No community groups express interest Owner free to sell asset after interim window of opportunity Owner can sell to community group

12. Where Next? Helping communities use the new rights Helping local authorities to understand their duties and implementing the Right Support programmes launched http://mycommunityrights.org.uk