1. concrete solutions c.i.c. Making sense of national policy Robert Beard Improving Local Partnerships Policy Adviser  NAVCA, The Tower, 2 Furnival Square, SHEFFIELD S1 4QL  +(0)114 289 3984  robert.beard@navca.org.uk  www.navca.org.uk/infobank

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5. concrete solutions c.i.c. Decentralisation!

6. concrete solutions c.i.c. Decentralisation! Decent what??

7. concrete solutions c.i.c. The national context deficit reduction protecting frontline services and communities small state ‒ decentralisation Big Society –Active citizens –Community groups

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9. concrete solutions c.i.c. Deficit reduction CLG cuts: –Community Cohesion –LAA Performance Reward Grant –Prevent(ing Violent Extremism) –Working Neighbourhoods Fund… ‘de-ringfencing’ for local flexibility overall CLG cuts ≤ 2%

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11. concrete solutions c.i.c. Deficit reduction – VCS response open dialogue with funders VCS not an easy target must be able to plan ahead and deliver effectively

12. concrete solutions c.i.c. Cuts case study: Thurrock TCVS report Council consultation –£1 council funding triggers £9 VCS funding –increased demand for services £4 million cut to Council no cut to “vital” VCS funding

13. concrete solutions c.i.c. Small state – Decentralisation & Localism Bill give councils general power of competence abolish Standards Board give communities powers to save local facilities give communities right to bid to take over state-run services allow councils to return to committee system

14. concrete solutions c.i.c. Small state – decentralisation  competition? Directly elected police commissioners Health boards to replace health trusts Extending academies programme Local people to take over public services cf. Tony Travers, LSE

15. concrete solutions c.i.c. Small state – Local Enterprise Partnerships RDAs axed by March 2012 proposals for LEPs “natural economic areas” economic white paper “later in the summer”

16. concrete solutions c.i.c. Small state – LEPs and the VCS VCS contribution to local economy: –Lincolnshire: £410 million –Nottingham: £227 million –North West: £5.3 billion

17. concrete solutions c.i.c. Small state – LEPs and the VCS VCS initially ‘overlooked’ NAVCA campaign  Greg Clark: ‘VCS is welcome’ role of local VCS reps

18. concrete solutions c.i.c. Big Society – VCS response A “fig-leaf” for cuts

19. concrete solutions c.i.c. Big Society – VCS response A “fig-leaf” for cuts

20. concrete solutions c.i.c. Big Society – VCS response Reinventing the wheel to this? From this…

21. concrete solutions c.i.c. Big Society – Communities First fund targeted towards the most disadvantaged areas start up funds for neighbourhood groups charities and social enterprises can offer support existing or ‘reinvented’ groups?

22. concrete solutions c.i.c. to capitalise organisations for service delivery existing or ‘reinvented’ groups? Big Society – Big Society Bank Because it’s there!

23. concrete solutions c.i.c. Big Society – National Citizen Service for young people to develop skills for engagement and become active, responsible citizens “compulsory volunteering”?

24. concrete solutions c.i.c. Big Society – Community Organisers God helps those who help themselves! Govt will provide training COs to find their own salaries unaffordable for communities who most need them? leave disadvantaged communities to sort out issues? increased demand on services

25. concrete solutions c.i.c. Big Society: VCS role in public services “a valuable role” “reach and engage” “understand need and pioneer new approaches” bid to run services “where appropriate” identify barriers and implement measures Queen’s Speech – Estimates for the public services

26. concrete solutions c.i.c. Government priorities for the VCS Level playing field Less bureaucracy More resources –less central government money –bigger share of local public spending –diverse income streams to support independence

27. concrete solutions c.i.c. VCS priorities for the VCS protect and promote interests of excluded people promote and train people for participative engagement facilitate and develop structures for representative engagement empower local people and communities

28. concrete solutions c.i.c. What the VCS offers essential support for civil society local intelligence and expertise democratic renewal local accountability economic contribution Compact compliance criticism and challenge

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30. concrete solutions c.i.c. We can ensure that the Big Society … …reaches the smallest communities !

31. concrete solutions c.i.c. Big Society…

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