Empowering Communities white paper
Communities in control - Real people, real power , was
published by the Department for Communities and Local Government
(CLG) on 9 July 2008. It sets out the Government's continuing
programme of devolving power from central government to local
government, and beyond to local communities and local people.
The continuation of this programme is expressed in the white
paper's proposals to give councils
- a new 'duty to promote democracy' (which may include providing
incentives for people to use their votes)
- a new 'duty to respond to petitions'
- a role as community advocates for petitions concerning Primary
Care Trusts
- new support for frontline staff to respond to local
needs.
The White Paper singles out for support initiatives addressing
certain issues:
- Climate change
- Local activities e.g. litter-picking, cultural events
- Improving the quality of information available to citizens
- Improving access to information
- Innovation in community and social media
The white paper contains proposals for increasing the
involvement of local people with various government departments and
other agencies in making decisions across a wide range of
issues.
Active democracy
The government will
- increase the number of directly-elected mayors
- promote the election of councillors from a wider diversity of
backgrounds
- develop a staged accreditation scheme for councillors, and
promote the appointment of experienced councillors as aldermen or
alderwomen
- increase the visibility of public officials and scrutiny
procedures
- promote better interactive contact between local authorities
and citizens, and improve mechanisms for complaints and
redress
- improve the quality of, and access to, information about
serving on committees, boards and governing bodies
- review the local Ombudsman's jurisdiction
- extend Community Contracts between LAs, local public partners
(such as Children's Trusts, Police Authorities and Primary Care
Trusts) and local residents
- extend 'neighbourhood management' (joining up local services)
to include the police
- support the establishment of more parish and neighbourhood
councils
- promote the engagement of older people and younger people with
government
- give young advisors (who are trained to help public bodies meet
young people's needs) access to the Secretary of State for
Communities and Local Government
- through the Department for Children, Schools and Families
(DCSF), establish a £6 million institute for youth
leadership.
Public Spending
The Government will
- expand the practice of 'participatory budgeting' (citizens
helping to set local spending priorities)
- promote local engagement in planning and in commissioning goods
and services
- remove the current barriers to commissioning services from
faith-based groups.
Public assets
The Government will
- require councils to maintain up-to-date information about
assets held
- establish a new Assets Transfer Unit to provide information and
advice
- develop a national framework for Community Land Trusts (who
manage public land on behalf of the local
community).
Community safety
The Government will
- extend the existing 'duty to involve' to Police Authorities and
local arts, sports, culture and environmental bodies
- together with the Local Government Association (LGA) and the
Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO), pilot 'community
justice' and 'community payback' schemes that involve local people
in deciding priorities and identifying tasks for offenders given
'work orders'.
Public housing
The Government will
- create a national Tenant Services Authority with a remit for
all social housing tenants
Economy
The Government will
- encourage the development of more social enterprises
- create a Social Enterprise Unit within CLG to recognise the
contribution of social enterprises to the department's
objectives
- ensure that social enterprises can compete for contracts on a
fair basis.
Funding
The role of Third Sector Organisations (TSOs) in making these
empowerment proposals real will be facilitated by grants and loans
from a new £7.5 million Empowerment Fund. CLG has launched a
consultation on the fund which is open until 30 September.
The Office of the Third Sector (OTS) will invest £2 million in
volunteering opportunities for people with disabilities
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is exploring support
to enable those on benefits to volunteer.
CLG is establishing a £70 million Communitybuilders Fund to help
independent multi-purpose community development organisations to
become more sustainable.
Background documents
Prior to publishing the white paper, CLG produced a discussion
document,
Unlocking the talent of our communities.
NAVCA has
responded to this document.
CLG Guide for Local Authorities on enhancing capacity for public
participation:
Promoting effective citizenship and community
empowerment