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Localism

Rob Tinlin

Chief Executive

Southend-on-Sea Borough Council

Inter-faith summit 2012

Why a Localism Act?

• Cross party approaches to greater local action and accountability

• Coalition: end to top-down government

• Big Government to Big Society

• Lifting the Burden

But …

• Influenced by the Deficit Reduction

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Localism & Big Society

• Localism – is the ’ethos’ - is about doing everything at the most local level

• Decentralisation – ‘process’ – to give power to individuals and communities

• Big Society – ‘vision’ - is about empowering local communities and making them more responsible

The Government approach to “decentralisation”

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Localism Act

• Royal Assent – November 2011

• Most measures into force by April 2012

• The main strands:– New community rights– New powers/freedom for Councils– New planning regime– New housing framework

… plus London & the big cities

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New Community Rights

• Community Assets & the Right to Bid• Community Right to Challenge• Neighbourhood Planning

– And all that goes with it

• Council Tax referenda

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Community Right to Bid

• Community groups can bid to buy a ‘community asset’ when it comes onto the market.

Council will: • Publish the list of nominated assets which meet the

criteria:- ‘furthers social wellbeing/interests of the local community’- it’s realistic to think that this use will continue.- it has been in such use in the ‘recent past’

• Maintain a list of assets where nominations have failed.• The Act effectively allows a window of opportunity.

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Community Right to Challenge

• A right to challenge to deliver specific local services

• There are exceptions!

– And reasons for rejection!!

• How it will work locally-

– Expressions of interest anytime, but….

– Specific annual window for submissions Oct-Nov

– Council consideration, and if positive….

• Built into the Procurement Plan for formal tendering

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Community Right to Challenge

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Voluntary or

Community Group

Charity

Parish Council

CouncilStaff

Expression of Interest

Council

Accept

Accept with modification

Reject

Council undertakes

procurement exercise

No procurement;

Council publishes reason for rejection

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Council freedoms and governance

• General Power of Competence• New Codes of Conduct • Register of Interests - breaches become criminal• Pay Accountability• Choice of Governance style• Changing electoral schemes• Council Tax referendum

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Neighbourhood Planning• Neighbourhood Forum• Neighbourhood Plans• Neighbourhood Development Orders• Community Right to Build

Plus..• National Planning Policy Framework• Strengthening enforcement • More reforms for growth …

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Housing

• More freedom to set waiting list priorities • Lifetime tenancies no longer guaranteed• Address homelessness through private rented

accommodation• Reform of housing finance

– Abolish the HRA– Hold housing rental income in the community

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What else?

• Funding for Academies & Free Schools• Council Tax Benefit & Business Rates localisation• Welfare reform - Universal Credit etc …• Police & Crime Commissioners & Panels• The new NHS & public health transfer to Councils• Community Budgets • City Deal• Growth & Infrastructure Bill …• …. a longer Age of Austerity

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Community engagement• Consultations:

- Eg: Budget; Health & Wellbeing Strategy; Council Tax scheme etc…

• Forums:Older People; Youth Council; Business; Carers, Ethnic Minority Forums; Links/Health Watch; Inter-Faith Working Group etc..

• Partnership Working:Eg Leaders Advisory Group; Community Safety, Health & Wellbeing; Childrens etc..

• Empowering programmes:Eg Motivate the Estate; Active Citizens; Community Cohesion Champions etc..

• Voluntary & Community Sector:Community Commissioning; In-Year Grants programme

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What are the pressures we face?

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Our challenges?

• What are the pressures we face?– Economy– Benefit changes– Poverty– Skills & employment– Health inequality– Community engagement & cohesion

• A changing role for the Council?

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The BIG Challenge

How do we best address the needs of our community together?

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