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The Big Society and the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead

Civil Society Innovation Network: Session one, Transforming Services – 1 December 2011

Presentation by Andrew Elkington, Head of Policy & Performance

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This is not about Big Society as a national blue print.

This is a story of defining and developing the Big Society in a specific area and in so doing approaching the delivery of council services in a different way.

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• First Council in the country to post expenditure over £500 on its web site.

• First Council in the country to introduce a

recycle bank – incentivising residents to recycle.

Some background about RBWM

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Moving away from simply a consumerist model of services…

To one where there is a perceived value in behaving in a specific way which leads to beneficial outcomes.

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Some more background…

• Big Society launched in Liverpool in July 2010

• RBWM chosen to be a Vanguard Big Society authority

• Approach was to locally define the offer.

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Residents and Communities - the original vision

Existing Initiatives

Projects Residents

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Residents and Communities - the original vision

Projects ResidentsExisting

Initiatives

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Use of volunteers across the council

• Libraries - shelf stocking, summer reading challenge

• Legal services - general administration

• Foster careers

• Leisure - working in the crèche, basket ball and swimming coaches

• Adopt a Street

• Services for Families and Young People - YOT, Youth Service, Family Support Services and Partnership, Youth club sessions, supporting young people, mentoring young people, parental support etc.

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Residents and Communities - the original vision

Existing Initiatives

Projects Residents

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Residents and Communities - the original vision

Existing Initiatives ResidentsProjects

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RBWM Big Society Projects

• Night Time Economy/Licensing• Adopt a Street • Devolution to Parishes• Participatory Budgeting• Transparency• Hydro-Power• Incentive Scheme • Ways into Volunteering• Guildhall Volunteering• Project CareBank

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RBWM Big Society Projects

• Night Time Economy/Licensing• Adopt a Street• Devolution to Parishes• Participatory Budgeting• Transparency• Hydro-Power• Incentive Scheme • Ways into Volunteering• Guildhall Volunteering• Project CareBank

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www.rbwm.gov.uk

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RBWM Big Society Projects

• Night Time Economy/Licensing• Adopt a Street• Devolution to Parishes• Participatory Budgeting• Transparency• Hydro-Power• Incentive Scheme • Ways into Volunteering• Guildhall Volunteering• Project CareBank

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Adopt a Street

• Community based volunteering scheme centres on environmental projects such as litter collection, graffiti removal

• Minimal infrastructure response required from the council

• The proposition is…if you want to become involved the council will support you

• Currently some 600+ volunteers including a number of schools and businesses involved.

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Working with Nectar on Incentive Scheme

• Building on previous work that RBWM has done with Recycle Bank

• Currently developing a business case with Nectar to offer reward points for volunteering activities in specific areas including (together with Thames Valley Police) special constables, Adopt a Street volunteers, volunteering in general and channel management across the Council

• Scheme to be launched as a prototype trial.

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Devolution of Services to Parishes

• Parishes presented with a ‘menu’ of service options.

• Services could be shaped or run.• Services we are currently shaping include

street lighting scouting, maintaining public conveniences, s106 spend and street cleansing.

• The learning point…don’t assume that people are hungry…

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Project CareBank

• Prototype project• One hour of volunteering is awarded with one

credit which can be exchanged for other activities or banked

• Japan has been running various schemes like this for some years

• The banked care time can be exchanged for other caring or assistance activities for friends and family

• Personalisation is a key driver• RBWM has contracted with WRVS to run this

scheme from January 2012.

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Residents and Communities - the original vision

Existing Initiatives

Projects Residents

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Residents and Communities - the vision developed

Projects Residents / Schools /

Businesses

• The council still needs to be a participant

• However bottom-up idea and initiative generation becomes more important.

Current Initiatives

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…and some other things

• Open days and consistent dialogue with residents particularly around ‘blockages’.

• The creation of a new social enterprise to build capacity within the community sector.

• Together with parishes looking at recruitment – how we can broaden the base.

• Community use of under used buildings (asset transfer?).

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Things we now know…

• This is not ‘the answer’ it is one approach

• Seeks to increase involvement and control of / for local communities

• …with the council as an enabler and supporter

• ….with the resident a contributor / shaper as well as consumer

• It acknowledges that much activity is already taking place – and seeks to build on it

• But it seeks to do so at relatively low cost to the council and in a sustainable manner.

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Thank you…