'Communities in the driving seat' - Blears unveils new round of pilots

New steps were announced this week as part of a nationwide drive to put more power into the hands of local people. This comes ahead of legislation later this year to 'put communities in control'. Hazel Blears announced:

• Twelve 'participatory budgeting' or 'community kitties' pilot areas, actively engaging with local people in how public money is spent. These pilot areas will now work with the help and guidance of the Participatory Budgeting unit, letting their communities choose from 'dragon's den' style pitches for council cash: Different local groups can make proposals for a portion of public budgets, and local people can consider which ones they feel will best meet the area's priorities and needs - such as recycling projects, health projects, local environmental issues or children's services.
• A new 'asset transfer unit' will be led by the Development Trusts Association. The unit will offer an independent hub of advice for local people and authorities to help community groups take control of disused public buildings if they can prove they can put them to better use. Its advice will be available to people from all over England, and will draw on the experience of twenty buildings whose transfer has already been completed, or will be signed off within the next twelve months, with government support.

All of this puts more control into the hands of the community. It's clear that people want to be more involved in the decisions that affect their local area - Nearly three quarters of people feel they should be able to influence how council tax is spent, and over two fifths would personally like to be involved.

Communities Secretary, Hazel Blears said:

"I want to see a new relationship between Government and the people it serves - more doors open to active citizens, more opportunities for people to have a say in the issues they care about, and power increasingly exercised not by a well-meaning executive on the community's behalf, but with and by and through people themselves. Not just because this is the right thing to do, but because it's the smart thing to do.

"Residents are happier with their local area when they are given more say and more control over local decisions. Getting involved in the public spending process will give people a better understanding of, and more confidence in the choices their local authorities make.

"Our ambition is for 'community kitties' to be a reality in every area by 2012 - These pilots and the new asset transfer unit will put more local people in the driving seat, giving them the knowledge and the experience to get involved, and will help bring devolution to the doorstep."

Many of the new Participatory Budgeting pilot areas are already delivering real benefits in engaging with the local community:

• Haringey allocates funding of £50k under the Making the Difference scheme through each of its seven area assemblies on environmental and community priorities.
• The Walsall New Deal for Communities participatory budgeting process, involves eight local primary schools to help 6 - 12 year olds collectively to decide how to spend £15,000. They learn about taking collective decisions, and build confidence and awareness of their community.
• Norfolk County Council has agreed to allocate £200,000 via participatory budgeting throughout the council area in support of its local area agreement targets.

Steve Wyler, Director of the Development Trusts Association said:

"We are delighted that Government is moving fast on its promise to set up the asset transfer unit. The Development Trusts Association together with partners such as the Local Government Association and Community Matters expects to have the unit up and running from January 2009. It will provide practical advice and raise awareness across the whole of England, helping local communities take over underused or derelict land and buildings and achieve lasting public benefit."

Notes

1. The new 'asset transfer unit' will sit in the Development Trusts Association. It will further raise the profile of asset transfer, and offer information, advice and expert support to people across England on what has worked before, give them access to good practice tools and materials, and put them in touch with others involved in asset transfer so they can learn from each other.

2. A new Participatory Budgeting strategy Giving more people a say in local spending outlines the opportunities and support available to councils, communities and their partners to help deliver participatory budgeting; and how we will promote greater take up in local councils and wider local service spending: www.communities.gov.uk/publications/communities/participatorybudgetingstrategy

3. The Government funds the Participatory Budgeting Unit, as our key delivery partner, to promote and develop the practice, and provide advice to councils and community groups and others developing participatory budgeting.

4. For more information on what Government is doing to empower local people see the white paper: www.communities.gov.uk/news/corporate/712771

5. The following areas have been trialling participatory budgeting, or are planning activities in the near future: 

• Haringey Borough Council
• Tower Hamlets Borough Council
• Norfolk County Council
• Walsall New Deal for Communities
• Staffordshire County Council
• Cumbria County Council
• Preston Road Neighbourhood Development Company, Hull
• Coast & Country Housing Association, Redcar
• York City Council
• Leeds City Council
• Wansbeck District Council
• Hartlepool Borough Council