Place, Partnership & Participation under the Coalition Government

1. Place, Partnership & Participation under the Coalition Government Davy Jones Policy & Priorities; the Future of Partnership Working (PtP event) 14th June 2010 Davy Jones Consultancy

2. Participationin an Economic Crisis Participation is not a luxury – it can save money! • It leads to better targeting of services • Co-ordinated engagement can save money • Crucial to “take citizens with you” over tough decisions Davy Jones Consultancy

3. Participation Drivers Remain • Most centralised system of running local services in West ! • All governments for past 30 years – expensive/bureaucratic ! • Benefits of citizen participation: • Better services • Better outcomes • Strengthens democracy • Benefits community cohesion • Rise of consumer choice & explosion of information through internet • Individual & collective voice & choice Davy Jones Consultancy

4. Do People Want to be Involved? MORI August 2009 Davy Jones Consultancy

5. Why Don’t People Get Involved? Power Inquiry (2006): “citizens do not feel that the processes of formal democracy offer them enough influence over political decisions” “Citizens often believe that the official mind is already made up, or that it will not listen to the results of participation exercises”(Lowndes et al 2001) Audit Commission 2005 survey of ‘best practice’ authorities found that three-quarters failed to link the results of consultation with decision-making processes Davy Jones Consultancy

6. Trust in Politicians MORI Poll –Do you generally trust these groups to tell the truth or not? Davy Jones Consultancy

7. Trust in Bankers? Davy Jones Consultancy

8. Existing legislation on participation is still in place • 2007 Local Government & Public Involvement in Health (LGPIH) Act – duty to inform, consults & involve • 2007 Sustainable Communities Act • 2009 Local Democracy, Economic Development & Construction (LDEDC) Act – responding to petitions & promoting democracy Davy Jones Consultancy

9. Coalition Agreement: Consultation Commitments Davy Jones Consultancy

10. Implications of the Change of Government

11. Coalition Government: First Steps on Local Services • Local Government Bill to stop new unitary councils • Abolition of CAA • £1.7bn ring-fencing of council expenditure ended • Directly elected individual to oversee police (Police Reform & Social Responsibility Bill) • Directly elected individuals on new PCT Boards& patients’ right to rate hospitals/doctors (Health Bill) • Publication of top salaries & £500+ expenditure • Promise of “review of local government finance” Davy Jones Consultancy

12. Devolution & Localism Bill • Due in autumn 2010 • “Power of general competence” for councils • Residents right to instigate local referenda on any issue & to veto “excessive” council tax rises • Greater financial autonomy to local government & community groups • Powers for local communities to help save/take over local facilities/services threatened with closure • Abolishing Regional Spatial Strategies – returning planning/housing powers to local councils Davy Jones Consultancy

13. Themes & Contradictions • Economy: debate on public sector cuts – esp local government – but what mechanism – PB ?; (Total) Single Place reduced to cuts programme ? • Localism: reduction in targets etc, but no change to local council funding, and devolution down to citizens not spelt out • Accountability: more elections & transparency, but splintered accountability undermining LSPs, Academies expansion undemocratic, • Overall: US model – referenda, local taxes, separate elections for agencies, engagement non- deliberative Davy Jones Consultancy

14. Real Local Area Agreements • Local • All partners (3-yr SCS Action Plan & link to Community Contracts) • no sign off by Government ! • Area • parish/neighbourhood/any locality • district & unitary level • Agreement • signed off with local people ! • all public money coming into area (Total/Single Place approach) Davy Jones Consultancy

15. LSP Locality Self Assessment • Every three years (link to financial settlement) • All three tiers/other localities • Assess local quality of life/services, including area value for money • Self assessment process must include peers, staff, citizens & users • Must be widely reported to, discussed and agreed by public - not just on web ! Davy Jones Consultancy

16. Information on Place and Service Performance • Merge One Place/Places Database/Spending Reports – one stop shop for public on places/services • Retain nationally agreed (by councils/partners) set of indicators for comparison/benchmark purposes • Range of local qualitative feedback incl. user/citizen “Amazon-style” ratings of services (like GPs) • Non-web multi-agency local communications - leaflets, meetings, features in local media etc Davy Jones Consultancy

17. What Role for Inspection? • Unannounced inspections in services for most vulnerable • Peer support (single local services improvement agency) & benchmarking information expanded programmes • Peer intervention & support triggered by self assessment / benchmarking • External inspection triggered from public, peer support process • (Slim) single local places inspectorate? Davy Jones Consultancy

18. Other Policy Changes Needed • Reform local finances for public services • End ring-fencing of finances / grants ( & Council tax block) • Local property/land tax to fund services • Reform local democracy • Proportional representation • Two new tiers – small locality for citizen involvement & unitary councils for commissioning & delivery • Primacy of citizen decisions over private/3rd sector providers • Reform local accountability • Directly elected LSP Mk 2 absorbing council executive, responsible for all local public services • Elected assembly & local fora as overview/scrutiny Davy Jones Consultancy

19. Contact Davy Jones 07932 616843 davy@davyjonesconsultancy.co.uk www.davyjonesconsultancy.co.uk Davy Jones Consultancy