Communities Secretary Ruth Kelly has said that the Government ‘will not soft pedal or step-back from radical reform’ in a speech setting out new proposals to ensure local government reform brings a ‘new era of shifting power to our communities’.
In a speech to community groups in Birmingham, she announced a review of community ownership and management of local assets. She will also outline other areas of reform to put unprecedented power into the hands of local communities and bring ‘devolution to the doorstep’ for the first time.
Ruth Kelly argues that in a modern world our public services need to be more responsive and that citizens and communities need to be given a bigger say in how the services they use and the places they live are run.
Too often people find it difficult to make their views known to local public services providers or get frustrated when they have sensible things to say about the way places or services are run.
She announced a Community Ownership and Management Review headed by Barry Quirk, Chief Executive of the London Borough of Lewisham, that will report to Ruth Kelly in Spring 2007 and will work closely with Ed Miliband as minister for the Third Sector.
This will review the powers, policies and barriers to make it easier to transfer assets to local communities. It will engage with the LGA and key groups and social enterprises who have pioneered community ownership or management like the Development Trusts Association.
There are already a range of powers and policies to enable and encourage local people to come together and take control of the public land and buildings that are at the heart of their communities.
But too little use is made of these powers and local authorities who want to transfer assets tell us that there are regulatory and legal barriers that prevent them from doing so.
The review will get to the bottom of this and bring forward an action plan to make community ownership and management a regular part of local life. These assets could include, for example, community halls, libraries and sports facilities.
Extending ‘community call to action’. The Government is legislating for a “community call to action” on community safety. Ruth Kelly will say that she sees no reason that this should not be extended to other local public services where local people have concerns such as street cleaning, leisure and sport facilities.
Ruth Kelly said that a further raft of measures to bring greater devolution to local people will also be included in the forthcoming Local Government White Paper.
Communities Secretary Ruth Kelly said: ‘This is a Government which still has the stomach and desire to drive through important change. We can’t afford to soft pedal or step back from radical reform when it is needed. All my discussions across Government demonstrate a common purpose and common understanding that we must deliver this.
“I am committed to bringing forward proposals which deliver devolution to the doorstep, putting more power into the hands of local people than we have ever seen.
“All people, regardless of their background, should have the opportunity to engage in public debate, to vote and to influence the day-to-day decisions that affect their lives.
“For me the White Paper is about more than local governance – it is about people and communities. It is about ensuring that, wherever possible, communities themselves have control over the decisions that affect their lives. And when they have a contribution to make and are part of the solution to problems, they are not held back.
“That is why the forthcoming white paper will go further than ever before in ensuring that local government works more closely with communities to drive up local public service standards for the benefit of all citizens."
“Central Government will also play its part by making more space for local government to take the lead – while ensuring that important standards are met and taking tough action when things go wrong.”