Copyright 2009 Northumberland County Council Localism Councillor Lesley Rickerby Lead Member for Children’s Services Northumberland FACT Conference 22 June 2011
Copyright 2009 Northumberland County Council Presentation Outline Background Outline of the Government’s Approach Implications for Northumberland –Big Challenges for the Council –Savings –Priorities –Children’s priorities
Copyright 2009 Northumberland County Council Background (1) Government pledged in the Coalition agreement to bring about a fundamental shift of power from Westminster to people This is to be achieved by “promoting decentralisation and democratic engagement; and by ending the era of top-down government by giving new powers to local councils, communities, neighbourhoods and individuals”.
Copyright 2009 Northumberland County Council Background (2) Government has identified six essential actions: –Lift the burden of bureaucracy –Empower communities to do things their way –Increase local control of public finance –Diversify the supply of public services –Open up government to public scrutiny –Strengthen accountability to local people Within this, two vital roles for local authorities: –Embrace and exploit the opportunities of the new powers afforded to them –Progressively pass more power to local communities and individuals
Copyright 2009 Northumberland County Council Localism Bill Provides the legislative framework for this decentralisation Currently going through Parliament with a view to it being enacted later this year Covers four broad areas: –New freedoms and flexibilities for local government –New rights and powers for communities and individuals –Reform to make the planning system more democratic and effective –Reform to ensure that decisions about housing are taken locally
Copyright 2009 Northumberland County Council Diversifying public service supply Building a stronger civil society and promoting new ways to support voluntary action Modernising public sector commissioning Providing local authorities with new powers of trading and charging Establishing “community right to challenge” to run local authority services and “community right to buy” assets of local value
Copyright 2009 Northumberland County Council Big Challenges Supporting the community leadership role of elected members Strengthening relations with the voluntary and community sector
Copyright 2009 Northumberland County Council Setting the Local Agenda: Sustainable Community Strategy
Copyright 2009 Northumberland County Council Our vision for Northumberland To make the county a place that is resilient for the future –Enabling everyone to live the kind of life they aspire to in a way that respects the inherent identity of the place and its residents The revised Sustainable Community Strategy identifies the seven big issues facing the county Strong Support for the new Children and Young People Plan (CYPP).
Copyright 2009 Northumberland County Council Questions and Discussion