Report calls for ‘double down’ devo to help communities

Ministers should use the forthcoming devolution white paper to draw a clear pathway for communities to take control over local services, according to a new report.

The report – Renewing Neighbourhood Democracy – Creating Powerful Communities – by the think tank Localis says the government should enshrine the rights of communities to self-organise by creating ‘pop up parishes’ and set local spending choices at neighbourhood level through ‘people’s budgets’.

It also calls for a £2bn Community Wealth Fund to specifically target the social and civic infrastructure of ‘left behind’ neighbourhoods across the country.

This would be an independent endowment that would be distributed over the course of 10-15 years to build and sustain the social capital of communities, according to Localis.

It also recommends an urgent government review to renew and extend financial support for voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) organisations in a manner similar to the Small Business Grant fund to respond to the pandemic, particularly as the reintroduction of lockdown measures escalates.

‘If this is to be a teachable moment, then we must place greater trust in our communities to provide the impetus for social renewal and economic recovery,’ said Localis chief executive, Jonathan Werran.

‘This must mean a genuine commitment from government for double devolution under which communities receive full powers and support to develop greater genuine autonomy and assume control for scripting their own local destinies.’

Localis’s head of research, Joe Fyans added: ‘The importance of our social infrastructure – our community hubs, our public spaces and volunteer organisations – to our national resilience has been made abundantly clear in 2020. Across the country however, there is wide variation in the amount of social infrastructure available to communities, with many places ‘left behind’ in an endless cycle of short-lived and top-down policy initiatives.

‘This report looks towards a fair and lasting settlement for the protection of social infrastructure and the expansion of neighbourhood autonomy. Looking at lessons from history and case studies both domestic and international, we outline some steps to take in 2021 to shore up our social infrastructure in all parts of the country and create space for communities to take power into their own hands.’

The chief executive of Local Trust, Matt Leach said: ‘This pandemic has highlighted the vitality and resilience of community spirit, right across the country. We must harness this real community moment, to not only build back better, but build up from below.

‘That means seizing the opportunity of the impending local recovery and devolution white paper to ensure communities gain real power that comes from them building their own institutions, that are real and relevant to them, and can act as a counterbalance and complement to the state.’

Photo Credit – Broesis (Pixabay)