Feeding of the community spirit

This Sunday will see The Big Lunch happening around the country. There will be thousands of communities, and local (parish and town) councils feeding the community spirit by holding a lunch gathering in their local area.

The Big Lunch is a very simple idea from the Eden Project. The aim is to get as many people as possible across the whole of the UK to have lunch with their neighbours once a year in a simple act of community, friendship and fun.

Since starting in 2009, thousands of Big Lunches have taken place in all types of community across the UK. Last year The Big Lunch fell on the same weekend as The Queen's Diamond Jubilee celebrations on Sunday 3rd June and The Big Jubilee Lunch was part of the main Diamond Jubilee programme of events announced by Buckingham Palace. Our research shows that an astonishing eight and a half million people took part in events across the UK.

A Big Lunch can be anything from a few neighbours getting together in the garden or on the street, to a full blown street party with food, music and decoration that quite literally stops the traffic.

Get inspired by this film:http://www.youtube.com/user/biglunch?feature=watch

The Big Lunch commissioned LGIU to write and research a report which analyses the social impact of The Big Lunch. For more information on this, read this:
http://www.lgiu.org.uk/the-big-lunch-feeding-community-spirit/

Connecting citizens by a game

Community PlanIt is a game about the issues that face local government, designed to get people (especially young people) more involved and understanding of what goes in to managing their communities.

Anyone who has sat through a community planning meeting knows--well, they’re not always exciting, and not always terribly involving. The traditional civic decision-making process can be a turn-off, even if you care deeply about the issues involved.

The goal of Community PlanIt--a game built around local issues that’s now been played in several cities--is to engage people more, challenge them for their thoughts, and bring new residents into the process.

It works like this: A group--say, a planning commission or small business--puts up a few hundred dollars for community investment. Players register on the Community PlanIt platform, and take part in three "missions." To win pledgeable "coins," they complete "challenges" within each mission. Then the projects with the most pledged coins get real cash to spend.

Although this was developed in the USA it does not mean it cannot be transferred to the UK and lessons learnt. And let us hope the game makers will be hitting our shores soon.

For further information:http://www.communityplanit.org/

Youth and participation

I do not want to get into the trials and tribulations about individual young people's social media accounts, as witnessed recently of the now former Kent Youth Crime Commissioner.

But the importance of involving our youth in decision making that effects their lives cannot be overstated.

NALC has done some work encouraging local (parish and town) councils to set up youth councils. More information: Create a Youth Council

The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child provides the framework for children's rights globally. Article 12 provides for the right of children and young people to participate in decisions that affect them. The UK signed up to the Convention almost 25 years ago. Each of the four nations has a Children's Commission tasked with ensuring implementation of those rights.

Across sectors agencies are on a journey; working hard to build a culture of youth participation and leadership in our organisations and in public life. On that journey we have had fun, insight, innovation, trials, tribulations and disagreements, learning copious lessons along the way. All the time trying to make sure that participation is meaningful for both young people and the organisations they are influencing to create better outcomes for individuals and communities.

The work of youth parish or town councils have  challenged some established organisational orthodoxies, habits and priorities. It hasn't always been easy or comfortable but it has always been constructive, rewarding and ultimately positive.

Managed well, putting young people at the heart of decision making in organisations and systems influences better outcomes. Participation and leadership has the potential to influence traditionally adult led structures, systems and approaches in ways that can really improve them for young people. Inevitably creating shifts in cultures will bring some challenges as well as opportunities. We must learn from the good, the bad and the ugly. But we have to make sure we learn the right lessons.

We all live and learn, we all make mistakes and we must all be allowed to learn from them. As adults we must search for and ask the right questions about how to make youth leadership work in order to take the right learning from this and other situations. Those questions that need asking may not be the obvious ones - they probably need to focus as much on adult responses as they do on recruitment processes.

Finally I hope that an aversion to risk does not limit creativity in this domain of public life. I hope that it makes us more determined as adults and young people to continue enjoying developing ways of working together to make a difference for all young people. And absolutely most of all I hope young people will not be put off coming forward to get involved because they think adults are hypocritical and worry we won't keep them safe.

 

Can councils shape communities?

The National Association of Local Councils’ (NALC) Shaping Places conference  last week saw how new exciting opportunities are being presented to very local (parish and town) councils.

The conference showed how local councils can be an even better community leader, encourage communities and members to take advantage of the new planning, housing, community assets protection and development powers that have come their way.

NALC believes that now is a crucial time for localism and local councils have an important role to play in local community action, representation and service delivery.

Eric Pickles MP, secretary of state for Communities and Local Government, said: “Local (parish and town) councils are localism’s magic wand and that local services are at their best when they are run by local people.

“Localism requires local accountability and this is where local councils can provide this democratic mandate.”

He then issued a challenge to local councils by saying: “We are giving you the power, now we are looking for you to deliver.”

At the same conference Communities secretary Eric Pickles told parish councils to rethink average 3% hikes to their council tax precept - which he said are outstripping levies raised by the rest of local government.

Mr Pickles urged local councillors to make sure they are not overburdening residents with increased taxes.

"It hasn't escaped my noticed that, at a time when most districts are freezing their council tax, the average parish precept has gone up by 3%. And the trend is seeing parish increases outstripping the rest of local government," said Mr Pickles.

He added the DCLG (department of Communities and Local Government) was prepared to review principles governing council tax referendums, but demanded parish councillors 'square' any rises with their electorate. 'Can you really look your local folk in the eye?' Pickles asked delegates.

Elsewhere in his speech, the communities secretary said parishes should embrace neighbourhood planning to build proper neighbourhoods, asking them 'to choose activism not Nimbyism'.

Mr Pickles full written speech can be viewed at:https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/the-value-of-parishes and to listen to his speech please visit:  http://audioboo.fm/boos/1093989-eric-pickles-speech-at-nalc-2012

The secretary of state came under fire in the Q and A session over the Government's apparent U-turn over the localisation of council tax support.

Carolyn Downs, chief executive of the Local Government Association, said: ”The Community Rights legislation is not necessary to improve the relationship between different tiers of local government. It is about getting the culture right and this will led to more service devolution and the giving away of power to communities and local councils.” 

John Findlay, chief executive of NALC, responded: “Power still rest with principal authorities (county, district, unitary and borough) as they have the final decision on the devolution of power and services to the communities and local councils. If localism is really to succeed, then power should go to the local community to make the final decision and not be at the discretion of the principal authority.”

           

Cllr Michael Chater, chair of NALC said: “Localism represents exciting opportunities for local councils but there are many challenges that lie ahead because of capacity and resources issues for these community minded bodies.”

Getting ahead of the fire

Small is beautiful so that is local parish and town councils taken care of. But what if you are large. Well making the case for large local authorities was the County Councils' Network at their annual event.

They took their cue from St George's Park (Football Association's Centre of Excellence) and promoted good practice amongst county councils but they were in mutinous moods with regards the department of Communities and Local Government.

Ministers came under fire this week from county leaders who accused them of overseeing a ‘pro-district’ agenda.

In angry exchanges at the County Councils Network conference, the leaders accused local government minister, Brandon Lewis, and DCLG secretary, Eric Pickles, of failing to understand the impact of benefit changes, the council tax freeze and a late grant settlement.

In a question-and-answer session with Mr Lewis, East Sussex leader Cllr Peter Jones claimed MPs saw the world through the eyes of district councils because their constituencies were coterminous.

Cllr Jones claimed that the New Homes Bonus and business growth incentive bypassed counties.

Buckinghamshire CC leader Martin Tett said his county needed to find £2m to fund the shortfall in council tax benefit when payments were localised from next April.

There was applause when another county leader complained at the late grant settlement this year.

Mr Lewis, a former leader of Brentwood DC, said: ‘We’re very aware that counties have a hugely important role.’

He said the finance settlement, which he indicated was now due on 17 December, was delayed because of the late Autumn Statement on 5 December.

In the Conservative leaders’ group meeting, both he and Mr Pickles came under fire over plans to freeze council tax for two years with a 1% grant. Leaders warned it reduced their tax base.

Later, Mr Pickles told delegates he expected the 2013/14 settlement to be ‘moderately difficult’. He joked: ‘Think of a very low number and halve it. Next year we’ve got to get serious about joining up functions,’ he warned.

A dozen counties are considering pooling business rates with their districts to keep more of their business rate growth income.

NALC’s chairman, Cllr Michael Chater, at the conference said:  “Growth and economic prosperity is just about the biggest challenge facing our country right now, and as one of the themes for this conference will have been much discussed by councillors and officers alike.

“How local government at all levels can play its part in delivering the type of growth that our communities and nation needs, while balancing the protection and preservion of the environment, is a severe test. But is a test I know local government will not shirk. Furthemore it is a test where I know many parish and town councils are stepping up to plate.”

　

“Take Sevenoaks Town Council in Kent, who for the past four years have focussed on developing its local economy, with the emphasis on establishing Sevenoaks as one of Kent’s foremost towns to visit and enjoy. Activity has included:

- establishing a job club to help get people back into employment and through the Future Jobs Fund getting 13 young people into paid employment;

- taking over the Stag Theatre and Cinema leisure venue, resulting in 25,000 visitors per month who used to go elsewhere;

- setting up the Sevenoaks Town Partnership, bringing together key individuals and business representatives in the town, to work together, share resources and develop ideas and initiatives, such as a town wide website, listing and promoting all businesses and local venues/attractions, and the installation of digital promotional screens in large footfall areas;

- leading a successful bid to DCLG for Portas funding, with Sevenoaks Town Partnership being recognised as a Town Team and receiving a £10,000 grant towards the provision of a vintage bus operating during the summer on a circular route moving tourists through the town to and from Knole House, the National Trust property just outside the town centre, where at present many of the 100,000 tourists per year do not visit the town’s shops and facilities;

- in July the Town Council opened a youth café - in response to cuts to youth services in the area - as a great place for young people, open after school, weekends and during the school holidays, which has helped reduce anti-social behavious. But it is also helping to benefit the local economy – parents and carers can shop, eat out, go to a show or the cinema without paying for a babysitter. The youth café is also being used for a young person’s job club, via Connexions, and as a venue for monthly networking meetings for charities and third sector organisations where free legal advice is supplied by local lawyers.”

All in all it was another excellent County Councils Network conference but did witness the first signs of local conservative councillors anger at the Coaltion Government, well only time will turn if this continues or is just mid term blues. But we on the other side we know county councils are really interested in working proactively and positively with local councils to promote community well-being.

Making it easier

Neighbourhood planning groups established under the Localism Act could be allowed begin the process of setting up new parish councils without the need to demonstrate local support, under government plans put out for consultation.

Under the Localism Act, in areas where there is not a town or parish council, neighbourhood planning can be carried out by anyone who wants to set up or join a group which is designated as a "neighbourhood forum" by the local principal authority.

Currently, local authorities can decide to create new parish councils (which can then resolve to be called town, neighbourhood, village or community councils) via a mechanism called a "community governance review".



However, for local residents to get the council to instigate such a review, they must obtain the support of ten per cent of the electorate via a petition. 

The Department for Communities and Local Government consultation document says the current process "doesn’t allow designated neighbourhood forums for neighbourhood planning a distinct role in the process of creating a new parish council. They have to trigger a review in the same way as any other group."



Among its proposals, the consultation suggests that the number of signatures a petition needs in order to trigger a community governance review could be halved, as follows: for electorates of below 500, 25 per cent; 125 signatures for electorates between 500 and 2,500; and 5 per cent for electorates above 2,500. 

Another option proposes that a neighbourhood forum could submit an application to trigger a community governance review, rather than having to submit a petition with the required number of signatures. 



The consultation document says there are a number of reasons why a neighbourhood forum should be involved in the process of creating a new parish council. 

It says: "Firstly, a designated neighbourhood forum has an open membership of people with a genuine interest in the local community and a focus on improving local well-being. 

"Secondly, the neighbourhood planning process should generate community interest and engagement in the idea of shaping and improving the neighbourhood. That may mean that it can also be a good starting point for considering the creation of a town or parish council.

"Thirdly, when that forum has had a neighbourhood plan agreed at a referendum, it has shown that it has community support in developing proposals for the future of the neighbourhood. It may therefore be appropriate to allow it to start the process of creating a parish council more easily than the current petition process allows."



Communities secretary Eric Pickles said: "Parishes are popular with people and for too long communities have battled with burdensome bureaucracy to get them created.

“Our proposal to remove red tape, simplify and streamline the current process to create parish councils is commonsense. We want to give local people a real sense of community control in their areas, giving them freedom to make changes and improvements which best serve their community and area."


Commenting on the proposals Councillor Michael Chater, chair of the National Association of Local Councils (NALC) said:

"We welcome the creation of more new local (parish and town) councils to deliver wider services to local communities and be the voice of local people. We agree with the proposal to consult on how local councils could be given more power to deliver grassroots services and looking forward to hearing of innovative and radical approaches on how this will happen."

For more information, please visit: http://www.communities.gov.uk/news/localgovernment/2246734

The formal consultation documents can be downloaded at

http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/localgovernment/parishdiscussionpaper

The consultation ends in early January 2013.

Cockermouth is now an angel

It was an auspicious start to the English Heritage Angel Awards when it was announced that the main sponsor, Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber was waylaid by ‘Jesus Christ’. Well actually we mean here the national tour of ‘Jesus Christ Superstar”. So the wonderful Claire Balding, the real star of the Olympics and Paralympic Games stepped in a brilliant and witty fashion.

The English Heritage Angel Awards are annual competition that celebrate the efforts of local people in saving England’s heritage. More on this at: http://bit.ly/Vyr4H3

Cockermouth Town Council as part of the Shopfront Steering Group was a big winner of the English Heritage Angels Awards 2012.  The group won the Angel award for the Best Rescue of any Heritage building or site. See the video of Cockermouth at: http://bit.ly/RRBUBn

Heavily damaged by floods in 2009, the Cockermouth High Street has undergone works to repair damage and improve the appearance. The town council along with the borough council, local civic trusts, and architects formed the Shopfront Steering Group to run the scheme. Improvement has been made to 24 properties to date, including replacing traditional signage. Cockermouth Town Council says: “The result had been amazing and people are really proud of the town.”

The ceremony, held at The Palace Theatre, was hosted by TV presenter Clare Balding, with Graham Norton, Philip Mould, Culture Minister Ed Vaizey, Melvyn Bragg and Charles Moore presenting the awards.

Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber chaired the judging panel which comprised Simon Thurley, chief executive of English Heritage, author and broadcaster Melvyn Bragg, Charles Moore of the Telegraph, historian Bettany Hughes and the Bishop of London, the Right Revd Richard Chartres.

Lord Webber said: “All 16 shortlisted groups were exceptional and the judges had a hard time deciding between them. But in the end the winners stood out for their passion, perseverance and imagination, for the scale of the challenges they had taken on and for the legacy they leave behind – a secure future for beautiful historic buildings which without them could so easily have simply disappeared.

“I am delighted that this first year of the award scheme has brought so many heritage Angels into the spotlight and look forward to many others joining their ranks in the years to come.”

Simon Thurley said: “Once again we have been dazzled by the energy, invention, commitment and public spiritedness of thousands of people determined to save their precious heritage. While the angel awards were presented to five people, we are all winners, as we can now enjoy the historic places they have saved for the future.”

Clare Balding said: “I’m thrilled to be presenting the Heritage Angels Awards once again. I was so impressed with last year’s entries and know from this year’s list how much hard work has continued to be invested in revitalising our country’s magical buildings. These awards reward those who have completed work and inspire those who have just begun.”

Other Award winners were:

• Angel Award for the Best Repair of a Place of Worship: Pauline Burkitt and Simon Pleasley, Church Wardens for St Mary’s Church, West Somerton, Norfolk
• Angel Award for the Best Craftsmanship Employed on a Heritage Rescue: Station Developments for Tynemouth Station, North Tyneside
• Angel Award voted for by English Heritage followers and Telegraph readers: Russell Savory, Friends of Stow Maries Aerodrome for Stow Maries Word War I Airfield, Maldon, Essex

Films about all 16 of the shortlisted candidates, including the winners, can be seen on the English Heritage website: http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/angelawards

The English Heritage Angel Awards are co-funded by the Andrew Lloyd Webber Foundation: www.andrewlloydwebberfoundation.com 

For photographs of the winning projects and of the awards ceremony: http://bit.ly/PnrNsl 

For films of the shortlisted entries, see: http://bit.ly/RZDg0b 

For films of the four categories, see: http://bit.ly/OYzcgm 

What Next for Localism?

 

All too often in recent years the debate and narrative around community empowerment, Big Society, localism and the future of local government and public services has overlooked or merely scratched the surface of the role of local (parish and town) councils.

Whilst successive Government’s have aimed - successfully in some instances, less so in others - to set out a vision, policy framework and series of tools and levers to develop the potential of our first tier of local government, there tends to be a feeling that more could be done.

It is also true that sometimes local councils themselves could react and respond more dynamically to this rapidly changing policy context and to local needs and aspirations.

The National Association of Local Councils, www.nalc.gov.uk, is the nationally recognised membership and support organisation representing the interests of around 9,000 local councils and their 80,000 local councillors in England.

We have long supported the notion of devolution and a fundamental shift of power to councils, communities, neighbourhoods and individuals. That’s why we so strongly hold the view that empowered local people coming together to take more responsibility for their community through local councils is a tried, tested and trusted model of grassroots neighbourhood action.

The most local level of our democracy works tirelessly to be the voice of and represent the local community, providing services to meet local needs and working to improve quality of life and community well being. Put simply our sector is full of brilliant people doing brilliant things to make a difference.

Fuelled and driven by what their people and communities want, local councils take social action, which makes a real difference. They can achieve outcomes for their respective very local societies - often working closely with principal authorities - in ways that are unique, diverse and effective.

Whether it is helping to run the local library; working with local schools; saving the pub or Post Office; providing leisure, sports and recreation facilities; organising community galas, shows and events; working with and often providing funding to local voluntary groups; coming together with business to support economic development and prosperity; delivering community broadband solutions; local councils at their best are standard bearers for community empowerment and localism in action.

The Localism Act provides some very welcome tools for local councils in particular to respond to the needs of local people, especially the new general power of competence. Long overdue reforms to the way local councils can make payments are also hugely welcome, as are initiatives to provide support and investment at the local level to encourage the take-up of the new community rights and neighbourhood planning.

More than anything we must come up with radical new ideas to help hyper local democracy truly flourish into the future. The Localism Act does not mark the end of our ambitions for local councils; it marks the start of the next phase.

This might mean new powers, reform of old ones; red tape swept away, more investment in some initiatives and less in others, radical changes in practice and procedure, much more innovation and creativity.

That is why NALC is working with the All Party Parliamentary Group on local democracy and its Chairman Rory Stewart MP to kick start this debate through our ‘What next for localism?’ inquiry.

We want this discussion to be open, transparent and inclusive. We want to hear from everyone with an interest and passion for local democracy and neighbourhood action, are they involved locally or nationally.

We want to hear your ideas to help shape the future for local councils and help us answer the question: what next for localism.

The What Next for Localism publication is intended to kick off that debate with a series of essays from parliamentarians, think tanks and others sharing their ideas and thinking. I look forward to hearing your ideas too in coming weeks and months.

We want this discussion to be open, transparent and inclusive. We want to hear from everyone including county councillors and councils with an interest and passion for local democracy and neighbourhood action, be they involved locally or nationally.

Ideas already have been submitted covering the areas of the local economy, business rates, council tax, training and development, working relationships between tiers of local government, minor planning, gap year community service and the depoliticisation of parish councils.

We want to hear more of your ideas to help shape the future for local communities and help us answer the question: what next for localism. Visit and submit ideas to www.whatnextforlocalism.org

Walking to the Top

Rory Stewart, @RoryStewartUK, is a Conservative MP going places, and this could be great news for local councils if he wants to take them with him. I went to meet him to find out where his latest journey is going History is littered with politicians who were destined for great things and high office but have fallen by the wayside. The question is whether the MP for Penrith and the Border, Rory Stewart, is to be any different to the litany of those who have been laid to waste. His reputation as a man of unnatural achievement depends a little on the increasing impact of his CV – the giddy rush of soldier-diplomat-adventurer-writer-politician. He was elected to Parliament in 2010, having already passed through many of the key institutions of the British establishment, including Eton College, the Army, Oxford University and the Foreign Office where he had stints working in the British embassies of Indonesia and Montenegro. He resigned from the Foreign Office in 2000 and then embarked on his next big ‘job’, that of walking across Asia – a journey that was to last two years. A series of treks took him to the rural districts of Pakistan, Iran, Afghanistan, India and Nepal, an expedition totalling around 6,000 miles, during which time he stayed in 500 different village houses. Continuing this passion for walking, his next feat was to journey across post-9/11 Afghanistan. This resulted in his first book, The Places in Between, which was highly praised by many, including the New York Times, which said it was a "flat-out masterpiece". He stepped back into politics after the invasion of Iraq in 2003, taking up the position of deputy governorate co-ordinator in Southern Iraq for the coalition forces, and wrote his second book, The Prince of Marshes, based on his experiences in this role. It too was critically acclaimed with The New York Times saying, "Stewart seems to be living one of the most remarkable lives on record”. But is there another side to all this internationalism? Well find out more from my interview in LCR magazine.

A step into the modern financial world

Local councils want to take the new localism agenda forward in their communities with taking more control over public services or having a greater say in the way they are run in their area but this is being hampered with arcane rules from the 19th century Act still in force. It is strange to think that all 9,000 local (parish and town) councils have to adhere to financial payment rules set out in the 1894 Local Government Act. Oddly at present all local councils must adhere to the Act, which requires the signature of two members of the council on every payment or cheque. Hardly a fine example of modern 21st century local government. The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) has been waging a decade long campaign with successive governments to change this historic oddity. We want local councils to be able to do electronic banking and modernise how they make payments like in other parts of the public sector. The 1972 landmark Local Government Act allowed other tiers of local government to make their own arrangements for the proper administration of their financial affairs. Now it would appear that this Coalition Government is finally going to do something about it. The Government has recently issued a consultation on a Legislative Reform Order, which could make the changes that NALC has been after for a while. If local councils are to be at the heart of localism and new ways of connecting communities to the levers of power then surely it makes sense that they should be freed of outdated and prehistoric legislation, which prevents them from working in a more efficient and effective manner. It must be remembered that local councils work towards improving community well being and providing services at a local level. Their activities fall into three main categories: representing the local community; delivering services to meet local needs; striving to improve quality of life and community well being. The use of cheques is falling fast. They made up just 3% of UK payments in 2010 - a 59% decline since the start of the century. Also the 'two signatures' rule also adds to the costs of businesses, or other public bodies, forced to receive cheques from the councils. So definitely time for a change. But this should not be dictated from Westminster, as there should be a flexible approach taken to this, which allows local councils to choose the best payment methods that suit them. Many local councils are likely to continue with the tried and tested process of two signatures, but the majority will move to new electronic systems. Proper safeguards will be necessary and normal banking arrangements now allow for remote approval of payments. Local councils will hopefully shortly be in a position to work towards the abolition of cheques for all payments. This reform has been on the agenda for many years and finally the Government are listening to us on this. We expect local councils to express their strong support for these proposals. This is an important step forward in reforming the many outdated rules, which prevent local councils operating in modern and efficient ways. For more information on the payments consultation please visit: www.communities.gov.uk/publications/localgovernment/parishcouncilspayments. The closing date for responses is Tuesday 11th September.

London Calling

London is rightly viewed as one of the World’s great cities as it is an international centre for business, politics, sports, culture and heritage.

But what about democratic representation for Londoners throughout all this. They are represented democratically by the regional structure of the Mayor and London Assembly and sub-regionally by the 32 boroughs and City of London. Some would argue that this is enough governance for one city but we would argue differently and say why is London the only major city in the World, where communities and people do not have a say or control over there public services on their doorstep.

The chances are that not many conversations in pubs or bus queues in London mention the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007. Nor do local (parish and town) councils drop off the lips of most people when expressing views on public services in the capital. All for good reason. These councils has an effective force have been absent from the political landscape in London for over a century and despite their existence throughout the rest of England over the past four decades, their creation in London was forbidden by law. The new Act lifts this legislative bar and allows communities the right to decide the governance arrangements for their area for the first time in decades.

Now these conversations are beginning to happen in communities throughtout the city. No more so than in Queen’s Park in the London Borough of Westminister. The community there is first in London since the new Act has become into being to hand in a petition to the Borough of Westminster to start a governance review for London’s first ever community council (parish council).

Angela Singhate, chair of the campaign for the Queen’s Park Community Council and Queen’s Park Neighbourhood Forum, said: “We want to continue the good work of the Neighbourhood Forum, which is now under threat, to improve the quality of life for local people.

“In the summer of 2010 the new coalition government announced that the government funding to support this work would be cut off from the end of the year. However, Paddington Development Trust, our parent charity, secured an independent grant of £40,000 a year to 2014 to support a transition period for Queen’s Park Forum. We want a community (parish) council in Queen’s Park was launched by residents with the support of Queen’s Park Forum in the hope that this will continue to provide a voice for local residents that cannot be cut off.”

Importantly the group wants to work in partnership with the Borough Council and from the National Association of Local Council's viewpoint, we cannot stress this enough. Local community councils cannot be set up in competition with Borough Councils but to complement them. It is about building a local democratic voice for the community and building cohesion for the area. We believe the Borough Council is looking at this in a positive way to develop Big Society for local communities. Please visit: //www.queensparkforum.org/ for more information.

Could this be a sign of things to come with other community groups like Neighbourhood Forums, Residents Associations and Civic Society following this path?

Residents of the London Fields and Broadway Market area, in the London Borough of Hackney, have started a movement for a London Fields Community Council. The campaign was formally launched at a meeting in February 2011.

Local residents have set up a website which sets out the arguments in favour of establishing a local council and describes the main steps for doing so.

This campaign cites the following as reasons for having a new community council:

· A general feeling of remoteness from decisions currently being made about the area;

· Development pressures, especially on the east side of London Fields, which people feel they have little control over;

· The disaffection of some young people and a lack of local positive activities for them;

· A lack of service provision on some of the area’s housing estates.

It is argued that a community council would deliver:

· More influence over things that matter to local people;

· Councillors who live locally and a Community Clerk who can fight their corner;

· Better services for those living on the housing estates;

· Statutory Neighbourhood Plans

· A local slice of the Local Infrastructure Levy (from planned local developments), which would reduce any precept;

· Running some community and leisure facilities, retaining proceeds from their use;

· A chance to bid to run other local services e.g. managing the Fields and licensing the market;

· The development of other community facilities in the locality.

Please visit: http://londonfieldscouncil.org.uk/ for more on this campaign.

We know these community campaigns are being replicated in Wapping (London Borough of Tower Hamlets) and Surbiton (Royal Borough of Kingson-upon-Thames) amongst others.

The National Association believes that only by giving local people a real voice and say over the way services are provided will communities feel connected to their governance and democracy. The key principle must be to empower communities, not restrict the democratic process. People and communities should be allowed to decide whether or not they want a more localised democratic voice.

Ultimately people have to be trusted to take a little more control over the things that most affect their day-to-day lives. People and communities in London now have a right to set up a local community council if they want one. We believe that Londoners should be allowed to decide what is best for them and take decisions accordingly.