Seize this Big Society opportunity

Published: 23 July, 2010

• THE Prime Minister’s plan to launch pilot laboratories to test drive the “Big Society” is welcome and local government must seize this opportunity by empowering local communities.

We have already begun implementing our own version of the Big Society by devolving spending to wards, seeking to partner with charities to deliver services and engage in a conversation with local people about how we can improve services together.

This has already delivered some stunning results.

Local devolution of budgets has allowed us to trial over 100 innovative schemes that have helped revitalise local markets, diverted young people from crime, and improved our streets.

We want to go further and use the power of business, the prestige of our local league football clubs and other centres of sports such as Lord’s, and the knowledge of community leaders to improve services and give the power to shape them to local people.

Some projects will work, others may not, but we must be allowed and encouraged to try them nonetheless.

In order to achieve this central government needs to hack away the vast number of remaining rules, regulations and red tape that stifle innovation.

Local authorities need to be prepared to give away power and become much more transparent about how they do business.

The Big Society offers a chance to transfer power in this country from government to citizens, but government has to change its approach and liberate people before this can be achieved.

CLLR COLIN BARROW
Leader, Westminster City Council