New vision of ‘Big Society’ - City Hall vows to build up an army of community volunteers

Published: 10 September 2010
by JAMIE WELHAM

WESTMINSTER has been thrust to the front line of David Cameron’s Big Society movement, after council leader Colin Barrow promised he would build up an army of volunteers to carry the message to the rest of the country.

Speaking at a delegation of local government experts at the London School of Economics this week, councillor Barrow outlined his vision for the borough, saying “Westminster’s approach will be delivered through volunteers giving their time and effort for free” – a move that would pave the way to roll back services traditionally provided by the council.

He did not reveal specific details, but said he would strive to create a borough where every adult was a member of a community group and give voluntary groups the power to commission services to take back control of their neighbourhoods.

He said: “Westminster’s version of the Big Society will release the potential of our citizens to improve quality of life by developing a stronger sense of community responsibility. 

“We see voluntarism as a better way than the state to develop and deliver many local services which had their roots in community provision.”

He reinforced the need for change in the landmark speech, saying City Hall would have to become more transparent to ease the handover of responsibilities.

He added: “The council will have to be more accepting of risk, more encouraging of social action and work on the basis that public services should be devolved to local people wherever possible.”

Opposition leaders have interpreted the speech as giving carte blanche for widespread cuts, branding it the “politics of fantasy land”. 

Labour leader Paul Dimoldenberg said such a move would threaten the quality of services because professional staff would be replaced with well-meaning, but unqualified volunteers.

He said: “Cllr Barrow’s plan fails to explain how volunteers are going to deal with the problems of people with extreme social services needs or how volunteers will maintain housing estates in need of repair.

“Will volunteers be teaching our children? Will we be expected to volunteer to sweep our own streets and dispose of our rubbish? 

“There is no substitute for properly funded, professionally-run services and for the Conservatives to claim otherwise is nothing more than a cruel deception.”