Innovation key to kickstarting Localism

The opening panel session at NALC’s Larger Local Councils’ Conference in central London today was a five pronged rallying cry to sieze Localism by the horns, or more specifically the new general power of competence, and to innovate. The enthusiasm of the panellists, LGA Chairman Sir Merrick Cockell, LGC’s Editor Emma Maier, NALC’s Chief Executive John Findlay, Sarah McAdam, Head of of Defra’s Rural Communities Policy Unit and Kathryn Richmond from the Society of Local Council Clerks, was contrasted by some sceptical and cautious questioning from delegates, mostly town and parish councillors, who generally appeared less sanguine about the opportunities that lay ahead.

“Ten years ago we wouldn’t have dreamt of having this power. Councils need to be persuaded to take it up” said Kathryn Richmond, keen to inspire some enthusiasm among delegates. Sir Merrick Cockell, equally buoyed by the recent royal assent of the Localism Act, conceded that George Osborne’s autumn speech yesterday would probably mean even less money but spoke of councils being “set free” by the recent legislation.

John Findlay urged delegates to rise to the challenge of a “huge cultural change and political shift” and insisted that councillors would need to “be innovative and think up new ideas” as power was devolved from central government firstly to local authorities and then on to towns and parishes.

Cockell agreed that to “squeeze more out of a smaller pot” councils were going to need to find “innovative ways of teasing out money”.

Questions from a number of councillors brought issues such as funding and interpretation of the Act to the fore. Cllr Judith Brooksbank of Keighley Town Council said: “we’ve been given the power but where’s the funding to go with it?”. Cllr Kevin Shaw of Seaham Town Council suggested that the devolution of power may engender confusion over who was responsible for what and that clarity would be needed to ensure “a blame game culture” didn’t ensue.

Sarah McAdam’s response to the funding issue was upbeat: “There are ways to be canny (…) There are opportunities around social enterprise to bring in income (…) There are rural growth networks, renewable energy funds, broadband funds…”

Summing up on the issue of interpreting what the power of general competence will mean in practice, NALC’s John Findlay simply said: “You can do anything you want as long as you’re allowed to do it”!

If the Localism Act is to succeed and make a real difference in communities, the optimism of the few at today’s event will need to become the sentiment of the many.