A summary by Charlotte Stuffins of NVCO:
Public Administration Select Committee (PASC)Big Society Evidence Session
Witnesses: Francis Maude MP, Nick Hurd MP and Greg Clark MP
Wednesday, 12 October 2011 9.45am
Francis Maude MP, Minister for the Cabinet Office:
Re-iterated the 3 areas of Big Society programme:
1. Decentralisation – Localism Bill
2. Open Public Services
3. Social Action – supporting VCOs, help build civil society organisations.
Confessed that he was “puzzled” by the lack of understanding surrounding the Big Society label but was relaxed that the Big Society means different things to different people, including Ministers and MPs as “it’s not a government programme”.
Said the Big Society should be facilitated by the Government but depends on input from communities, VCOs and individuals.
In reply to criticism that the Government had showed a lack of “leadership” on change, he said there was “consistency” between Government departments and argued they were “separate” entities that did not report directly to the Cabinet Office or any of its Ministers.
Acknowledged that the Big Society is hard to measure so will they measure impact with “anecdotes” and successes of individual policies (for example, public services, planning).
Said that profit making companies had a “huge role” to play in society and groups such as public service mutuals had played a huge role in helping the provision of services move beyond the old “binary” of a public or a private provider.
Public Services
Admitted that the public services policy is a work-in-progress and Open Public Services White Paper (OPSWP) was a plan not a blue-print for action. The production of a White Paper on Civil Service reform would not bring guaranteed change.
Said more thought needed to be given than simply producing a White Paper, and pointed to the ineffectiveness of similar efforts in the past.
Referred to his speech on the need to change the “culture” of the Civil Service and he pointed to the work undertaken to amend its “antiquated” terms and conditions.
Admitted there isn’t a level playing field between voluntary and private/public sector providers but they should:
1. divide projects so orgs bid for smaller things
2. make the procurement process less onerous
3. move away from risk averseness and stringent minimum turnover requirements
Confirmed that overall accountability will still lie with the councils. Local Authorities are responsible for quality of service, even if contracted out to an external provider. He said that there was “no appreciable difference” between public money used by voluntary groups and public money used by local councils
Said that to ensure continuity of service, need to identify outcomes then can ensure these are achieved. Good way to review and improve services.
Announced that devolution of service provision guaranteed democratic accountability much more than a top down, bureaucratic approach, which would empower those delivering services.
Said that the Government is aiming to overcome the risk of the cost and complexity of the bidding and procurement process excluding smaller providers.
Expressed confidence that new transparency measures put in place would throw up any problems in service provision.
Said that local government had the ability to remove the contract from a provider who failed to deliver. For example, organisations like Free Schools would continue to receive funding from the Government.
Social Action
Acknowledged that social action isn’t always visible and government needs to support existing activity.
Nick Hurd MP, Minister for Civil Society:
Social Action
Listed successful work such as National Citizen Service, Lord Hogson’s Red-Tape report, Neighbourhood Challenge, Community Organisers, Giving GP/WP and £30m infrastructure fund.
Said that the Government will assess each project individually and will focus on new associations that show a direct link to the Big Society agenda.
Argued that the public did “understand” the Big Society concept.
Public Services
Said that the Government was trying to create “space” for smaller community groups to become involved in social action.
Greg Clark MP, Minister for Decentralisation and Cities:
Localism Bill
Wants to open up the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) to people that have proposals for their area e.g. planning.
Suggested that Right to Buy was more “Right to Know” about sale of an asset and need to protect individual property rights.
Confirmed that local planning is central to the national planning agenda.
Big Society
Said the Big Society was built on the “shared belief” that communities below the local authority level should be empowered.
Said that the Community Budget programme was designed to help address multiple symptoms and common causes and to help situations. This was particularly for when charities faced difficulty in participation in the Big Society because of having to deal with multiple Government departments and Ministers.
