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London to be testbed for David Cameron’s Big Society
Paul Waugh, Deputy Political Editor19 Jul 2010
London was today put in the vanguard of David Cameron's “Big Society” revolution.
The Prime Minister announced that Sutton borough will be one of four 'test-beds' around the country for his ideas of changing society by getting people to take over their own lives.
“We need to create communities with oomph — neighbourhoods who are in charge of their own destiny, who feel if they club together and get involved they can shape the world around them,” he said in a keynote speech.
With a political row building over government spending cuts — London Mayor Boris Johnson joined Labour in protesting at “draconian” housing benefit curbs — Mr Cameron insisted his attempt to revive community action was driven by “great passion” rather than the need to save money.
“It is not a cover for anything,” he said. “This would be a great agenda whether we were having to cut public spending or whether we were increasing public spending. This is not about trying to save money, it is about trying to have a bigger, better society.”
Critics have claimed that the devolution idea is a way of masking cuts by off-loading state-run and council-run work to the voluntary sector.
The four areas to benefit will be Eden Valley, Windsor and Maidenhead and Liverpool as well as the London borough of Sutton.
Each will get an expert organiser and dedicated civil servants to ensure “people power” initiatives get off the ground and inspire a wider change, the Prime Minister said.
A local buy-out of a rural pub, efforts to recruit volunteers to keep museums open and giving residents more power over council spending are among the initiatives being championed.
Mr Cameron used his speech in Liverpool to hail the potential for “the biggest, most dramatic redistribution of power” from the state to individuals.
Mr Cameron confirmed plans to use funds stuck in dormant bank accounts to enable charities, social enterprises and voluntary groups to take over the running of public services.
Hundreds of millions of pounds should eventually be available in start-up funding as part of the push — which, he is expected to pledge, would see providers paid by results.
He said years of top-down government control had turned capable people into “passive recipients of state help”, lively communities into “dull soulless clones” and motivated public sector workers into “disillusioned weary puppets of government targets”.
“We have to turn government completely on its head,” Mr Cameron added, give public sector workers freedom to innovate and create “a new culture of voluntarism, philanthropy, social action”.
“These four vanguard communities will be the great training grounds of this change, the first territory on which real and ultra local power is a reality — and the Big Society is built.”
The Big Society Bank is based on Labour legislation allowing money untouched for 15 years to be diverted to good causes if account holders cannot be traced. Ministers hope it will be operational quickly enough to see money distributed by April next year.
Reader views (38)
kerry, Purley. There's a lot of us out here thinking like you mate thanks; there's many honest people who write what they believe. I just can't believe how normal working people even think its all right to vote for these (Right Wing) Tories, They talk about the debt left by Labour, yep it's a mess, but they don't want to talk about the mess that New Labour had to clean up after 14 years of Tory power. The reason we all voted for New Labour in the first place.
Look how quickly they are changing everything, not one by one and thinking about the consequences just cut, cut, cut, and its always the poor the old and the uneducated that get it, I cannot believe that these work class people think it's, OK to increase the retirement age of the state pension to 68, this is so wrong, but most of them will not notice before they are 68 and then to late, what shame.
- Frederick, London, 20/07/2010 10:14
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Sorry Cameron but we the public have heard it all before.How long before our media catch on.Labour,"BIG"decisions: "BIG"choices and now Dave with "BIG"society.Do these muppets think it sounds good and will deceive the public.
- dave, london, 20/07/2010 06:49
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Will he start inhouse with his highest paid councillor in the country who is Sutton & Croydon's tory GLA member Cllr S O'Connel on £118,000 a year and rising according to the local papers when he gets a 34% increase this year from Croydon Council? It is disgraceful when more and more people are loosing there jobs to have a greedy person who puts his pocket before people he is supposed to represent. Oconnel should be sacked along with Barnet's tory Coleman. Over £100,000 for parttime people doing parttime jobs shows what the tories think of us mugs.
- Brian, Surrey, 19/07/2010 22:30
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The awful truth is there. Residents Associations with autocratic Chairs will know that the kind of people The Big Society will be controlled by are Big Cheeses with Big Egos. The days of the WI are over - everyone is stressed out and time poor.
The Big Society requires time rich, informed people giving it away! Every Conservation or campaigning group, or civic society knows nobody want to be actually INVOLVED!
The Big Society will be about nincompoops and bullies bigging themselves up and being left to get on with it.
- Tallulah, Hove,UK, 19/07/2010 22:12
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Well Jimbob, welfare payments you say? Actually I run an SME employing 22 people, Quite succesful actually and guess what, I wouldn't employ you because you are everything I despise in the human race, a coward, and a bully, and clearly uneducated (well in anything useful). As for Steve, i don't recall calling him rascist, (just brain dead) or is that just you deciding that what he means is lets blame everything on the immigrants?
- kerry, Purley, 19/07/2010 22:06
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Pure Karl Marx! Outrage from the Left and chuckles from the Tories.
- Proper Charlie, Birminghamistan, 19/07/2010 20:03
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How long before councils and local areas are run by crime bosses and thugs with no respect for the rule of law? Not long I think.
- sunday, London U, 19/07/2010 19:39
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If you're going to dispense with a council service thats used as part of some scheme of political dogma then have the guts to "pull the trigger" and face the flack; but dont then blame its disaperance on a lack of people willing to do the service for nowt.
Anyway there are enough under-employed MPs, Bankers, Quangocrats and assorted do-gooders available to carry on the good works in the event of council employees being unable to do the work for whatever reason.
- stuart, chesterfield,derbyshire, 19/07/2010 19:22
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You cant make a silk purse out of a sows ear... nearest you can get is to deceive every one. !
- moronamid, London England, 19/07/2010 17:44
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Just read Camerons full speech about the Big Society. Couldn't help recalling Rod Wiltons brilliant monologue in 1940 on steam radio.
"The day war broke out my wife said to me, what are you going to do about it? Well I replied there's Fred next door, Bill down the road and me........'
No doubt today he would say, " The day Tomkins was taken over my wife said to me, "What are you going to do about it?. Well there is Bill and Fred both worth a bit we could set up an engineering works in our shed. Soon replace Tomkins."
- Alan., England. Fed up with all politicians, 19/07/2010 17:38
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Odd that he didn't choose the flagship London borough of Barnet.
Must be because it is in melt-down at the moment - see all the Barnet blogs.
- Jay, London, 19/07/2010 17:36
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In the last few month three highly innovative and successful British companies have received take over bids from foreign countries, Chloride, Dana and Tomkins. This government has remained silent, along with the trade unions, and the five contenders for the Labour Leadership. There was fury when Cadburys were brought by an American company from the public, but you see these companies do not make chocolate. All they do is provide employment and keep a toe in the pool of world industry.
What does Cameron and his Big society suggest we do? Start a revolution to get rid of our pathetic politicians? What utter rubbish. What we need is leadership. Our government has got to stop aping our footballers.
- Alan., ENLAND. WHOS CLOSING DOWN SALE IS NOW ON, 19/07/2010 16:55
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NO BURKAS THOUGH
- Rob, Morpeth, England, 19/07/2010 16:22
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The trouble with Dave's "Big Society" is that the groups he is banking on getting involved and get it all up and running are having their budgets slashed and in some cases are being closed down as a result of the coalition cuts. So I am not sure he, or the coalition have thought this one through!
- Bleeding Heart Liberal, London, 19/07/2010 16:14
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There we have it then,Thatcher told us that there was no such thing as Society,now call me Dave is going to make our NON Society bigger,better get Stooge Glegg to explain.
- Colin, Bristol, 19/07/2010 15:44
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Conveniently, no - one is ever responsible for the self - destruction of the country.
If you're a Tory voter, Labour is at fault and if you're a Labour voter the Tories are at fault.
Let's conclude by saying all politicians are useless (which they are) they make promises and then lie to the lot of us.
The Tories have done plenty of this recently and so too have Labour.
Clegg and Cameron just want their name in the history books. Could they care about the great British people?.. no.
- RMT Member, London, 19/07/2010 15:42
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What a great idea! Not content with stealing money from the poor and rewarding the rich, Mr Cameron now proposes to take even more money from "dormant" savings accounts. So, folks, check your savings accounts details and if there are any that are "dormant", make sure you use them, pay into them or transfer them.
By the way, who will pay for the "expert organizer" and "team of civil servants"?
- Mean Eyed Cat, London, 19/07/2010 14:50
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A simple enough proposition. Prime Minister is telling us the government is skint and if you want anything done, do it yourself!
- Roy G, Solihull, England., 19/07/2010 14:07
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PETER R..
I'm not chisty..
But, yes,there are masses of us out here who feel like I do..
I represent them. Get over it, mate.
- Mike, barnet, 19/07/2010 14:02
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Chishty, you fool no one. Stop trying to wind up the xenophobic readers.
- PeterR, London, 19/07/2010 13:40
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Whine...moan..whine..moan..
That's all you Labour people do.
Besides racking up debt to please the voters and LEAVE the country in debt.. lIEBOUR HAVE have..
Lied to us about Iraq..all those dead.
Made the division bewteen rich and poor BIGGER!!Disgraceful.
inCREASED RACISM.
If that's not enough, look at how poorly eduated this country is..take a look at the spelling on all of these comments pages.
And what about the disgusting manners of people
deteriorating over the past 13 years..
THIS GOVT HAS BEEN IN POWER FOR 2 MONTHS..YOU'VE HAD 13 YEARS..
gIVE THEM A CHANCE..AND THEN IF NOT WORKING..VOTE THEM OUT THEN!!!
stop whining!!!! gET OFF YOUR BACKSIDES..GRRRRRRR
- mike, barnet, 19/07/2010 13:39
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For "Big Society" read "Big Unemployment" and "Noblesse Oblige Reloaded".
- Nigel, Tower Hamlets, 19/07/2010 13:23
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@ Kerry, Purley.
Why don't you just go ahead and call Steve a racist? Isn't that the usual labour voter M.O. when confronted by something they don't agree with or understand.
And pray tell Kerry why do you have to give it the 'come and have a go' every time you wish to prove a point. Are you really that bitter that your welfare payments are about to go south and you and your daughters and chocolate lab are all going to have to get jobs?
- Jimbob, Kensington, 19/07/2010 13:18
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Steve, London, If you work for a living, and need that monthly pay check then you are a fool to believe that the Tories will do anything for you and your neighbourhoods. They have already started to build there gated communities, and I bet you're not inside.
- Frederick, London, 19/07/2010 13:11
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Lots of ridiculous, tragic and bitter people (the 'Whinging Brits') posting how this is doomed to fail before it's even begun!
Well, you tedious bores, the majority of us DO want to make our neighbourhoods, community and country better.
If you don't, then kindly step aside and don't get in our way.
- Steve, London
OK Steve; get going son, I have faith in you.
- mickinlondon, london, 19/07/2010 12:57
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So Steve, you think us democrats who don't agree with Windbag Cameron have to step aside and not get in your way.
Come and try it with me if you think you are man enough. Although I expect you are the usual Tory young fogey creep.
- Kerry, Purley, 19/07/2010 12:43
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Lots of ridiculous, tragic and bitter people (the 'Whinging Brits') posting how this is doomed to fail before it's even begun!
Well, you tedious bores, the majority of us DO want to make our neighbourhoods, community and country better.
If you don't, then kindly step aside and don't get in our way.
- Steve, London, 19/07/2010 12:28
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Seems a bits strange then that a member of staff at JobCentre Plus told me last week they have been ordered to cut expenditure by 40%?
- Real, Camden, 19/07/2010 12:19
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The volunteers required to keep all the museums open will, of course, replace the local government workers who will lose their jobs so the hoped for members of Cameron's Big Society can do the work for nothing. Will these volunteers also clean the museum, the windows, the toilets and carry out the necessary repairs without being paid for their services? Will we also have volunteers running our libraries, assuming any remain open of course, and manning our local swimming pools and parks. Why not go the whole hog and let them run the schools and the hospitals, except for Gove's academies and free schools of course; the money saved will mean those children who are selected for these schools will enjoy being taught by heads and teachers who are paid much higher salaries than their equivalent in the sink schools that will be left behind. Oh yes, we are all in this together, aren't we?
- val daniels, Mijas Costa Spain, 19/07/2010 12:15
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We have a great expectations of your government to look after the cases of with your humble consideration, the proper legalized statu of those poor foreign students:
WHO ARE LIVING LAST 5 TO 10 YEARS AS A LAW ABIDING PERSON? WE HAVE GIVEN UP OUR STUDY DUE TO HIGH COST OF LIVING? AND START TINY JOBS TO MEET OUR HEART AND SOUL.
WE ARE PAYING REGULAR CONTRIBUTION IN NATIONAL INCOME.
WE ARE QUITE WELL AWARE IN ENGLISH LANGUAGE WRITING AND SPEAKING WITH GOOD SKILL.
EMPLOYERS ARE QUITE SATISFY WITH THEIR PERFOMANCE.
NOT CLAIMING SINGLE PENNY FROM THE PUBLIC BENEFIT.
NOT INVOLVING IN ANTI SOCIAL ACTIVITIES.
Please mercy on us and settle our residency cases with your kind consideration. So that we can live with dignity as a proper community member. Instead of playing in the hand of the fake middle man to renew our legal status and spending lot of money, we like to pay that money in the national growth and live like a proper citizen with family system not single status. Pity on us to secure our future.
GOD BLESS YOU
- Chishty, Streatham London, 19/07/2010 11:57
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If he wants to redistribute power from the State to individuals; all he needs do is ban politicians and Parliament; and let the individual look after their own business.
Likewise; if he wants volunteers, charity workers, social enterprise groups, philanthropists, and social action etc, then make all local government councils and officials, and all public civil servants, unpaid public sector voluntary workers, social enterprise groups, and philanthropists, etc.
This would say him finding hundreds of millions of pound to fund this transition from government control to the individuals control etc.
As for providers being paid by results etc; that is easy to do; just don’t pay them for work not done, or work not done well, and unsatisfactorily in anyway; and that includes MPs, if there are any left once the public starts running the country?
To be honest here; I think we have another Pratt of a control freak now running the country, we all know that none of this will work or take place; all we will end up with is more civil servants than ever, and more in debt than ever.
There are more contradictions in this article; but to be honest I think you all can see them for yourselves, and I have better things to do than just laugh all day, not that a good laugh is a bad thing.
As they say in Show Business and Politics; you ain’t seen nothing yet folks?
- mickinlondon, london, 19/07/2010 11:31
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David Cameron tells us "we are all in this together",and we should all be prepared to do more for less.Has anyone told the members of the Conservative party about this initiative?
I only ask ,as I have just read that a number of Local authority Conservative councillors now earn more than a junior cabinet minister.
How do they do it?
It's easy,they vote themselves an increase every year that makes a mockery of Dave's calls for economic pay restraint.These Councillors will not make do with a 1 or 2 per cent increase,they like big numbers.Many award themselves increases of up to 40%.London's Tory chair of the Fire authority,Brian Coleman,has managed to turn what was an expenses only position when he took over,into one which pays him £26,883 (plus expenses)per year.It is time that David Cameron shows he can 'walk the walk' as well as he 'talks the talk',and root out these parasites that are bleeding local Authorities dry.Those of us at the bottom of the food chain,who are receiving pay cuts and freezes,would find them more palatable if our elected representatives were showing the same restraint Dave keeps calling for.
- Bill Pitt, Victoria, 19/07/2010 11:15
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He is sounding more and more like a "dodgy" car dealer and Nick sounds like his "dodgy" mechanic.
- Mike Melbourne, Bedford, 19/07/2010 10:51
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Kathie, London I just hope your right, because this New Government is held together on a shoe string. Yes, Labour ruined everything. But 14 years ago we ALL said the conservatives ruined everything, that's why we voted in New Labour in a land side victory. I remember both and the conservatives, in my humble opinion were far worse. So far this government has changed nothing, apart from making more employed, (right or wrong; only time will tell), and it's our politicians who should stop being SO cynical .
Cynical means motivated by self interest, distrustful of human sincerity or integrity, concerned with one's own interest, yes this fits our political elite, and the public have the right to be cynical about them, and it will take a long time to trust them. The conservatives have been given a second chance. I wonder how far away; New Labour is.
- Frederick, London, 19/07/2010 10:13
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Mr Cameron, your Big Society is nothing but hot air. You must know that it will not make a jot of difference to people's lives.
- Carl, London, 19/07/2010 09:50
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I would feel happier if he didn't sound so much like Blair.
- BJ, East London, 19/07/2010 09:12
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It will be very interesting when the local community buy their own public house - and they wish to enjoy a quiet drink and a cigarette with their friends.
Nu£ieBore are nothing but two-faced, devious hypocrites - happy to gather the extortionate revenue from the sale of cigarettes but not attempting to ban the sale of tobacco products.
The moment I read that civil servants are to be involved in this projected idea, told me all I need to know.
Joe Public are absolutely sick-to-death of civil servants dictating every aspect of their lives.
- Reuben Camara, Plot 1, Morecambe Compound, EUSSR, 19/07/2010 08:47
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At last. Now we can try and make a better society. Labour turned alot of people into selfish, boorish,
and greedy individuals. I am ashamed particularly of
disgusting behaviour of some of our citizens.
And would be people stop being SO cynical and give this
govt. a chance.
Labour ruined everything..and one of the worst things was making a bigger divide between rich and poor.
- Kathie, london, 19/07/2010 08:27
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