2. Democratic conversations in Lewes
District
• To promote new forms of democratic and civic
conversation in our area, so we keep in touch
better with local people
3. Background
• Presentation at last conference containing
recommendations by Democratic Society
• Consultation with Town and Parish Councillors and other
stakeholders on ideas contained within the Democratic
Society report.
• “Communicating better with you” questionnaire
• Evidence collecting day at Cooksbridge
• Community engagement working group considered
feedback and action plan produced
• 30 May 2012 Cabinet agreed the action plan which was
shared with Scrutiny Committee 6 September 2012
4. Priority tasks
• Establish rules of governance for extension of use of
PAM (Platform for Achieving More) collaboration
software to external partners
• Explore possibility of contact officer within LDC for
each Town/Parish council
• Explore development of Town and Parish “hub”
within LDC website, or on “PAM”
• Seek interest in joint work with schools and colleges
on developing mobile phone app on “Public services
in Lewes District”
5. Priority tasks
• Develop methods for better targeting of
information and consultations for external
partners
• Prepare mock up for weekly “E-bulletin” for
external partners
• Set up pilot schools and colleges project
• Promote T&P conference as democratic
centre piece
6. Priority tasks
• Develop register of LDC councillors and staff
who are willing to volunteer and identify what
they have to offer
• Develop simple protocol for staff volunteering
in civic action
• Provide information at a scale that people can
understand (Local futures software) and
develop proposals for publicising 2011 census
as it is released
7. Priority tasks
• Produce example constitutions and develop
downloadable templates for establishing and
running civic action groups
• Consider how to set up a range of online
“interest groups” to give feedback on local
issues and assist policy development
• Consider easy sign up mechanism, methods
of exchanging information and management
by 31 March 2013
8. Priority tasks
• Support local ideas and innovations – keep an
eye on any good community engagement
work being done by others locally or
nationally, where we can learn and work
together
• Look for opportunities beyond the district.
9. Community Right to Bid
• New powers set out in the Localism Act 2011
• Potential to achieve substantial and lasting
shift in power away from central government
towards local people
• New freedoms and flexibilities for local
government
• New rights and powers for local communities
• Reform to make planning system clearer
10. Community right to bid
• Provision came into force 21 Sept 2012
• Assets of community value
• Localism Act requires local authorities to maintain a
list of assets of community value which have been
nominated by the local community
• When listed assets come up for sale or change of
ownership, the Act gives community groups,
voluntary organisations, Town & Parish Councils the
time to develop a bid and raise money to bid to buy
11. Community value
• Must currently or in the recent past have
furthered social well being, cultural, sporting or
recreational interests of the community and
continue to be so or have that value for a
further 5 years into the future.
• Value must be from the primary use and not
an ancillary benefit
• Assessment of “community value” made by
Local Authority.
12. The “lists” – successful and
unsuccessful
• Local Authority determines the format of the
lists as well as maintaining upkeep
• Nominations for buildings or land
• If a bid nominated is successful it is added to
the list
• Inclusion on the list makes the matter a local
land charge
• List of unsuccessful nominations
