The document discusses the implications of the Localism Act, particularly how it empowers local communities through new rights and responsibilities, such as the right to bid for community assets and to challenge council services. It highlights the opportunities and challenges that arise from decentralization, including potential conflicts, the need for expertise, and the importance of community engagement. Additionally, it outlines progress and initiatives within Birmingham and the need for continued dialogue and support among local organizations to navigate these changes.

1. Third Sector Assembly
21st September 2012
The Localism Act
Can it work for us?
Moseley Community Development Trust
Registered charity no. 1087949
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2. About us
 Local community anchor  Driving social change
organisation.
 Committed to community
 Local neighbourhood forum
enterprise
helped to create the DT
 Key members of Locality in the  Developing assets
region  Independent
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3. The new context for our work?
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4. decentralisation
Shift power away from
central government to local
people
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5. Decentralisation and the Localism
Bill, HM Government, December 2010
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6. The Government’s Localism Act
Royal assent on 15th Nov 2011
1. New freedoms and flexibilities for local
government
2. New rights and powers for communities
and individuals
3. Reform of the planning system
4. Reform to ensure that decisions about
housing are taken locally
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7. New Community Rights
Right Right
to to Bid
Build
Neighbourhood
Right to planning
challenge
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8. RIGHT TO BID
delay the sale and bid to buy
assets of community value

9. RIGHT TO BID
Sounds great; our questions:
 ‘Community’ geography?
 Timing -6 months not long
 Relationships LA, owners, community
 Conditions of building
 LA decides community value
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10. RIGHT TO CHALLENGE
challenge and take over a council service you
think can be better run

11. RIGHT TO CHALLENGE
Sounds great; our questions:
 Do we want to deliver public services?
 If we do, how do we fit in with procurement ?
 Risks in launching procurement process ?
 Best bidders, may not be best providers?
 Trojan Horses & Bid Candy; corporate charities and
private sector companies?
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12.  RIGHT TO BUILD small scale, site-specific
developments without planning permission
 NEIGHBOURHOOD PLANNING Neighbourhood
planning powers give people the chance to
decide how their local area should develop
and what should be built.
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13. NEIGHBOURHOOD PLANNING
Sounds great; our questions :
 Access to expertise – will we get any?
 Capacity - does our community have enough?
 Managing expectations- can’t buck approved
planning policy? “Nimbyism”
 Consensus- often hard to get in communities?
 What makes a ‘valid’ Neighbourhood forum?
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14. Our Learning to Date
• Resources and skills in the public and third sector
• Culture change and partnership
• Motivated and supportive Councillors
• Local leaders
• Community participation and
inclusion
• Funding
• It’s not a quick process
• It’s early days
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15. Challenges & Opportunities
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16. Challenges Opportunities
 Rights not well  Starts bottom up approach
known yet
 Helps participation
 Competition brings
private sector in as  Encourages ownership
well  Can help recycling wealth
 Shrinking market within neighbourhood.
 Potential for conflict  Greater collaboration
with LA
 New ventures
 Rights don’t always
empower  Better services
 Greater resilience
 Promote equality
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17. Progress in Birmingham
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18. Birmingham City Council
 It’s early days
 Discussions between senior officers and members
have begun.
 Likely to develop protocols next year.
 Localisation and CAT
 There will be a learning phase and opportunities for
collaboration – engage with the 3rd sector?
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19. Neighbourhood Planning
 2 pilots in Birmingham, Handsworth/Soho and Balsall
Heath
 BH will be complete next year
 Tensions between LA and community
 Understanding the Planning System
 Resources, technical skills
 It’s a slow process
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20. Capturing Community Voices
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22. Issues and Lessons from Moseley
 Ensuring community priorities and vision can be
retained through process
 Resources to undertake the process
 Conformity
 Means to achieve ambitions?
- ownership of land, property, assets
- a problem at the heart of “localism” more generally
but especially relevant in Moseley
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23. Progress elsewhere
 Redevelop a former milk processing plant as a low
carbon live/work space – Totnes, Devon
 Community Library Service – Huddersfield
 Seaside town neighbourhood plan – Lynton and
Lynmouth, Exmoor.
 Community Hospital, created by residents to be
protected – Cranleigh, Surrey.
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24. mycommunityrights.org.uk
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25. Local support agencies
 Locality members: Birmingham Settlement, Moseley
CDT, Norton Hall, Heartlands Older Peoples
Forum, Come_Unity Arts, Witton Lodge Community
Association, Castle Vale Tenants and Residents
Alliance
 Asset Transfer Unit
 BVSC
 Digbeth Trust
 Chamberlain Forum
 Birmingham City Council
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26. What next?
 Third sector needs to survive if it’s to engage
 Each has to decide its position on public service cuts,
enterprise and the growth of the big society
 Support services to help understanding at the
grassroots
 Develop a dialogue with the City Council’s localisation
plans.
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27. Anna Hraboweckyj and Tony Thapar
www.MoseleyCDT.com, 0121 449 6060
or administrator@MoseleyCDT.com
www.Locality.org.uk
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