As with every big policy launch by the Westminster Government these day, I always question what the real implications will be on Welsh communities. Whether due to a lack of sensitivity by the national press or simply the result of poor news coverage in Wales, we are always left in a quandary over what policy changes mean for us in the post devolution age.
The aim of the Conservative strategy is “to create a climate that empowers local people and communities, building a big society that will ‘take power away from politicians and give it to people”. Reading the statement from a completely literal point of view it is an admirable aim. I believe strongly in devolution to communities, against government centralisation, be it in Brussels, London or Cardiff and my belief is cemented through my growing experience as a Councillor.
The policy’s priorities are
- Give communities more powers
- Encourage people to take an active role in their communities
- Transfer power from central to local government
- Support co-ops, mutuals, charities and social enterprises
- Publish government data.
I agree with transferring further power to communities and local government. I also believe that people should be encouraged to take an active role in their communities, albeit encouraged through real support from professionals as opposed to expecting volunteers to take all the responsibility. Another concern is that the Government expects co-ops, mutuals, charities and social enterprises to take responsibility for the provision of public services when there are thousands of community and parish councils who could take on these responsibilities with the added bonus of being democratically accountable through elections held every four years.
But there are two big problems with the proposals. During the last Labour Government’s term in office they provided vast amounts of money to the voluntary sector which allowed it to grow and provide many of the services that make our lives so comfortable today. But as these massive and unnecessary cuts start to bite, the voluntary sector will be put under extreme pressure in responding to the cuts. Simply asking volunteers for more of their time won’t necessarily make a difference as the voluntary sector is more complicated than that. If a charity has a big influx of volunteers, it has to find money to train them for their purpose as well as training in health and safety, first aid etc etc, plus any additional costs such as CRB checks.
Secondly, the Government is expecting volunteers to take the strain. But they are making these expectations during a time of economic difficulty, when many are working longer hours for less money and the increasingly unemployed that have to save their own money rather than donate to community charities.
The Big Society is a big idea but nothing new. Similar projects were run during Labour’s term of office and in reality there are already millions of people who are active within their community, whether they run a youth club, sit on a management committee of a community hall or deliver meals on wheels. The big difference with this and the Tories’ idea is that the Tories don’t want to help pay for it.
