New commission will explore the future of localism

As devolution stalls, Locality and Power to Change have launched an independent commission on the future of localism. Chief executive of Locality, Tony Armstrong says community decision-making is needed to re-build democracy and economies

It has been six years since the localism act came into effect. For Locality, and for many others who have long lobbied for more powers to be dispersed to communities, this legislation was a landmark moment in a long journey.

The suite of community rights and powers introduced by the act have given local communities important resources for saving local assets and shaping local planning and development. But, as the organisation responsible for providing advice and support to communities to take up these opportunities, we know only too well some of the significant roadblocks they continue to face.

Fast forward to 2017 and an undeniable vacuum in neighbourhood powers persists. Since the EU referendum, we have heard a lot about ‘left-behind communities’ where the rallying cry of ‘take back control’ was most keenly felt. While this is a simplistic argument, it is true that many feel powerless over things that are happening in their community and we remain an over centralised country.

But if the government is serious about facing up to this chronic imbalance of power between centralised politics (be that in Brussels or Westminster) and communities, then they need to unlock the capacity within neighbourhoods to build better places from the ground up.

English devolution seems to be a spark that has dimmed in recent months. Six mayoral elections are coming up in May, but the energetic attack of the ‘devolution revolution’ which was promised two years ago is fading. The public are largely uninspired by its potential, and the lack of engagement between deal makers and civil society in some areas is contributing to its somewhat lacklustre appeal.

And while the government has made much of its ambitions for a Northern Powerhouse and a Midlands Engine in developing its new industrial strategy, it has done little to plug neighbourhoods directly into decisions around local growth and build a more social economy that works for the people in it.

We have established the new commission on the future of localism because we believe that we need to tap into the innovation and ideas across communities and revitalise the localism agenda.

The commission is chaired by Lord Kerslake, who as former head of the civil service brings immense expertise including from his time working as permanent secretary at the Department for Communities and Local Government when the localism act was designed.

The commission will also be informed by local and national politicians Lisa Nandy MP, former MP Laura Sandys, and leader of Stevenage council Sharon Taylor. Locality members Alison Haskins (chief executive of Halifax Opportunities Trust), Neil Johnston of Paddington Development Trust and Joanna Holmes of Barton Hill Settlement will bring their perspectives as community leaders, and Professor Jane Wills from Queen Mary University of London will contribute her insights from her recent book ‘Locating Localism’.

The commission begins with a review of the localism agenda to date, assessing the challenges and successes of the community rights agenda. By drawing on the experiences of communities trying to negotiate these rights locally, I hope that some very practical learnings and recommendations can be drawn out from this stage: How can the community right to bid, for example, be amended to improve the prospects of communities seeking to save valued local assets from closure or sale? How can the right to challenge become more than purely a prompt for opening up local conversations about service delivery?

The next stages of the commission will examine the role of neighbourhood governance within the devolution agenda, and the institutions, organisations and governance needed to deliver the ‘future of localism’. Community decision-making should be at the heart of any settlement on devolution. Parish councils and neighbourhood forums provide one blueprint for how further powers on local spending priorities and service delivery could be devolved to communities, and the commission will explore further best practice on how to realise the vision for ‘onward devolution’ to neighbourhoods.

Devolving powers to neighbourhoods is not just essential for a creating a healthier democracy. Empowering communities can channel capacity to build thriving and enterprising local economies, regenerate buildings and open spaces, and transform local public services through co-production and partnership on social value.

Ultimately I hope the commission will be able to draw on the research, ideas and experience already out there to reinvigorate the intentions of localism and bring power closer to neighbourhoods.

• To find out more about the commission and to respond to our calls for evidence, please visit: http://locality.org.uk/our-work/policy/localism-commission/