Title

Core to the local government task is its role as the democratic voice of the community. But this sometimes gets lost in debates about service delivery. Sir Stephen Bubb is chief executive of the Association of Chief Executive of Voluntary Organisations Local councils have a dedicated band of councillors and staff who believe in the strength of accountability and representation. The battles of the 1980s, which I remember so well, led to a gradual loss of power back to central government. Both the Localism Bill and the Health Bill offer a chance to regain roles that were lost. But there is a danger here. Councils forget that they need vigorous local democracy. They sometimes believe delivering services is more important than building strong local communities and vibrant third sector organisations. Councils are getting new powers so they can give them away to local people. That is why the financial attack on the third sector by some councils was so short-sighted. But it is also what forward-thinking councils have understood and are acting on. Many of the council CEOs I have spoken to are protecting or increasing funding for community groups. Some have established new initiatives to give third sector organisations more in-kind support, or greater engagement in local decision-making. More and more council politicians and officers get the importance of the third sector and working with it. It is a shame a minority do not. They are in danger of having their peers leave them behind. I am currently reviewing the choice and competition sections of the Health Bill. My report is due out in mid-June. We are looking at how councils can work with local GPs and the third sector to improve citizens' health. In the 1980s, I chaired a pioneering health committee set up by Lambeth LBC to work with local hospitals and with public health to drive up health outcomes for local citizens. The Health Bill is a great opportunity for councils to put health back on the local government agenda – to make better links between health and social care; to innovate with integrated care packages for the many with long-term chronic sickness; to work on prevention and public health; and to expand citizens' rights to challenge poor delivery.

Title

Inside View

SUBSCRIBE TO CONTINUE READING