Grassroots democracies needs support to flourish

Many observers are sounding the death knell for local democracy and government. Their main reasons: the severe financial austerity climate in which public services find themselves.

There are proposals for mergers of principal (county, district, unitary and borough) councils, cuts and more commissioning out of services. All threaten further deterioration of the link between democracy and public service delivery.

Discretionary services of principal councils are being cut left, right and centre, opening up a vacuum in communities for the delivery of ‘quality of life’ services

It is not all doom and gloom, however. There is, in fact, growth in part of local government. More than 200 ‘very local’ (community, neighbourhood, parish and town) councils have been created since 1997.

Discretionary services of principal councils are being cut left, right and centre, opening up a vacuum in communities for the delivery of ‘quality of life’ services.

Communities and local people have a general feeling of remoteness from decisions being made about their area. They want to have a very local democratic voice on issues such as housing, planning, libraries, environment, community services, parks, crime and social disorder.

Residents believe a local council would give them more influence over things that matter to local people - councillors who live locally and community officers who will fight their corner for better services for those on local housing estates and streets and for a chance to run and own facilities.

One such area that has been successful in this is Queen’s Park, London. Last year 68% of its residents backed the creation of a community council to help improve the area and give them a voice. The Queen’s Park parish will fund local community services, including CCTV, allotments, local events and services to befriend older people. They will be holding elections next year to become the first very local council in London for more than 60 years.

The creation of new very local councils will give people a real sense of community control, with freedom to make improvements that best serve their community.

But this wave of revitalised grassroots democracy of very local councils cannot happen on its own. We need the partnership support of central government and principal local government.

The government needs to look again at allowing local councils to share in the proceeds of business rates to reflect their support of local economies, as well as ending the madness of the effects of localisation of council tax support where their very financial independence is threatened.

And we need to investigate how we can come up with radical new ideas to help hyperlocal democracy truly flourish (see www.whatnextforlocalism.org).

Ken Browse, chair, National Association of Local Councils