Thank you for inviting me to join you this morning
Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Association of Local Councils
In partnership with
Cambridgeshire County Council and South Cambridgeshire District Council
SOUTH CAMBS PARISH COUNCIL CONFERENCE
AND COMMUNITY FUNDING FAIR
Tuesday 28th October 2014
Parish Councils rising to the challenge - opening address to conference by Councillor Steve Criswell
Thank you for inviting me to join you this morning. I am Steve Criswell, a Parish Councillor in Somersham, where until a year ago I served as chairman.
I am also a District and County Councillor which gives me a valuable insight into the workings, challenges, benefits and mindset of local authorities across Cambridgeshire.
It also helps me to understand the ‘bigger picture’ and see through the barriers and silo mentality that can exist between the different tiers of government. And we desperately need to break down those barriers.
I have been asked to briefly share some views and observations with you, using my wider experience of addressing big issues and also from a parish council perspective, referring to some of the things we have been doing in Somersham. Some of my comments will be challenging, but that reflects the situation we are all in.
I make no apology for starting with the subject that now dominates the thinking behind all public services and the catalyst that led to me stepping up our efforts in Somersham. The depressing financial situation in which we all find ourselves.
None of us became councillors to make cuts, reduce services and do less. But one thing you learn pretty fast as a councillor, is that we can only play the hand we are dealt. How we play that hand however, can make a real difference.
Quite rightly, the current situation is forcing us to work smarter, co-operate with others, prioritise better and squeeze as much benefit as possible, from the limited public purse. South Cambs DC is increasingly working with HDC and Cambs City on the sharing of back-office functions and certain services. The County Council is working in partnership with Northants on their Corporate services. The County is also pursuing the possibility of pooled budgets with health providers to increase efficiency. Ultimately we would like devolved powers to enable us to allocate all of the County’s public sector funding in a way that suits Cambridgeshire rather than central government.
All these initiatives to make savings are a good thing, but service reductions are still inevitable and that brings some very difficult choices.
Which is why I believe we all need to have an Honest Conversation.
As town and parish councillors we have been used to referring to County, District or NHS and Police, saying “That’s their job” “That’s their responsibility” “Nothing to do with us”.
Well, not any more. Their responsibility will be to do as much as they can to fulfil their statutory obligations within their shrinking budgets. Having the power to deliver something is meaningless if you don’t have the resources. County and District Councils are making the position clear.
Their shrinking budgets are real. Their complete reappraisal of all services is not a drill. Their inability to continue doing all we’ve been used to, is not a bluff. The impact of all this has yet to be felt and will change society.
The efficiency savings I have already mentioned have delayed the effect on front line services, but that cannot continue. As I speak, the cross party Highways and Community Infrastructure Committee in Shire Hall are deliberating by how much to reduce winter gritting, when to turn off streetlights and what a considerably reduced Library service could look like. Adult and Children’s services will have to cope with increased demand and less money.
How communities cope and enhance what will be available in the future, will depend on how much resource they put in. That will need to be led by councillors. Especially us, as Parish and Town councillors.
Gaps will inevitably appear and it will be a local decision or ‘our responsibility’ whether to fill them or not. The writing has been on the wall for several years now.
Some have started taking action, some have raised precepts to prepare and invest in their communities or develop a financial cushion. Worryingly, some appear to have made no preparation at all. Which is why this honest conversation is so important.
As Parish Councillors, part of our community leadership will be to have an honest conversation with our residents about the reality of the situation. As the councillors closest to our communities I believe we are best placed to do so. We will need to talk to them about austerity. Many will be feeling the pain at home, but will still take public services for granted.
“I am still paying Council Tax, so why am I going to receive fewer services ?”
Austerity is the price of debt. National debt. Give them a clear answer.
Money we used to receive is now being diverted to lower the annual deficit and eventually reduce the debt. Some people I meet in the street still seem to find that difficult to grasp. The figures are so big and so distant they must be someone else’s problem.
Whether we like it or not, it’s our problem and we need to deal with it.
The reality is that it will still take sometime to eradicate the deficit, and many more years to significantly reduce the national debt. Public spending will therefore remain low long after the economic recovery. I believe we need to assume this shift to a smaller state and more localised reliance is permanent.
My advice is to avoid blame and politics. Communities will rally round to help each other, but if it’s because of the bankers or politicians, they will be less inclined to do so.
So we also need to have an honest conversation with our communities about Localism and Community Resilience. This involves devolved decision making and taking account of local aspirations and priorities. It is also a culture change in response to austerity. The acceptance that with an ageing population, the current expenditure on public services is completely unsustainable.
How can we help our residents remain fit and healthy to enhance their lives and reduce expensive interventions by the NHS and Social Care ? That should surely be our aim.
Localism is the difference between waiting for something to happen and making it happen. Community Resilience is what enables us to do so.
As Parish Councils we have often been seen as, and felt like the poor relations. The lowest tier of Gov’t. That will change. As other budgets shrink, Parish budgets will grow and local councils will be in the driving seat to make a real difference to their communities. And ‘difference’ is the appropriate word.
Localism offers equal opportunities, but as local councils prioritise and decide which gaps to fill, which services to enhance and which projects to discard, differences between communities may grow. Dependent on effort and commitment, outcomes will vary. Councils that do nothing will need to explain why.
We will need to be in touch with our residents more than ever before. Newsletters, websites, sharing information. Do we make this decision ourselves or do we ask our residents ? Communities will need to have ownership of those decisions and help deliver the outcomes.
We need to develop a proactive mindset, good community spirit and a strong volunteer network. And no-one is saying it will be easy.
In Somersham, we started our Resilience project over 3 years ago. I could see what was coming and was offered support from County colleagues to trial what a rural village could do to become more self sufficient.
Essentially in my view, we started by developing a new Community Plan. Not just because the previous one was 7 years old, but because the world had changed and localism needed to be at the heart of it. The public consultation brought out the usual tick box issues and the predictable wish list. However, a new plan is a crucial opportunity to have the honest conversation I have been referring to.
We needed to use our insight to come up with a vision and to include things that our residents were still taking for granted.
“A sustainable community striving to involve and meet the needs of all our residents”
Our vision was crucial. It acknowledges the challenges ahead and invites the community to help take responsibility for achieving success.
I repeat
“A sustainable community striving to involve and meet the needs of all our residents”
‘Sustainable’ means more self reliant.
‘Community’ means ownership.
‘Striving’ means ambitious.
‘Involve’ means a collective effort.
And ‘the needs of all’ means particularly helping the vulnerable.
Quality of life in Somersham is no longer just someone else’s responsibility. Of course we rely on core services and hope they continue. But we are the Council most accountable to local residents. We do not have to serve a whole District or County.
As elected members of our community, we must surely step in to protect our residents’ well-being to the greatest extent possible.
Like some other villages, we have long been proactive with Minor Highways Improvements, through grants from County Council or through self funding. Pedestrian crossings, footpath widening, reducing speed limits, traffic calming etc.
• we grit our own footpaths in winter
• cut our own grass in summer
• sweep our own pavements
• support Speedwatch
• have run our own library for the last 11 years
So self help is not new.
It just needs to be taken more seriously and be better organised.
• The PC acknowledged the value of our Youth Club and took over the staffing and running of the facility when the County Council could no longer do so.
• We are reviewing public transport opportunities and have engaged fully with the Cambridgeshire Future Transport initiative. We took responsibility to consult and make sure it will respond to the needs of our residents.
• We are improving communications. Our Parish newsletter is now bi-monthly and we are making better use of our website and facebook. We are aware that as information, opportunities and decisions are devolved, it will increasingly fall to local councils to inform and consult with residents.
• Some of you may know that Somersham has had a keen interest in Environmental issues. Our shops became plastic carrier-bag free in 2008 Even Tesco had to reluctantly comply when they moved into the village 3 years ago.
• We have encouraged energy saving initiatives through the newsletter and are currently looking at other opportunities.
• We have included the local economy in our Community Plan. Why wouldn’t a parish council want to help local shops and businesses?
• We’ve had a ‘shop local’ campaign for which we printed T shirts.
• We extended our car park and reviewed our on-street parking, introducing some half-hour spaces outside the shops.
• The latest project is to develop a business directory. We have also asked for additional business start-up sites to be allocated within the new Local Plan.
We want to help people who live and work in Somersham to prosper.
Public Health is now a responsibility of the County Council having moved from the NHS. I would argue it’s the responsibility of us all. It’s now in our Community Plan.
• We have been engaging with our local GPs, the Clinical Commissioning Group, the public health team and our schools. Developing local healthy initiatives and exercise programmes. Targeting child obesity.
• In Partnership with the County Council, we have developed and now manage our local nature reserve. This is not just good for the environment, it is now part of our outdoor healthy exercise opportunities.
• We have just developed a Health and Well-being Group in Somersham to bring partners together all those that provide services in the village without interacting with each other. Ensuring we are making best use of what is available. Avoiding gaps and overlaps and taking responsibility for the health of our residents.
Helping others to deliver their services for our benefit.
This needs to be part of our new thinking.
How do we help others deliver services for our benefit ?
Meeting the needs of Older People is a huge challenge for the future with numbers growing faster than ever. So what can the community do to help?
Well, we can start by identifying older people as valuable members of our community rather than someone else’s problem.
Many retired residents are proving to be a hugely beneficial pool of volunteers. We are being more proactive in giving advice. We are taking practical steps to build community resilience through Time banking. This helps support the vulnerable by running errands and reducing isolation. In prioritising this work, we have employed our own Time bank co-ordinator. She has been successful in recruiting people of all ages and from all walks of life. It need not be onerous, but by joining, residents have given us their permission to ask them for a favour.
This work doesn’t just help people and enhance their lives, it also delays the need for them to enter the system of high cost care.
• Calling in for a cup of tea and a chat reduces the likelihood of depression
• Changing a light bulb for someone may prevent a fall
At a time when it is easy to lead our own lives and become insular, an increasing network of contacts leads to a happier community.
We already have a thriving community with many interest groups, but they have tended to operate in isolation.
• We are encouraging them to interact with the Parish Council and each other. Involving them in an event at the Annual Parish Meeting.
• Asking them to help achieve actions within the plan.
Many groups have joined the Time bank and now help each other.
We are talking to our neighbouring parishes.
• How can we cluster to co-operate and collaborate ? This is one way small parishes can become more involved.
• Uniting to achieve common goals. Sharing resources.
• Widening networks to increase resilience.
What we have learned is that building community resilience takes time, even in an active community.
It requires a change of culture and focus among community leaders, if it is to be disseminated wider.
There also needs to be some financial contingency and flexibility for the council to promote projects that will meet the needs and expectations of residents. The parish precept will become increasingly important and needs to be part of the honest conversation with residents. In Somersham we consulted, raised it and explained why.
In Somersham we still have some way to go, but we cannot hide our heads in the sand.
If we truly have the will to make a difference, there is a lot we can do.
We’ve known about the challenging future for some time and our communities will expect us to be prepared.
Thank you.
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