Fontis
making involvement happen
Recent News
Lambeth Council
Britain's first ever Co-operative Council?
Tuesday 1 June 2010 18:05 by Graham English
Lambeth Council has established a commission to lead a process of consultation over its ideas for a co-operative council. The co-operative model will see residents take on a bigger role in running and shaping local services they say, adding that the model applies the co-operative model of fairness, accountability and responsibility across a broad range of services. It is built on four years experience trialling the approach in specific services in Lambeth.
For more information visit the Council's web-site here and read their 'White Paper' setting out the proposals here and comment via their 'wiki-consultation' here.
For a very different perspective see Jason Cobb's article in The Guardian on Tuesday 1st June (here).
Big Society
Still catching up on 'Big Society'?
Tuesday 1 June 2010 18:01 by Graham English
The Conservative Manifesto was the first major public outing for the 'Big Society' set of concepts. We've done some reading and thinking about the concept in recent months, for example in relation to the 'Making Good Society' report from the Carnegie Trust's Commission of Inquiry into the Future of Civil Society, of which no doubt more in our blogs later. In the meantime we have found these two commentators useful, albeit from different political traditions:-
Firstly, Matthew Taylor's Blog here (one of several relevant entries), and secondly at Respublica are several articles and relevant blogs (Click Here).
This work links with the American influenced thinking about the value of 'association' (cf Peter Block's book on Community), which we have known for a little while. Interesting and thought-provoking stuff, whatever your political persuasion and whatever you made of the role of 'Big Society' in the election (and its immediate aftermath).
Real Involvement for SHAs
SHAs get guidance on 'Real Involvement' just in the nick of time!
Tuesday 1 June 2010 17:01 by Graham English
Announcements are now being quietly made on the demise of SHAs, yet just a few weeks ago the Department of Health issued (in April ie just pre-election) guidance to SHAs on 'Real Involvement' in strategy development, especially as it applies to reconfiguration of services.
Whatever happens to the functions of SHAs and to their staff this guidance remains worth a read if you havent already seen it. Click here