The mood from colleagues in the community sector was sombre. Afzal Hussain, Chief Officer of Witton Lodge Community Association, reported that his organisation has seen footfall into their local centre rise from 7,000 in the previous year to 12,000 in the year just finished. Inequality, like demand, is set to rise, and organisations like WLCA working in less prosperous neighbourhoods will continue to be on the front line. Neighbourhood based organisations will need to diversify income streams as public funds are squeezed further. There were some crumbs of comfort; the strengthening of the community right to bid was welcomed, and it appears to be a good time to aspire to run a community pub.
For the social enterprise sector, Sarah Crawley of the Initiative for Social Entrepreneurs saw opportunities to deliver more public services. There is an explicit commitment in the manifesto to innovation in delivery which is welcome. However there were some raised eyebrows that the Work Programme is being held up as a success story of how to involve the third sector in service delivery. We should be ready for payment by results to be rolled out across more contracts, and greater use of social investment tools like Social Impact Bonds.
There is also some welcome mention of the beleaguered library service, with a commitment to helping more libraries “go digital” around e-books and community wifi.
The co-operators in the room noted with some concern the absence of any reference whatsoever to co-operatives, or co-operation, in the manifesto (perhaps a result of the travails at the Co-operative Group over the last 18 months). There is a one line mention of public service mutuals, and the possibility of a “right to mutualise”. Our good friend Cliff Mills pointed out that mutuality is not something you can impose on a workforce; it needs to be the decision of those involved.
All of us noticed the return of the Big Society, with its emphasis now on “Over to You”. However with the burden of continuing austerity impacting most on those least able to bear it, this means one thing for all in social business: there is even more for us to do now. And that, perhaps, summarises the other big theme of our conversation.
We should be realistic about what’s coming in the next 5 years. There will be challenging times ahead, especially for the poorest in our communities and neighbourhoods. But there was also a strong, shared sense that we won’t – we can’t – wait for government to come and make things better. The social business sector will continue to do what it does best – we will roll up our sleeves, pitch in where we see a need, and do what we can to use trade to create social impact. And if ministers want to help it’ll be a bonus.
Please contact David Alcock.
Covid-19 has resulted, on the whole, in a marked co-operation between contracting authorities and their suppliers as everybody focuses on maintaining delivery as far as possible.
As we enter a recession, we have been here before, and a key question is what did we learn and how can we benefit from that learning?
It is anticipated that as lockdown restrictions ease, and particularly with children and young adults returning to education, cases of meningitis will start to rise.
As we continue to emerge from lockdown measures and deal with local measures and the short and long term economic impact of Covid-19, local authorities will need to re-assess how services will be delivered for years to come.
The Government first announced plans for a shared ownership right to buy in October 2019. At the time the sector raised concerns about the impact the plans would have on housing associations ability to borrow. An election and a pandemic later the Government announced, during the CIH Housing Festival last week, the return of the right to shared ownership as part of its Affordable Homes Programme (AHP).
Two final pieces of the possession jigsaw have been published on 15 September 2020. Mr Justice Knowles’ working group on possession proceedings has issued its guidance on the “overall arrangements” for possession proceedings.
One change proposed by the Building Safety Bill is the introduction of a duty holder regime, which will see statutory responsibility for the safety of higher risk buildings placed on key individuals
Throughout this pandemic, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has been publishing various “Statements on Coronavirus” (Statements) which provide guidance on consumer rights during this time.
A recent increase in COVID-19 cases in the UK means new measures are being put in place in an effort to reduce the risk of a second wave. Whilst the impact of COVID-19 continues to be felt, it is important to remain focused on the sector’s road to recovery.
Sometimes half an hour at a conference gives you the reality that has been staring you in the face all along. That was my experience watching “Change is on the Horizon”
To receive invitations to our events, as well as information and articles on legal issues and sector developments that are of interest to you, please sign up to Newsroom.