In this changing and challenging world, local authorities are developing their approaches and relationships to citizens while economic, political and social pressures are all demanding new ways of organising and delivering services. Will this result in a shrinking bureaucracy with outsourced services or a dynamic centre for reviving democracy? Kate Faulkes - Community Empowerment Coordinator, Barnsley Council, presented the response from Barnsley Council and participants discussed a range of emerging models from other authorities.

The key discussion points that emerges were:

1 What is ‘pooling budgets’?

·    Separate budgetsfor statutory functions e.g. safeguarding children

·    Pooled budgets for rest, available to be commissioned.

·    Aligned Budgetsare to be used for the neighbourhood but can not be pooled.

2 Young people desperate for work – community centre that could be opened and run by community, but no one wants to do it for nothing! – Social Enterprise is scary!

3 Challenge of resistance to the commissioning idea from some officers who see themselves as the experts – “community experts” – some resistance from the community as well

4 Eastfield residents have wanted to get information about council budgets ages ago; they went for Participatory Budgeting (PB), now Scarborough Council having to move towards it. Have to change culture

5 Rules and regulations get in the way. In some areas the LSPs have melted away to be replaced by Public Health boards, and community voice may be very weak

6 Councils shouldn’t assume that community is not prepared to take responsibility for deciding how services are to be reorganised

7 Role of Parish Councils and PB could be key