Decentralisation and Localism Bill

[Madweasels]

Dear All

I am getting my local groups to focus upon the implications of Localism and the forthcoming Billl, which is likely to unleash Big Society upon us. A group member prepared these briefing notes, which I thought I would share with you all.



The Decentralisation and Localism Bill is to be published on 9 December.

A summary of its likely contents -

http://www.politics.co.uk/legislation/co...378416.htm

A jaundiced view of the Bill -

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/...oric/print

- including a killer quote: -

So here is a law purporting to decentralise and free up local action that is shot through with contempt for elected representatives. It wants councillors replaced by community activists, who are to get a right to provide services - if they pay for them - and take over parks and offices, which councils can no longer afford to maintain because their spending is so tightly controlled by the government.

The roots of the localism agenda lie in the Sustainable Communities Act 2007, summarised here -

http://www.localworks.org/node/4

You may be interested to know that there is to be an open Sustainable Communities Act parliamentary reception on 15 December, at which ministers will be present. -

http://www.localworks.org/node/129

[Wax]

Thanks for this M

I have followed some of the links and am wondering what the overall implications are going to be for archaeology. As I see it the Decentralisation & Localism Bill is the mechanism by which the tightening of the financial expenditure of local government is to be applied.

Seems to me there are both opportunities and dangers here for archaeology (PPS 5 might me a great help).

Local communities may have more say but there seems to be a doorway for businesses (those who live work or study in an area are the community) to work with local authorities on locally beneficial projects, so who defines this beneficial aspect? Is it “we all get rich quick” or we “improve our living standards and well being”?

Round my neck of the woods this could mean developers and councils working together to push through development on historically sensitive sites using the argument that it is of “benefit” to the local community.

I suppose there is scope under PPS 5 to muster “local” community groups to fight inappropriate development but who makes the final decisions?

I can see various “local groups” clashing head on over many issues. Also the idea of local groups, businesses and charities running essential services is frankly appalling to me!!! Much as I am for community archaeology it has to be monitored by professionals and this must surely apply to other sectors? Community/ local groups are often self appointed with non elected officials and often have agendas that are actually more to do with personal crusades than addressing local issues.


I have been a non political animal for most of my life but I am now coming to realise I am going to have to get my head around all theses issues if I want to see my profession survive. God knows what is going to happen to the services health care etc my council provides which perhaps I should be worrying more about?

We know the s---- is about to hit the fan but what do the forum members see happening in the next year?

[BAJR]

I so wish I could share the Antiquity Editorial for this month with you all... Martin Carver cuts right into the heart of archaeology today... and its not pretty... however, for once he answers the question... why! Whats the points

One quote that I am sure I can pass on is this.

In these times of economic unrest, archaeology needs to decide whether it is a public service, has something to sell or is just an inspiring pastime. While the latter is always true, it’s not particularly relevant in the context of maintaining an income. As for the first two, silver-tongued advocacy has employed professional archaeologists as never before, caring for earthworks and old buildings – the conservation sector – and recording everything that is going to be destroyed – the mitigation sector.

and this

Our source of income is drying up because development has slumped, it [commercial archaeology] says, so we need the state to step in and pay us anyway, otherwise we might lose our skills. That’s like the league of embalmers complaining there aren’t enough dead people. It might have been easier to make the case that mitigation archaeology in Britain is really a public service, if it hadn’t already been commandeered by companies operating like giant businesses at national and international level. The document also makes some questionable claims about the high standards of mitigation fieldwork, which in practice is too often rushed, messy and perfunctory;

I am asking if I can republish the whole editorial, so cross fingers.

The point is... What happens to archaeology is going to be our fault or our sucess. we will have no-one else to blame.

As your posts show, this Big Society is a sham - it could be great, but it will be half baked, hopeless and impossible to implement control in practice.

What I see is a forking path... one way is hard work, reorganisation, admissions and forgiveness... another is self delusion and blinkered selfishness. why do I know which way we will head!

[GnomeKing]

3 cheers Carver (and the rest of you)

"a riot is at bottom the language of the unheard" (Martin Luther King)

[ex-archaeologist]

I just thought I would post this link to the Royal Town Planning Institute website, giving the thoughts of the planners chartered proffessional body on the issue. The '12 tests' their chief policy planner sets are particularly relevant.


http://www.rtpi.org.uk/item/4259/23/5/3

[the invisible man]

BBC News website, quoting Eric Pickles on the Today programme: 'It was "no longer viable" for councils to have their own legal departments, education departments and planning departments' he said.

[gwyl]

"no longer viable" for councils to have their own legal departments...

so if they're challenged on a decision, it will be in the minister's gift to fight or roll over
truly this is a mess
and as for education - well, when my kids are turfed out of school at 14 to go to work, what'll the council need an education department for when the Local Board of CoE or whatever School will have taught them their 3Rs, allegedly
and people mock me when i talk about home-schooling