Policy Review | Pre legislative Consultations on 2008/09 parliamentary programme
A review by Stephen Blann, CLB Policy & Networks Officer. Here is a snapshot of some of the consultations issued in advance of this year's legislative programme. The following articles were all written in August 2008. Some of the issues will have had further developments, but these are left for reference to provide background.
email: stephenb@communitylinksbromley.org.uk or phone: 020 8315 1907
Pre legislative Consultations Quick links
- Community Empowerment White Paper 2009 onwards
- Changes to children's trusts
- Darzi review / NHS constitution
- Welfare Green paper
- Stephen's current policy review - December 08
Community Empowerment White Paper 2009 onwards
This sets out a whole range of initiatives but also restatement of existing ideas. Key ideas will be rights to information, participatory budgets – where local residents are actively involved in setting priorities and making allocations of money - and other citizen decision making. This could also encourage services to be devolved towards smaller local services and decision making.
Communities in Control Real people, real power [1.7 MB]- Communities in Control Real people, real power - summary [437 KB]
Bromley council and the local strategic partnership are revising the Bromley Community Engagement strategy although not with the more radical proposals in the white paper.
posted: 19/08/08
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Changes to children’s trusts
Proposed legislation later in the year as to structure and how children’s trusts operate. Impact on sector only indirect – responsibility for Children & Young people’s plan transfers to children’s trust rather than local authority. More people covered by a duty to consult - schools but not voluntary sector.
Read more at the Department for Children Schools and Families website
posted: 19/08/08
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Darzi review / NHS constitution
Following recommendations for London Lord Darzi – surgeon and government minister produced further ideas for reforming the NHS, making patient choice more central and making the NHS “independent” with its own constitution.
Read more at the Department of Health website
A draft constitution is currently out for consultation so a short term issue in responding to that. Longer term it could transform the relationship between NHS and third sector as well as between NHS and patients and NHS and politicians.
posted: 19/08/08
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Welfare Green paper
This is currently being consulted on but could have long term implications. There will be an impact on those working with or supporting people receiving benefits. Recipients need to be much more pro-active in finding suitable work - with assistance and could mean people having to work for benefits - including volunteering. This will radically alter the dynamic of third sector activities. There will be an impact on advice agencies and support agencies for those with disabilities ( in widest sense) and for those involved in volunteering - having potentially less willing volunteers. This is also an example of contestability – voluntary groups can bid for contracts to deliver support services – with payment strictly by results.
- No-one written off - reforming welfare to reward responsibility[1.69 MB]
- No-one written off - reforming welfare to reward responsibility - summary [157 KB]
posted: 19/08/08 -
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