Big Society could block joint working, says Betts

29 Jun 10
The new chair of the Commons communities and local government select committee has questioned the government's Big Society concept, suggesting the approach might prove an obstacle to joint working
By David Williams

29 June 2010


The new chair of the Commons communities and local government select committee has questioned the government’s Big Society concept, suggesting the approach might prove an obstacle to joint working.

Labour MP Clive Betts made the comments this morning at a conference hosted by the Local Government Information Unit and the National Council for Voluntary Organisations.

Betts expressed doubts over the government’s commitment to devolve power to communities, which is central to its Big Society idea.

It could make services harder to connect, he argued. ‘Once we get to a situation where you’ve got locally elected police chiefs, schools operating independently of the local authority, GPs operating independently of primary care trusts, then you’ve got problems,’ Betts said. ‘You’ll have great difficulties in co-ordinating those efforts – joining services up [such as] between social care and the health service.’

He added that it would be harder to make the best use of public buildings, as independently run schools might not wish to collaborate with other local services. 

‘I worry about those things, that it will be more difficult to join up lots of different bits and different accountabilities.’

Also speaking at the event was Toby Blume, chief executive of Urban Forum, who added: ‘I don’t see clarity on the role of local councillors in the Big Society vision, and it needs to be developed much more thoroughly.

‘They are critical in the community and leadership role, working with voluntary and community organisations.’

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