Reps Reports September 2007
Transfer Season
The recent Quirk Review highlighted that when asset transfer from local authorities to voluntary and community groups is done properly the benefits outweigh the risks.
But what is asset transfer? Asset transfer is where the council or other public bodies (e.g the police or the health service) give assets such as buildings to voluntary, community & social enterprise (vcse) groups, sometimes for free or for a nominal (below market) amount of money or in return for work they want the vcse sector to deliver.
Speaking at the ‘How will the Quirk Review affect asset transfer in Bristol?’ event in July, Councillor Peter Hammond said that asset transfer may be one way that the funding cliff facing many Neighbourhood Renewal projects (from March 2008) could be improved.
Helen Ball, Head of Policy, Performance and Equalities from Bristol City Council gave existing examples where (almost) asset transfer supported the work of the vcse sector in Bristol. Transfers highlighted included The Southville Centre, The Greenway Centre (Southmead) and the Great Western Dockyard (home to the SS Great Britain).
The examples given showed the potential through asset transfer for vcse organisations to gain independence and become self sufficient - owning and managing their own buildings. Importantly it was recognised that transferring assets in poor condition or without funding to develop the assets can also jeopardise the future of vcse organisations.
Could asset transfer be the way forward for your organisations premises needs?
Elaine Flint - Voscur Rep to the Economy Delivery Group
elained@socialenterpriseworks.org.uk
0117 907 0080
Ian Steele - Voscur Rep to the Regeneration Group
iansteele@southmead.org
0117 950 333
Bristol in 20 years time - planning ahead and deciding how we get there
In June, the Bristol Partnership meeting focussed on Bristol’s future - what it holds for us and how we can get there. The Partnership meeting was contributing to consultation on Bristol's Development Framework, while at the same time considering the issues that may also come up as part of the soon to begin review of the current community strategy.
To stimulate discussion, I was one of four partners who were invited to provoke and challenge the meeting. My three provocations were:
Consolidation
We need to allow ideas and projects to take root. Yes, of course our society is changing and it always will be - we all have to recognise and accept it.
However, the mechanical nature of the public sector often forces us from one piece of work to the next without being able to embed new ways of doing things, into the communities that are affected most. Allowing new ideas to bed down, is something we can never achieve if we are forever chasing targets without really reflecting on the power these projects have to bring about lasting improvement. 'Serial Innovation', always looking for the next bright shiny thing, benefits no one in the long run.
Consideration
We need to consider and accept our diverse approaches to working across the sectors. The community, voluntary & social enterprise (vcse) sector and the public sector operate in two very different ways. The public sector - with outputs and targets; its constant mediation between central government and the people; and its need to demonstrate effective and accountable use of public funds. Then there’s the communities that the public sector are there to serve, who operate on an organic, generational and relational basis. Where people come together to react to particular situations and needs, and who work over a longer term than the public sector, and without central government so much on their backs.
These are two dramatic extremes, each needs to understand and endeavour to work with the other on the other's terms: sometimes the vcse sector and the public sector to lock horns, perhaps because neither fully considers the others point of view of the other. We need to consider each other's point of view more effectively if we are to manage change.
Cohesion
Bristol is a city of striking extremes. Many parts of Bristol as are considered an 'attractive urban environment', but at the same time, not all residents feel at home in these areas or that they have a right to be there. Bristol's positive change needs to be available and open to everyone who lives in the city. A balanced and sustainable city needs everyone to work together. This reinforces the need for greater consideration of others, understanding what makes us all tick, and the need for consolidation, so that when we discover what works, we ensure that it is at the heart of the city.
An 'outcomes paper' will be issued shortly that summarises the discussions at the meeting and I hope my provocations helped start things off. Ultimately, of course, change can only come about through vision, commitment and patience from all stakeholders.
The next partnership meeting is on 25 September 2007 and will be focusing on Neighbourhood Management. Maybe I'll see you there. In the meantime, if you’d like to talk to me about this or other issues get in touch.
Simon Bale - Voscur Rep to the Bristol Partnership
simon@ccisr.org.uk
0117 955 7430