Open Public Services

1. Open Public Services Overview of issues & implications for the voluntary & community sector London Civic Forum Seminar “Opening Public Services – a real choice for citizens?” 12th June, 2012

2. Open Public Services White Paper • White Paper published – July 2011 • Created a narrative for existing reforms e.g. Localism Act, NHS reforms etc • A narrative built on principles – choice & control, decentralisation, diversity, fairness & accountability • Listening exercise – results published, November 2011 • Update paper published – March 2012 • “New Propositions” – Increasing user Choice, Neighborhood Councils, Payment by results

3. What are the key drivers, what is different? • Big Society, smaller state (‘post-bureaucratic’ state) • Further shift from top-down controls to ‘localism’ • Move away from ‘consensual’ community empowerment, to rights based relationship • Decentralisation, by working upwards – individual choice, neighbourhood, state commissioning • We have moved, from choice, to personalisation and, back to choice again. • From state vs. external provision, to private sector vs. VCS/social enterprise

4. Shifting models of funding for the VCS • There are concerns about whether ‘new’ funding such as PbR and Personal Budgetsare good for end-users and for VCS organisations • Prime Contracting – dilemma • Not seeing a “seismic” shift towards them, but grants and block contracts are reducing • Is this a short-term, one off, shift to due to cuts? • Or is further, shifting likely to happen? • Grants • Block Contracts • Spot Purchasing • Tariff-based contracts • Payment by results contracting • Personal budgets and direct payments • Prime Contractor / sub-contracting • Working through consortia • Proposals to be published on extending payment to results to new areas – March 2013

5. Individual Services • Providing user choice is the preferred starting point for Open Public Services • Coalition Government wants to move quicker, and faster of pre-existing reforms e.g. children with SEN/or disabilities will have option of a personal budget by 2014 and adults social care by April 2013 • Independent Review on the barriers to choice • ‘Choice Champions’, ‘You have the right to choose’ campaign • Legislating for a ‘right to choice’ • Changing role for providers, and commissioners • New risks, implications for the VCS business and financial model • Call for evidence on legislating for choice – closes, 22 June 2012 • Independent Review of barriers to choice published - Dec 2012 • Government response to the Independent Review - March 2013

6. Commissioning • Shift to commissioning • ‘Intelligent Commissioning’ • Creating a level playing field • Social Value • Changing role of commissioning • Community Budgets • The Compact • Public Services (Social Value) Act 2012, comes into force – tba • Proposals to extend payment by results - March 2013 • Second Phase of Local Government Finance Review, on community budget concludes – March 2013

7. Neighbourhoods • Neighbourhood ‘Budgeting’, ‘Commissioning’ & ‘Delivery’ • New Community Rights – Bid, Challenge, Build • Neighbourhood Planning • Neighbourhood Councils • Community right to challenge, regulations in place, July 2012 • Community right to bid regulations in place, Oct 2012 • Consultation on establishing new town and parish councils with consultation, July 2012 • Develop model for town & parish councils, Oct 2012

8. Observations • Getting the funding shift working for the VCS and users • However, you cut the cake, it will continue to get smaller • It’s needs, priorities and resources, stupid! • Rights, yes, but its down to culture, relationships & imagination • New ‘spin out” mutuals – friend or foe? • Representative democracy and participatory democracy

9. Contact details Mark Upton Public Policy Strategies Tel: 07905 164 695 Email: mark.upton@publicpolicystrategies.co.uk Website: www.publicpolicystrategies.co.uk Blog: www.blog.publicpolicystrategies.co.uk/