Citizen Smith? Councillors as Citizen and Community Champions

Rewiring West Midlands Conference6 December 2013

Jessica CroweCentre for Public Scrutiny

contents

• A bit about CfPS• Challenges – austerity, Francis, leadership of place• What’s in a name: Commissioning or Co-operative?• Councillors and citizens• Rethinking scrutiny• some case studies• Stay in touch: we can help!

A bit about CfPS

Founded in 2003 to:• Advocate and promote the concept of scrutiny• Provide practical guidance and development• Facilitate national networks• Create a national centre of expertise

Now an independent charity, we provide: • On-line services (on-line library, scrutiny exchange,

newsletters, blog, twitter)• Training, facilitation, evaluation, improvement support• Publications and events

accountability, transparency, involvement

CfPS: Accountability Works! 2010

the challenge: “be original or die!”

Pace of change:- austerity- changing relationships

between citizen, service-user & state

- greater diversity of service provision

- issues of trust & leadership

challenge of austerity

Annual Survey 2012-13:- officer support at lowest

level since 2004- discretionary budgets

down too- more support shared

with dem services- implications for

effectiveness and value

what does survey suggest as way to respond to austerity?

- Councils with fewer committees more effective – less bureaucratic / more focused on outcomes

- Monitoring recommendations leads councils to feel scrutiny is more impactful and valued

- Dedicated specialist scrutiny support does lead to more effective, valued scrutiny

- Focus on external / partner scrutiny correlates with councils feeling more optimistic

- Less is more: encourage prioritisation

challenge of Francis & Keogh

- HOSCs need “appropriate support” & “accessible guidance”

- improve coordination between HOSCs, Healthwatch & HWBs

- complaints monitoring & hearing patient experience

Government response only

promises guidance…

Rest is up to you!

co-operative or commissioning?what’s in a name

• Whatever you call it, many councils changing how they plan and deliver services

• Challenges for cllrs are:• Be clear about outcomes

you want to see• Set up governance to

ensure continued democratic oversight

• How will citizens’ / service-users be heard?

accountability of local govt:who will stand up for citizens?

accountability upwards to gov’t & regulators: a mixed picturelocal papers in terminal declinewill transparency of spending data lead to “citizen auditors”?citizen journalists and hyper-local bloggers: the new Citizen Smiths?whistle-blowers and complaints: personal sacrifice demanded

=> Councillors remain crucial for citizens

what do councillors add?

councillors holding the ring in ‘web of accountability’

• Have legitimacy – but have to earn credibility?

• Networked councillor – not just about technology

• Potential to have more influence but less control

• Are your councils set up to support you in this role?

• Have you rethought your role in new context?

rethinking and innovating scrutiny:demonstrating Return on Investment

The model is based on five stages of a “scrutiny journey”, utilising a variety of tools:

1. Identifying and short listing topics

2. Prioritisation3. Stakeholder engagement and

scoping4. Undertaking the review,

measuring impact and calculating the ROI

5. Making recommendations using ROI and influencing services

ROI approach helped six areas save around £1.7m – replicable

Area Potential savings and return on investment Return on investment

Newham £455,000 total£90 for every £1 spent on the

review

Westminster £1,196,866 annually£329 for every £1 spent on the

review

Southwark £20,930 total£11.52 for every £1 spent on

the review

South Somerset £5,440 total£3.40 for every £1 spent on the

review

Adur and Worthing £415 per person£0.37 for every £1 spent on the

review (based on 1 person)

Warrington £17,389 per person£5 for every £1 spent on the review (based on 1 person)

case study 1: how S Somerset used scrutiny ROI to tackle inequality & save money

South Somerset:- facilitate networks- focus on patient

experience & access- link bigger picture to

local experience- provide neutral space- champion marginalised

case study 2: schools improvement and role of councillors

Back to School:- exemplifies ‘power thro

influence’ argument- collaboration between LGA,

CfPS & 8 LAs- scrutiny can help councils

deliver responsibilities for schools improvement

- ward councillors, school governors, O&S: all have role

case study 3: Boston and community focused scrutiny

I have read lots of council reports and this was a revelation to me. It is the first council report I have ever read which actually, in plain English, defuses and throws a light on a situation which many people who don’t know Boston and look at it from the outside think is potentially explosive. I found the report not only well presented and well written but eminently sensible. You did in one what it would take central Government a long time to do. Local Police Commissioner

Boston video

stay in touch

e: jessica.crowe@cfps.org.ukt: 020 7187 7362w: www.cfps.org.uktwitter: @cfpscrutinyblog: www.cfps.org.uk/blog

We can help!• member training & development• reviewing & improving scrutiny• sign up for guides, updates & policy briefings