An every day story of ordinary folk!
Faceless community? Hidden gems - our people • People are assets Anonymous unless in • Tremendous talents need? • Seek sense of Disconnected belonging • Enthusiastic in other Do their own thing areas of life Undervalued • Use appropriately, not just “volunteering” See public service as • Even NIMBY’s have bureaucratic passion!
A journey of change • Begins with a single step • “Your present circumstances don't determine where you can go; they merely determine where you start .” • Nido Qubein
Our paradise needed to change • Population 12,500 • Tourism industry in decline • Lost key transportation links • Highest deprivation in Devon (Central ward) • Amongst top 10% deprived areas in country • Lower life expectancy • Since 1974 no power & little influence
Where we are • 12 miles from Barnstaple Ilfracombe . . Barnstaple (NDC) • 55 miles from Exeter • Poor transport • Sense of remoteness Exeter (DCC) • 2,500 square miles • 1m resident population • Key areas Exeter, Plymouth & Torbay
Begging bowl attitude • ‘Done to’ victim mentality • Focus on deprivation • Lack of self esteem • Perception other towns looked after better than ours • Took no responsibility for community predicament
We dared to dream
......a different dream • Our District Council had a dream as well… • Very nice toilets • Some are antique so of historic value • We will let you clean them as well!!! • And when clean they do sparkle (ish) • Won’t you just love being in charge of your destiny?
Ilfracombe strategy • 2003 - step change in civic Understanding the bigger picture leadership • 2008 - Created one stop shop • 2010 - A vision & purpose • 10 year plan - 17 Objectives Ilfracombe Strategic Plan • 2010 -2020 On- going - Partner relationship building ILFRACOMBE TOWN COUNCIL Adopted 11 January 2010 • 2015 – Ambition create succession
Why our town council led the way • Democratic legitimacy • Only public body exclusively committed to town • Belief ‘top down’ was wrong • Proactive -v- reactive • Public perception is that we are part of public machine • Leadership required
An early success
The old silo culture My town needs • Remote better parking can you help? decision-making • Poor County District Town communication • Inefficient I don’t deal I only deal I only deal with parking with on street with off so blame parking street others for parking & doing enforcement nothing
The result of being a Localism national pilot!
Ilfracombe partners Warwick & Waterside GP Practices Ilfracombe Harbour Board
£££? £££? £££? £££? £££? Who does what and how much is Dental & Eye DEFRA Voluntary Jobcentre+ Carers Treatment services allowance £££? £££? spent? £££? £££? Residential £££? Well being care The Arts Utilities AONB £££? £££? £££? £££? H M Local £££? Environment Pathfinder Coastguards Charities Agency training CAB £££? £££? £££? £££? £££? D & S Fire Magistrates West Country Community Sports & Service Ambulance Care Courts leisure grants £££? £££? £££? £££? £££? Special Probation Pensions Social Work D & C Police Education Service £££? £££? £££? £££? £££? Preventative Jobseekers Palliative Adult Hospital medicine Allowance Care Education services £££? £££? £££? £££? £££? Housing Housing Main Stream Community GP Medical Delivery Benefit Share of Education Nursing Care Share of Treatment £560m £250,000 £££? £13.128m DCC Family Credit ITC NDC
Where does the money go?
Spend mapping results – £82m Net Revenue Budgeted Investment in Ilfracombe 2012/13 General Intelligent Accurate Total £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 Department for Work and Pensions 31,908 31,908 Devon & Cornwall Police 2,878 156 3,034 Devon County Council 2,070 5,966 7,033 15,069 Devon Fire and Rescue Service 404 630 1,034 Devon Primary Care Trust 12,500 16,024 28,524 Ilfracombe Town Council 250 250 North Devon District Council 1,505 240 176 1,921 North Devon Plus 236 169 405 Total Net Revenue Investment 16,075 41,632 24,438 82,145
The Virtual Bank • Web based data management • Accessible by Partners & public • Investment on postcode basis either: – Detailed – Intelligent – Statistical • Budgets – v- Actual
is different • Not-for-profit company owned by partners – • Ilfracombe Town Council • Devon County Council • North Devon Council • Clinical Commissioning Group • Devon & Somerset Fire & Rescue Service • North Devon Homes • Associate members – • Devon & Cornwall Police • Jobcentre plus • Schools • 15 Directors – 6 independent
How partners are working together Devolved Community Influence Private engagement Budgets over budgets Sector Influence Influence ONE ILFRACOMBE PARTNERS ITC (Not-for-profit company Scrutiny Scrutiny Management Precept-setting, Team Grant-giving Our survey: etc, Yes: 97.26% Delivery No: 2.73%% Don’t Know: 0.34% (Sample: 1037 residents as at 30/09/13)
Future proofing partner relationships • Personalities change • Politics interfere • Financial impact • Fatigue • Community commitment • Partners have entered a Social Contract
Current health initiatives Health & wellbeing – Focus on families – Combat social isolation – Dementia friendly community – Digital inclusion – Social capital and building communities
Current town initiatives Built environment – Town Team – Cleanliness – Fighting illegal tobacco – Anti social behaviour – Physical regeneration
Current economy initiatives Economy – Your Hired event – Youth employment training – Workforce training & skills – Attracting new businesses
Ilfracombe Town Council Community Engagement New role • Community engagement team • Surveys • Committed funds to improve engagement • Takeover day
10 year olds to run council
Our surveys revealed From young people People look down their noses like we’re not good enough; we are treated like dirt right from the moment we step into the (agency). We get told about events at the last minute then get a hammering from them when we can’t get there. I don’t know where to go, there’s too much information everywhere and we get an overload.” Aaron, aged 24
…and more From young people We are ‘treated like objects rather than a person who has feelings’ – Jess 24 “ On the first day, the tutor said to us, “You are all here because you’ve failed at everything else”. I didn’t feel very motivated after that so I didn’t go back.” Joe, aged 17
Are we unique? • NO! QUOTE: • just……. • Ambitious “We are continually • Passionate faced by great • Determined opportunities disguised as insoluble problems” • United team (mostly) • Communicative LEE LACOCCA • Developing TRUST • Have equal voices • Have belief!
One size does not fit all Localism is about local people leading change - working together, caring, listening, learning, supporting and delivering. Returning to the “The Village concept” It is not about what the “system” thinks is right for a community.
Reflections “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.” Margaret Mead
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