READ the FEdS reviews of these reports and much more in our As the phone hacking scandal reaches a crescendo with the appearance of Rupert Murdoch, James Murdoch and Rebekah Brooks before the Commons select committee, how many of us noticed the Government’s White paper on public service reform last week?
The Open Public Services White Paper was billed as the biggest shakeup of what the state provides in half a century and should have added much more meat to the Big Society vision – only it didn’t.
And if you could burrow beyond the hacking scandal headlines, there was some fascinating analysis about what the White Paper revealed about the Government’s state of mind.
On the one hand it was seen as “timid†and “lily-livered†– a view summed up by The Economist: “Because the reforms lack a clear centre of gravity, both the private sector and Big Society supporters are beginning to feel aggrieved and to fear losing out. The coalition’s tetchy internal politics, plus a desire to constrain public-sector anger as budget cuts bite, mean that its leaders want to avoid confrontation. So the latest initiatives blandly seek to “put power in people’s handsâ€, but without the bracing edge of a crusade to shrink government. They form part of the long and winding story of post-war reform of the British state—but they look most unlikely to transform it.â€
On the other, it was a sensible pause for thought said Simon Parker, director of the New Local Government Network: “The lack of new ideas is probably a blessing. Ministers have had more than a year of trying to enact their version of ‘creative destruction’ on local government and its partners. It is probably better to let this bed down than to introduce another wave of disruptive thinking..…
“Whitehall is the only bit of the public sector not yet feeling the bracing wind of localism…..There are all sorts of problems with the implementation and there will be plenty to object to over the coming years. But it’s still the best chance localists have had in a generation to create a better kind of local democracy and more responsive public services.â€
There was also a third view. Philip Johnston wrote in the Daily Telegraph: “The big question is whether this will ever happen – not just because central government relinquishes its grip with the greatest reluctance, but also because it is by no means clear that the country wishes to be entrusted with such freedom, or knows any more what to do with it…..Have we not proxied out to the state so many things that we used to do ourselves that no one either knows what to do any more or wants to shoulder the responsibility? “
There’s something in all these views – but I think one of the most useful things to do right now is to look at what’s happening on the frontline, at the stories of innovative thinking and action already transforming services and business.
We do a great job in this country of talking ourselves into a state of paralysis. The Government, having launched a Big Society crusade, really has to get on with translating it into a practical framework of support and resource for those who want to deliver new ways of providing more efficient, cost effective services – and who want to be involved in that delivery.
That was certainly the view of speakers at a conference I attended recently on employee ownership, one of the main principles of the government’s plan for public service reform, and sadly not developed nearly enough in the White Paper.
A second wave of Mutual Pathfinders – fledgling public service spin-offs – was announced by Government this year following its launch of the programme last summer to help boost the innovation and entrepreneurialism of front line staff.,
The conference I attended showed some very strong examples of employee owned and led organisations currently delivering public services – and more of what they are doing should be publicised. But there was frustration that things aren’t moving far enough, fast enough.
If people on the front line of implementation feel this way – and they are the ones who are inspired to take action – then the Government is in trouble and its bold move to “put people in charge†will fail. That would be a tragedy. Up and down the country local authorities, schools, community groups, businesses and charities are talking about new ways of doing things: collaboration, partnership, mutuals and entrepreneurship are words gaining greater currency.
The Big Society was described as “letting a thousand flowers bloom†– but they won’t if they’re not fed on a more nutitious diet than re-hashed ideology. It’s time for the main course.
