PM unveils Big Society plan

Mon 19 Jul 2010

The prime minister has announced details of his Big Society concept, which will see power moved away from the state and to the people.

David Cameron said his idea, which was a key plank of the Conservative Party's general election campaign, will empower members of the public.

As part of the plan, the government will aim to foster a culture of social action, philanthropy and voluntarism.

Mr Cameron said this would stop capable people from turn into "passive recipients" of state help and create more "communities with oomph".

The prime minister also stated that public services must be opened up to organisations such as private companies, charities and social enterprises.

This, he said, would drive innovation and diversity and make them more responsive to public needs, as well as more cost-effective.

Mr Cameron added that if power is to be passed from central government to local communities, people must be given the most relevant information.

As a result, consumers would be able to obtain data for specific purposes, such as crime statistics to help them hold the police to account.

The policy will be paid for with unclaimed money which is sitting in dormant bank and building society accounts.

Simon Randall, a consultant at Winckworth Sherwood Solicitors, commented: "The Big Society vision represents the most significant decentralisation approach for years.

"In conjunction with the coalition government's plans to encourage co-operatives, charities and social enterprises, local communities will create their own organisations to own and manage range of facilities.

"This will pass power and responsibility to such communities to stimulate volunteering on an unprecedented scale.

"Everyone involved will need to create limited liability corporate entities and take care to ensure appropriate risk-sharing when undertaking public service contracts."