One step closer to embedding community power 

Something big could be happening in local democracy. 

A recent article in The Municipal Journal* revealed that the government is looking into requiring every council in England to introduce a “consistent layer of community decision-making.” On the surface, that might sound like more of the same, but it could be a real game changer. 

Because, if it’s done right, it could mean communities across the country will soon have more power over the things that matter most: public services, green spaces, their local economy, and more. 

But it really does have to be done right – otherwise it will just result in more box-ticking and bureaucracy. That’s where we come in. 

For years, the We’re Right Here campaign have been calling for the creation of Community Covenants – formal power sharing agreements between councils and local communities that give people the opportunity to shape what happens in their neighbourhoods.  

We’ve always been clear that these agreements cannot be a one-size-fits-all solution, but should instead be shaped by and reflect the unique needs, aspirations, and circumstances of each individual area. What works for one community may play out entirely differently in another, and therefore any plan to expand neighbourhood governance must have flexibility at its core. 

Crucially, we want local people to have a genuine say in shaping the places they live, not just through sporadic and shallow consultations, but through a permanent seat at the table. Now that the government is considering creating new community-level decision-making arrangements, we want to make sure they reflect six key principles that we believe underpin meaningful community engagement and decision-making: 

1. It’s got to be truly rooted in neighbourhoods. These arrangements should reflect and represent the unique needs and voices of real communities and neighbourhoods similar to the areas served by Primary Care Networks, not large towns and boroughs that in fact contain lots of communities. 

2. It must centre relationships. Bureaucratic rules and procedures concentrate power and stifle discussion. Whatever institutional form these arrangements take, they should work in relational ways – building trust, mutual respect, and shared responsibility between communities and councils. 

3. Communities must be equal partners. This isn’t about ‘listening exercises’ or the rubber-stamping of pre-determined policies. Local people should be on an equal footing with councillors and officials, making decisions together. This requires the development of a culture which truly embraces communities as design and not just delivery partners.

4. Local groups need a role too. From community organisations to neighbourhood forums, groups already doing the hard work must have a seat at the table, provided they have a real relationship with a part of the community. Their local knowledge and connections will be vital to ensuring decisions are truly reflective of the day-to-day challenges in their neighbourhood. They will also be able to reach and mobilise parts of the community that the local authority can’t. 

5. Leadership should come from within the community. Each Covenant should be chaired or convened by a representative of the community who doesn’t hold political office but is embedded in the local area and can demonstrate that they are accountable to the people living within it. The role of the chair should be to facilitate discussions on a ‘first among equals’ basis. 

6. And finally, there has to be accountability. True community power requires not just voice, but also a route to redress. If things go wrong or local voices are ignored, there needs to be a way to challenge it. That’s why we support the creation of a national Commissioner for Community Power or for Neighbourhoods – an idea which was recently backed by the Independent Commission on Neighbourhoods. The Commissioner would have a mandate to ensure that local concerns – especially in the most disadvantaged areas – are heard and acted on, upholding high standards of community engagement across the country. 

The government’s proposal presents a real opportunity to embed the spirit and substance of Community Covenants into its devolution policy programme. We welcome the idea that councils should be required to enable community-level decision-making, so long as the resulting structures and arrangements live up to our six principles of neighbourhood-level power sharing. 

If Ministers and officials follow this approach, local people will get a genuine say in how money is spent, how services are run, and how places are shaped. Not as a favour for some, but as a right for all. 

Fixing the foundations of local government 

This approach is about working in a smarter way and making better use of the resources that exist within councils and communities. We know that local authorities are struggling, and we don’t want to pile on costs or build new complicated structures – this is about joining things up, utilising existing resources and getting better results. 

It’s about sparking life back into local communities, especially in deprived parts of our country where councils and people alike don’t currently have the time or money to fulfil their potential. With the right support, local people everywhere can step up and help councils shape their areas for the better. 

But most importantly, these principles aren’t just about giving people a bit more say – they’re about fixing the foundations of local government, by addressing the growing democratic deficit and restoring trust between local representatives and the people they serve.  

Only when people come to feel that their voice is really valued will they start to believe in the system again. 

So, what’s next? 

This is a critical moment that could deliver a real breakthrough for our movement. We’re continuing to work alongside community leaders and organisations to ensure that their voices aren’t just heard but placed firmly at the heart of the government’s devolution agenda. 

We’re making real progress, but it’s more important than ever to ramp up our efforts. Together we can show the government that we’re right here, and we’re ready for change. 

* Read The MJ article – please note it is behind a paywall