Poll shows local government executives are concerned about Big Society

Whilst there is some support for the Big Society initiative, local government executives have concerns about the implications for local government resource management, a national poll has found.

The poll of 300 local government executives carried out by Lagan Technologies revealed that:

•71 per cent are concerned about the cost and resource implications of devolved power for local government which is already facing a funding squeeze
•54 per cent are worried that the concept has not been adequately thought through.
•47 per cent worry that there is not enough detail on how government will monitor compliance of community organisations such as schools that are set up under the Big Society initiative.
•31 per cent feel that it is a positive initiative that will bring significant benefits to society.

Asked for an initial estimate of the cost implications for local government of the Big Society initiative, 43 per cent indicated that they felt that the total cost would be under £1 million. But 24 per cent felt that the cost would be in the range of £1 million - £5 million and a further 31 per cent estimated that the bill would be in excess of £10 million. If these cost estimates were projected on a national level, they could lead to an additional annual local government bill in the region of £1.7billion.

Des Speed, CEO of Lagan Technologies, said: “These cost estimates are preliminary but it’s clear that local government executives don’t see a straight line between devolved power, community involvement and cost reduction. In fact, the vast majority see cost increases as councils and authorities pick up new responsibilities for compliance and support of local initiatives.

"What’s clear is that local government executives believe that they will need to work even harder and even smarter.”