Empowering Communities for Change

A decade after the establishment of London’s first parish council in Queen’s Park, expectations for a wave of new urban parishes have not materialized. The Queen’s Park community council recently celebrated its 10th anniversary, highlighting the area's socio-economic challenges, where nearly half of residents live in social housing and a significant percentage of children qualify for free school meals. Despite ongoing devolution deals between central government and English regions, initiatives aimed at enhancing local democracy have stagnated, with community asset listings offering limited benefits compared to those enjoyed by landlords. The rhetoric surrounding localism has often masked severe cuts to council budgets, reminiscent of the “big society” initiative. This backdrop, coupled with the financial crises faced by local authorities like Birmingham city council, has resulted in hyperlocalism and community development being largely overlooked in recent general elections. As public trust in political institutions wanes, particularly due to budget cuts affecting essential services, the need for renewed public engagement and robust social infrastructure at the local level becomes increasingly urgent. The authors of a recent report emphasized the importance of democracy in community governance but criticized outdated practices that hinder progress. They pointed to the infamous Handforth parish council meeting in 2021 as a case study of these issues. While current council budgets are stretched thin, the push for decentralizing power to local communities remains alive, despite concerns from progressives about potential inequalities and “postcode lotteries.” Advocates for democracy argue that it is possible to maintain minimum national standards while allowing for greater local flexibility. The aspirations of those seeking to empower communities in managing local services should be taken seriously, as they represent a crucial step towards revitalizing local governance.