onionbagblog

Here’s an intriguing email sent out to all @lambeth_council Councillors from Stephanie Hudson, the Capital Fund Programme Officer around this patch:

“Dear Councillors

I am very pleased to formally launch the 2010/11 Ward Purse scheme and attach the Guidance Notes and Application Form. Although the scheme is substantially the same as in previous years, the Guidance Notes have been revised to highlight some of the key areas where issues have arisen in the past and we hope that Members will find this helpful.”

Good stuff.

The Ward Purse scheme is essentially a #hyperlocal model for redistributing a ring fenced pot that is put aside to assist local matters. The idea is to make sure that the historical imbalance in the Rotten Borough, where Brixton historically draws on all the investment, isn’t allowed to run riot.

“The scheme, in brief, provides £12,000 capital for each ward to be spent on up to three projects as nominated by the ward members.  This is a great opportunity for councillors to:

(i) Promote their community leadership role and

(ii) Empower the community to deliver locally identified priorities under the Co-operative Council model.”

Hang on – and so we’re trading under the #lambethcoop PR model already, Comrades?

Cripes.

The well stated intention of the ward purse is to keep it local. Localism matters. #lambethcoop may be many things to many people, but it is also untested and not yet an agreed model in which to conduct local democracy.

It now seems that the @LambethLabour PR farce is already being rolled out by apolitical council officers as a directive in how to deliver funding.

What if local communities want to be empowered to deliver locally, but not under the #lambethcoop model? Would the funding application receive different treatment?

It would seem that yet again the enthusiasm in which to walk away from all democratic accountability and responsibility is being rolled out as policy, long before the consultation is even near to completion.

My own personal idea for the Ward Purse is to apply for a £12k grant, and then spunk it on a bonkers bloke on a bike and a bucket with some fancy coloured balls. You could even call it a public consultation.