Communities in Control

This page gives you quick and easy access to all the latest information on the white paper Communities in Control: Real people, real power. The white paper is about passing power to communities and giving real control and influence to more people.  We will update the page regularly as information becomes available.

New information on this page will also be delivered through our regular info4local email alert service. You can register to get the free info4local email alert every day to stay abreast of all the latest news and information from across central government.

Consultations

• Third Sector Partnership Board: Consultation paper on the third sector's strategic voice within Communities and Local Government (Communities and Local Government)
  This consultation seeks views on proposals to enhance the Communities and Local Government Third Sector Partnership Board, including its future role and remit, membership and way of working.
• The Empowerment Fund: Consultation (Communities and Local Government)
  This consultation seeks views on a draft prospectus setting out the Government's intention to launch a funding scheme for third sector organisations operating across England to empower communities.
• National Framework for Greater Citizen Engagement: Discussion paper (Ministry of Justice)
  This consultation seeks views on a proposed framework for greater citizen engagemt, using innovative methods such as citizens' summits and juries to inform national policy-making. The paper also contains proposals for strengthening the process for petitioning the House of Commons.
• Communities in Control: Real people, real power - Improving local accountability - Consultation (Communities and Local Government)
  This consultation covers the implementation of the overview and scrutiny provisions in the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007. It seeks views on how to develop overview and scrutiny powers to hold local officers to account and how to facilitate the work of councillors.
  

Publications

• Communities in Control: Real people, real power (Communities and Local Government)
  This white paper sets out proposals to deliver a fundamental shift in power, influence and responsibility into the hands of communities and citizens.
• Communities in Control: Real people, real power - Summary (Communities and Local Government)
  This is a summary of the white paper Communities in Control.
• Communities in Control: Real people, real power - Evidence annex (Communities and Local Government)
  This evidence annex focuses on the state of empowerment in England and presents some of the key evidence underpinning the policies outlined in the white paper Communities in Control.
• Communities in Control White Paper: Impact Assessments (Communities and Local Government)
  This document provides a summary impact assessment of the objectives, options, costs, benefits and risks of proposals in the white paper Communities in Control.
• The Government Response to the Councillors Commission (Communities and Local Government)
  This is the Government's response to the recommendations of the Councillors Commission's report on encouraging a more diverse range of people to become councillors so that communities are better represented.
• Creating Strong and Prosperous Communities: Statutory guidance (Communities and Local Government)
  This document provides statutory guidance to local authorities and their partners on creating strong, safe and prosperous communities. It covers local strategic partnerships, sustainable community strategies and local area agreements.
• Creating Strong and Prosperous Communities: Summary of responses (Communities and Local Government)
  This is a summary of responses to a consultation on draft guidance for local authorities and their partners on creating strong, safe and prosperous communities.
• Unlocking the Talent of our Communities (Communities and Local Government)
  This document, published in March 2008, sets out the Government's commitment to make changes that give people more local influence, control and ownership of local services, such as employment, health, education and transport.
• National Framework for Greater Citizen Engagement: Written ministerial statement by Michael Wills (Ministry of Justice)
  This is a written ministerial statement to Parliament by Justice Minister Michael Wills on 9 July 2008. He talks about a new national framework for greater citizen engagement.
• Community Power Pack: Real people, real power (Communities and Local Government)
  The Community Power Pack is a practical guide that can help people play a more active role in their communities and influence decisions that matter to them. It provides help and support with planning and running community events in easy and low-cost ways.
• Empowerment in Action: Speech by Hazel Blears (Communities and Local Government)
  This is a transcript of the speech by Communities Secretary Hazel Blears to a national conference on community empowerment on 17 July 2008. She talks about the white paper Communities in Control.
• Communities in Control: Equality impact assessment (Communities and Local Government)
  This document provides a provisional assessment of what impact the white paper Communities in Control may have on key equalities groups and some of the actions that could be taken to mitigate these impacts.
  

Related links

• Communities in Control: Real people, real power - Main page (Communities and Local Government)
  This is the main page for the white paper Communities in Control. It links to all the major documents, including the white paper, background material and consultation papers. It also links to a forum, a blog and a video introducing the white paper.
• Community Empowerment Video (Communities and Local Government)
  This is a 30-second video to accompany the white paper Communities in Control.
• Community Empowerment Forum (Communities and Local Government)
  This is a forum where people can post their questions and views on the white paper Communities in Control.
• Hazel Blears: Community empowerment seven-day blog (Communities and Local Government)
  This is a blog by Communities Secretary Hazel Blears on the white paper Communities in Control. It will run from Wednesday 9 to Thursday 17 July, excluding Saturday 12 and Sunday 13 July.
• Community Empowerment Seven-day Twitter Channel (Communities and Local Government)
  This links to a seven-day empowerment twitter channel. It will be open from Wednesday 9 to Thursday 17 July, excluding Saturday 12 and Sunday 13 July.
• Community Empowerment (Communities and Local Government)
  This page is the home for information on community empowerment, which is the process of enabling people to shape and choose the services they use on a personal basis so that they can influence the way those services are delivered.
• Community Empowerment: Unlocking the talent of our communities (Communities and Local Government)
  This page gives background information on the development of the white paper Communities in Control, including a separate paper on unlocking the talent of communities.

News links

• White paper delivers power shift to local people (Communities and Local Government)
• Blears commits to a thriving community sector (Communities and Local Government)
• Blears and Hope commit to a thriving community sector (Cabinet Office)
• Blears hands more power to East of England residents (Communities and Local Government)
• Blears hands more power to East Midlands residents (Communities and Local Government)
• Blears hands more power to London residents (Communities and Local Government)
• Blears hands more power to North East residents (Communities and Local Government)
• Blears hands more power to North West residents (Communities and Local Government)
• Blears hands more power to South East residents (Communities and Local Government)
• Blears hands more power to South West residents (Communities and Local Government)
• Blears hands more power to West Midlands residents (Communities and Local Government)
• Blears hands more power to residents in Bradford, Barnsley and Calderdale (Communities and Local Government)