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20/07/2010 - David Cameron Outlines ‘Big Society’ Amid Cuts Criticism

The Prime Minister has revealed his plans for the Big Society and defended them from accusations of a cover up on public spending.

Mr Cameron launched the Big Society during a speech at Liverpool Hope University on Monday telling delegates about his plans to devolve power from the state to local communities.

The PM announced four areas had been chosen to pilot his ideas for setting up community projects: Liverpool; Windsor and Maidenhead; Eden Valley in Cumbria; and Sutton in London. Community initiatives would include transport and the expansion of broadband provision.

Mr Cameron also focused on the three main strands of the big society programme:

• Social action: Encouraging volunteering and increased philanthropy.
• Public service reform: Reducing centralised bureaucracy.
• Community empowerment: Giving communities the powers to affect their own neighbourhoods.

Mr Cameron addressed recent criticism that the measures were designed as a smokescreen for strict public spending cuts, telling the BBC before his speech that:

“This is not about trying to save money, it is about trying to have a bigger, better society.”

Chief executive of the National Council for Voluntary Organisations, Stuart Etherington remained cautious:

“I am very concerned about the tidal wave of cuts about to hit the sector. They will have a detrimental effect on the services received by some of the most vulnerable people.”

Source: Guardian, 20/07/2010

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