NEWS & EVENTS
"Gently, but with undeniable will, divesting
myself of the holds that would hold me." - Walt Whitman
[Newest Events First : Oldest Last]
Skip directly to leads to recent additions
POWER 2010
This movement campaigns for 'a healthy democracy that works for us and not just a powerful few'. Their goals are created by all those who choose to participate in their campaign - everyone has a chance to contribute. View their website on our Links page - under Democratic Renewal.
FUTURES SEMINAR HELD
This event hosted by the Devolve!
network, attended by a range of supporters and other interested parties was
held on 28th of November. The day was considered a success, and sparked a lively
round of discussions, which had a galvanising effect on us all. Commitments
to form the various Aspect Groups were made.
FUTURES SEMINAR AGENDA
Agenda now posted on our Visions and Values
Page. Use skipline above and then click on Agenda lead.
NEW DATE FOR MERCIA CONFERENCE
We are pleased to report that the postponed conference on the future of the Midlands has been approved for 2010 by the Witan of Mercia under the title:-
"VISIONS OF MERCIA - THE MIDLANDS AFTER MELTDOWN"
The one day event will be held in Stoke on Trent on Saturday 20th March. It will include presentations by guest organisations on key topics as well as Mercian perspectives on meeting the challenges.
further information available directly from: info@independentmercia.org
Our own Futures Project Seminar (see below) will in some respects be a curtain raiser for the conference although it aims to support ongoing work on responses to the future on a broader basis than the English Midlands.
DEVOLVE! FUTURES PROJECT SEMINAR
Due to the postponement of the Mercian Futures Conference, the Devolve! Futures Project (which had welcomed and supported this event) has resolved to maintain momentum by offering a more modest Futures Seminar to be held in Leicester on Saturday 28th November. Venue, structure and timetable to be advised later.
There are already acceptances from significant networks/organisations concerned about aspects of the future, including Optimum Population Trust and Globally Local.
Enquiries and contributions related to futures thinking (including the Futures Project invitation documents if you have not already received these) should be addressed to our dedicated mailbox:
futures@devolve.org
Enquiries about practical arrangements including accommodation should be addressed to:
economy@devolve.org
FUTURES CONFERENCE: LATEST LATEST INFORMATION
New news from Mercia is that the "Visions of The Future" Conference which was to have been held in Stoke on Trent, Staffordshire on Saturday 31st October has been postponed until (we understand) March 2010. It will still focus on the impacts of anticipated future trends on Central England (Greater Midlands), with speakers from a range of organisations concerned about the future. As soon as more information is available it will be posted on this news page.
VERY LOCAL DEMOCRACY
Updated report on Devolve! supported inner city pilot project (highs and lows) now added to our Very Local Democracy Page. [Follow lead below.]
FUTURE OF THE MIDLANDS CONFERENCE PROPOSED
The Acting Witan of Mercia, a small but radical core network looking towards an independent and sustainable Mercia (Greater Midlands) in a post-growth, post-affluence world is starting to plan for a 'Future of the Midlands' conference, possibly in the autumn. If this goes ahead representatives from some of the Aspect Groups of our recently launched Futures Project are likely to attend.
During June [2009] two nominated representatives of an East Midlands based Community Alliance were officially adopted as Community Partners by Councillors in their local ward.
This is a major step in a process which has
taken several years, to develop community involvement and empowerment at a very
local level. More detail on our Very Local Democracy Page shortly.
NEW HUB LINK FOR FUTURES PROJECT
The Communications and Resources Group, intended to link the Aspect Groups looking at aspects of our future, now has a direct contact mail box. To make contact go first to the Getting Involved page via the 'Information' menu above.
Devolve! and the European Elections
Devolve! is of course non party political. And most radicals around Devolve! have little time for the Euro-bureaucracy. However, we have been committed to a vision of Europe since our early days as a Midlands regional movement - a 'Europe of 1,000 Flags'.
It also happens to be the case that those parties most rabidly opposed to the European partnership are also viciously opposed to devolution. They oppose devolving power to England and they oppose devolving power within England. We would ask all allies and devolutionists, if they intend to vote, not to support such parties.
Devolve! Futures Project moves forward...
Following feedback from around the Devolve! network on this controversial project, the invitation to respond to the future has been re-issued [March 2009]
The launching group has now handed over to the Aspects of the Future working teams...
SMALL STEPS TOWARD LOCAL EMPOWERMENT
Since 2005 a Devolve! inspired project to develop community involvement and community empowerment at the level of very Local Democracy (V.L.D.) has been ongoing in a midlands city, reported on from time to time. [Visit our Very Local Democracy page for earlier reports].
After years of rejecting calls for councillor-community group partnerships to grapple with local issues, the council is now permitting - in fact inviting - "Community Partners" nominated by Residents Associations and other community groups to join with elected councillors and their officers in agenda setting and (hopefully) priority setting meetings ahead of open ward meetings.
In the two inner city wards with active Community Allliances, several of the linked groups are putting forward their nominations.
In further developments, the local M.P. (a former council leader) has just started attending meetings of the joint Alliances, creating another direct link between governers and governed. And at the end of February the Very Local Network brought together a broad partnership of local representatives to work towards a badly needed youth facility.
The Devolve! network is now able to announce the launch of the Futures Project - a timely attempt to face up to the challenges confronting us all.
NEW DIRECTION FOR dEVOLVE!
The Steering Group of Devolve! came together on Saturday 21st June 2008 to discuss options on the way forward. Key Decisions were: -
There is to be a new Interactive Web Site support this role.
Existing projects on very local democracy, radical economics, English culture, responsible stewardship etc will continue under the Devolve! umbrella, or jointly with allies, while a new Futures Project is under consideration.
(before the meeting we had reported)
As supporters and regular viewers will be aware, Devolve! agreed to go into slumber mode in April 2007: becoming a network rather than an organisation. Various projects and background work inspired by our tenets have still been progressed and this Web Site has continued to note significant events and honour members.
Meanwhile, changes to all aspects of society - both in England and across the planet - have gathered pace to the extent that devolution 'business as usual' is, most would agree, no longer an option.
Against this background the Steering Group of Devolve! plans to meet on the Summer Solstice to decide whether our small movement still has a contribution to make; if so what that should be (at least one proposal will be on the table); whether there is the energy to sustain a new phase of activity.
Any outcomes will hopefully be reported here by late June or early July.
TRANSITION TOWN MOVEMENT GATHERS PACE
As the limits to growth predicted by the 'Club of Rome' in the 1970's begin to bite and to affect all our lives, creative responses are emerging - not from 'the system' but out of civil society: from people and their networks. One example of this is the Transition Town network, which is spreading rapidly across England and our neighbours. The central idea is working towards a co-ordinated "energy descent" that will provide both the resilience to respond to peak oil and the carbon emission reduction called for by the threat of climate change. Leicester is just one of the towns/cities whose transition initiative has recently been endorsed by the Transition Network. A link from our Links Page to their WIKI has now been added.
PETER CADOGAN HONOURED
The Ides of March this year were a time for reflection and renewal of commitment for many strivers for a better world, including some Devolve! allies, who came together to honour and celebrate the life of Peter Cadogan. On Saturday 15th March at St James Picadilly, a packed meeting heard contributions from a range of speakers who threw light on particular phases of his life - and in some cases told how much he had inspired and influenced them. On Sunday 16th March at the iconic Conway Hall (where Peter had been secretary for ten years) friends and colleagues were joined by members of the Blake Society for a brilliant talk by Tim Heath on Peter's hero William Blake.
Responsible Stewards
The new Responsible Stewards site, an addition to our Links page (see Radical Economics and Ecology section) seeks to question the assumptions behind the social and economic consensus behind Neo-Liberalism and Neo-Conservatism. The proposals from this group challenge many of the Jacobin or 'Statist' ideals constructed before - and particularly during the 'Enlightenment' and beyond to the present day. An alternative world-view is offered based on stewardship, fairness, social pluralism and an integrative approach.
OPT
The AGM and Conference on 17th November of the Optimum Population Trust was both constructive and realistic. Support for, and interest in, OPT is now growing rapidly as - after years of public taboo - the population issue forces its way onto the mainstream agenda. Follow our link to their Web Site.
GLOBAL JUSTICE?
One week later the Global Justice Movement Strategy Conference organised by Simpol heard contributions from a number of leading thinkers/activists before getting heads down in workshop sessions. It was clear that the issues of global justice, resources, pollution and climate change are now firmly linked. There were also references to the population explosion: it was noted that some campaign organisations still avoid serious mention in their statements/manifestoes.
DEVOLUTION AT WESTMINSTER?
On 12th July the Commission on Devolution met at The Palace of Westminster(!) to review the evolving proposals for new relations between Central Government, Regional Bodies, Local Authorities and Communities. (See July time-line below.) Several Devolve! Steering Group members attended this meeting.
It was noted that the case for Functional Sub Regions, first developed by the Commission, is now embedded in Government policy.
THE GROUND SHIFTS - A JULY TIMELINE
3rd Gordon Brown makes statement on Constitutional Reform.
4th Local Government Association Annual Conference opens in Birmingham.
6th Keynote speech to Conference by new Communities and Local Government Secretary Hazel Blears: pledges to put councillors and local communities centre stage.
10th "Governance of Britain" reform proposals presented to Parliament. [Devolve! will comment on these in due course.]
17th Review of Sub National Economic Development launched - includes a commitment to "support local authorities to work together at the sub regional level".
17th Press Release by the Treasury issued alongside the Review states an intention to phase out the indirectly elected Regional Assemblies from 2010.
17th Campaign For the English Regions (CFER) issues News Release on the Sub National Review, headed: "Regions win profile but not yet democracy".
25th Nine successful bids for new Unitary Authorities announced. These include Cornwall and four English County Unitaries. Five other County Unitary bids did not suceed.
NEW DEMOCRACY PETITION LAUNCHED
The 'Make It An Issue' campaign that grew out of the Power Inquiry into democracy has just launched a petition (on its Web Site) for the Government's proposed Constitutional Reform to be led by "a full deliberative process, like a People's assembly or convention". They hope to address the "problem with British democracy" by involving "people from across the country" in this debate. The invitation to "fellow citizens" is issued by Helena Kennedy and signed by a range of organisations and prominent individuals.
A comment by Devolve! on this petition and its starting assumptions will be posted in due course.
LYONS INQUIRY
The Lyons Inquiry into Local Government published its final report and recomendations on 27th March. This independent inquiry has a remit covering the future role, function and funding of local government. Its findings can be divided into two sets of recommendations.
The first set of recommendations are relatively modest and are designed to be applied in the short term. A second set of more far reaching recommendations are designed for the medium term. The report suggests that reforms should be applied incrementaly, with the prospect of more radical reforms being made in the longer term.
The prospect of a genuine devolution of powers from central to local government is stated in this report. For the full report refer to their site in our Links Page.
SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES BILL
This successfully passed its second reading in Parliament (19 January) there is cross-party support. Through this Bill central government will be required to provide for the implementation of 'Local Sustainability Strategies' created by local communities. This Bill intends that local economic decline and its subsequent effect on social services and environment are addressed by the communities themselves. Local people will be able to set their own targets for their 'Local Sustainability Strategies' and introduce their own measures and indicators suited to their own particular circumstances. There is also scope for local referenda initiatives - with huge potential for meaningful local democracy.
The Bill is not of course, yet set in law - the campaign to achieve this needs considerable support. A group 'Local Works' is been actively campaigning the for the progress of the Bill and is listed in our Links Page under 'Democratic Renewal' - see this site for an explanation of the Bill and their campaign - you can sign up to take an active role from their site.
POWER INQUIRY MAKES DEMOCRATIC CHANGE AN ISSUE
The Power Inquiry launched its long awaited new campaign and interactive Web Site on 22nd January with the title and slogan: "make it an issue". The four stated aims are: -
This campaign, backed up by a 'road show' and other tactics, will certainly help to keep the democracy question in focus. That the emphasis is perhaps too much on pressurising the system to change itself (see lead to 'levels of consciousness' below) should not detract from the value of this campaign. Follow the link from our Links and Allies Page to their Site.
VERY LOCAL DEMOCRACY PILOT FACES CHALLENGES
The Devolve! inspired but now autonomous experiment in Very Local Democracy (VLD) in a Midlands city faces critical challenges over the next three months.
The good news is that what was formally refused in 2003 - Community Alliance networks of primary groups as natural partners to Area Committees based on elected (every four years) representatives - is now more or less de facto accepted.
The bad news is that VLD has become a political football and the May elections could lead to the abolition of the Area Committees and some difficult times.
The first volunteer-led People Centre was 'officially' opened on 22nd February (the ribbon being cut by a local councillor), gaining attention from the local press and the community in general. Now the big unknown is whether meaningful community use and involvement will reward the committed volunteers. The interest shown at the opening and offers of help received has been encouraging.
MASSIVE SURGE IN SUPPORT FOR DEVOLUTION?
Recent polls have supported growing anecdotal evidence that many people are now ready to back devolved power in these islands, at least where there are clear and established identities. An ICM poll for The Sunday Telegraph suggested that 68% of people in England may now opt for 'home rule' as they see it in Scotland, while an astonishing 48% seem to want England to pull out of the United Kingdom, compared to only 43% with a preference to hold the Union together.
If confirmed, this trend raises as many problems for active devolutionists as it does for diehard centralists. Most of the former take one of two views: either that England (with 50+ million) is far too big and too centralised unless devolution is extended to its traditional regions/provinces; or that devolved power must start with devolved practice at the most local levels, building on this foundation pragmatic alliances that can both deliver services and command a measure of shared identity.
Devolve! will not be the only grouping or network forced to re-examine its strategy if these findings indicate a real shift in popular awareness and the general will.
WHITE PAPER ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT PUBLISHED
On 26th October DCLG Minister Ruth Kelly finally launched the White Paper on Local Governance titled "Strong and Prosperous Communities". Proposals included: -
What the White Paper does not do: -
NOTES: (i) A Devolve! commentary on the white paper will be posted. (ii) At some point this analysis and the commentary will be moved to our democracy pages.
How recent are these additions? Each topic lead is a link to some web text updated in recent months. The colour of the symbol alongside it indicates the month amended, as follows:
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Futures Seminar Agenda Posted p
New Date for Mercian Futures Conference p
Recent
developments in Local Democracy p
Mercia plan Futures Conference p
Local Democracy Breakthrough p
New Futures Project contact point p
Devolve! and the European Elections p
Futures Project second issue p
Very Local Democracy Developments p
Transition Network Link added p
Transition Towns movement on the move p
News of Optimum Population and Global Justice p
Additions to Recommended Reading list p
Commission on Devolution at Westminster p
New Policies - July Time-line p
England Devolve! speaks out on England p
Devolve! organisation goes into quiet mode p
Sustainable Communities Bill p
The Power Inquiry launches new 'action for democracy' campaign p
Critical times for pioneering VLD project p
Massive surge in support for devolution? p
Local Government White Paper published p