Cameron launches big society

pm talks big about people power

The London Borough of Sutton is one of four areas of the country to be targeted in the next phase of David Cameron's "Big Society" agenda.

The Prime Minister kick-started the initiative by announcing that community projects in the four areas would receive support, but denied it was a cover for public service cuts.

He hailed the Big Society scheme as "the biggest, most dramatic redistribution of power" from the state to individuals.

But Mr Cameron was also forced to reject claims that the project was a way of masking cuts by offloading state work to the voluntary sector.

He told BBC Breakfast: "It is not a cover for anything. I was talking about the Big Society and encouraging volunteering, encouraging social enterprises, voluntary groups to do more to make our society stronger, I was talking about that way before we had a problem with cuts and deficits and all the rest of it."

"It is not a cover for anything. I was talking about the Big Society and encouraging volunteering, encouraging social enterprises, voluntary groups to do more to make our society stronger, I was talking about that way before we had a problem with cuts and deficits and all the rest of it."

david cameron

A spokeswoman for the London Borough of Sutton said: "Our mandate is to show how people are keen to be participants in public services, rather than consumers of them, if government red tape is removed."

She added that Sutton had been chosen for the initiative "because it's regarded as having one of the country's most vibrant communities with a very active voluntary sector, plus a track record of devolving power to our neighbourhoods".

Sutton would be working with the Government to show how to give people influence for transport decisions, train a new generation of community organisers, give communities the power to 'green' their neighbourhoods, and give people a greater say in local health provision.

Sean Brennan, leader of the council, said: "In Sutton we have always believed in handing as much power as possible back to local people. People want to be empowered by government to make the decisions that shape their communities and everyday lives."

The three other areas picked to receive initial help with projects are Eden Valley, Cumbria; Windsor and Maidenhead, Berkshire; and Liverpool.

19.07.10 21:56