Own the future

Tony Burton

Director

Civic Society Initiative

www.civicsocietyinitiative.org.uk

Civic Society movement

•Loss of the Civic Trust•Roots in 18th century•More than a local voice•Over 1,000 civic societies•Over 250,000 people•Place, pride, identity, community•Strengthening role for 21st century

Changing world

•No “majority” views

•Deference and trust

•Service standards

•Quality of life

•Politics of localism

•New networks – New movements

New networks

Civic debate

Support

Website

Partners

On-line survey

Open Forums

Planning watchdog

Attention to detail

Stamford Civic Society

street pride campaign 2010

Thinking BIG!

Bradford Civic Society

Who loves me?

Bowstring Bridge

We do!

A question of trust

What do you think?

Grimsby Ice Factory

And more!

Rethink for the British Museum extension

Campaigning against a Rail Freight Terminal, St Albans

Starting the Tonbridge clock

Celebration time!

Blue plaques

Town trails

Publications

Historic studies

Design awards

Seeing the bigger picture

Our reputation – good..?

…..and less good

Some of the comments

“An organisation for intelligent crumblies”

“Deficient in a common voice”“Respected force in the community”

“A vastly untapped resource”“Punching below its weight”

“Public face has been chronically mismanaged for years”

What do civic societies want to be?

What do others say of our potential?

What do civic societies want to be doing?

What do civic societies want to be doing?

•Working more with schools and business

•Forward planning & transport

•Less reactive

•More campaigning

•Younger profile and recruitment

•Avoiding duplication with others

What support do civic societies want?

What support do civic societies want?

•Advice on influencing local government and planning

•Information and examples from each other

•Clear mission and purpose

•Fundraising and recruitment

What do civic societies want for the movement?

•Separate voices to a collective movement

•Hierarchical to being more networked

•Dependent to being more independent (especially £££)

•Organised top-down to being federal

Supported by…..

•A clear mission and purpose – place, pride, identity, community

•A new national body – with a very different feel

•Networks and clusters of civic societies working together

A new national body

•Providing a national lead and voice•Helping societies network and cluster•Providing information, support, advice

Campaigning, responsive, light footed and grassroots

3-4 staff £300,000 – £400,000

A new national body

Lobbying

Website & networks HotlineCampaigns

Celebrity

Networking

Partners and £££

Information

New societiesProfile

More than this…..

A discussion about how the movement works together not just

the role of a national body

Issues for civic societies

•More involving and campaigning

•Network with other societies

•Connect members to the bigger picture

•Contribute to the national voice

•Support and fund a movement

Working together

•Natural clusters

•Uncertain future for Government regions

•Our strength is local

•Network by theme

•Implications for existing regions

•For civic societies to decide and fund

•England focus

Funding and independence

Squaring the circle

Funding and independence

Funding and independence

•Civic societies’ funding is key

•Tap into mass membership

•Establish principle of £ per member

•Transition arrangements and phasing

•Support for practical arrangements and encourage Gift Aid

•Need critical mass to create new body

What’s the cost?

£1>>>>>>>>£2>>>>>>>>£3

lacking….…IndependenceIndependence…….full

basic……..….ServicesServices………….full

limited………LobbyingLobbying…...effective

A new partnership

Members offered a free day pass each year in your newsletter

Worth up to £15

In summary

•Civic societies are ambitious for the future

•You want a new national body – but different

•Website, bulletins, profile, Bluefin, street pride

•Working together as a movement

•Clusters and networks – regions?

•Independent and core funded by civic societies

•New partnership with the National Trust