Radian Thinking Big

The Big Society is the government’s proposal for communities to govern themselves locally, based on their individual area’s needs, rather than from a central government. RBWM is one of the three vanguard communities to trail the initiative, along with Sutton and Cumbria’s Eden Valley. Each vanguard will come forward with proposals to take forward innovative local projects which embrace Big Society principles.

It is opportune that David Cameron chose RBWM to trial his party’s vision to make it easy for people and communities to take control and act for themselves on the issues that matter to them, as Radian has already been localising its own governance in a similar way, by moving management decisions to local, resident-led, area panels.

Radian’s vision of area panels is to ensure individuals as well as communities have more power and responsibility, using this to create better neighbourhoods and improved local services. This also lies at the heart of the government’s work in housing, planning, regeneration and local government.

The launch was an opportunity for Radian and its residents groups like Area Panel, Community Link and Sawyers Close Residents’ Association to promote the Big Society work they are already doing on behalf of Radian’s residents which influences Radian’s decisions. As a key community group and an existing example of the Big Society in action, Radian’s views were welcomed and suggestions based on experience were valued.

For more information on RBWM’s take on Big Society go to: www.rbwm.gov.uk/web/consultation_big_society.htm