Give Power Back To the People on Struggling Housing Estates - Think Tank

Struggling housing estates should have more say in how they are run, according to a new report from the think tank Demos. Civic Streets: The Big Society in Action puts forward an argument for communities to be given the right to take back power from failing local authorities which are struggling to deliver quality services in deprived areas. Civic Streets, which looked at Birmingham's Castle Vale and Balsall Heath estates, makes the case that where successful community groups can prove they are able to do a better job than the local authority, they should have the right to declare independence from Government schemes and bid to take over local services such as Sure Start, employment services and environmental services. The report said local areas should receive "community cash back" for reinvestment in cases where community-led services were run well enough to make cost savings. Read more on the 24dash website.