{"id":15871,"date":"2013-06-12T16:43:46","date_gmt":"2013-06-12T16:43:46","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/?guid=fcd7291d726d394d2e002e69ea46d502"},"modified":"2013-06-12T16:43:46","modified_gmt":"2013-06-12T16:43:46","slug":"speech-parliamentary-launch-of-civic-day-2013","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/?p=15871","title":{"rendered":"Speech: Parliamentary launch of Civic Day 2013"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

Introduction<\/h2>\n

Civic societies are the warp and weft of our communities <\/p>\n

When I think of places I\u2019ve lived <\/p>\n

From Bradford to Brentwood <\/p>\n

I realise they both share in that great tradition of civic pride <\/p>\n

They care passionately about the places they belong to <\/p>\n

And will stop at nothing <\/p>\n

To safeguard the character of their local areas <\/p>\n

You, more than anyone, <\/p>\n

Embody Edmund Burke\u2019s immortal idea of those \u2018little platoons\u2019 <\/p>\n

\u2018The first principle of public affections\u2019 <\/p>\n

Civic Day thanks<\/h2>\n

Civic Day is a chance to reward that work <\/p>\n

To show-off the priceless places you love <\/p>\n

And it\u2019s my opportunity to thank you for all you did last year <\/p>\n

When the wind was in your sails <\/p>\n

Your ranks swelled by those volunteers <\/p>\n

Puffed up by the Diamond Jubilee and the Olympics <\/p>\n

It\u2019s my moment to thank you <\/p>\n

For performing all those little acts of kindness <\/p>\n

Like the Jabberwocks<\/p>\n

Not the Alice in Wonderland fantasy <\/p>\n

But junior members of the Hale Civic Society<\/p>\n

Who ran a Hale\u2019s own version of the torch relay<\/p>\n

Or the good folk of Malvern <\/p>\n

Who I\u2019m glad to see represented here today – <\/p>\n

With their gold medal Civic Award winning exploits <\/p>\n

Running more than 100 events, concerts and displays in just 15 days <\/p>\n

And there is no end in sight for the glorious volunteering advance <\/p>\n

Because community service has always been your cup of tea <\/p>\n

Long before we were putting up the bunting <\/p>\n

You were rolling up your sleeves<\/p>\n

And getting stuck in <\/p>\n

Your new powers<\/h2>\n

But these days local activism has been augmented<\/p>\n

It\u2019s about much more than the next tea party or tombola<\/p>\n

We\u2019ve annexed power from Whitehall\u2019s top brass <\/p>\n

And handed it back to you \u2026 our fired-up footsoldiers<\/p>\n

\n

So localism\u2019s lynchpins can lead from the front<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Community Rights is a case in point<\/p>\n

As Civic Voice\u2019s Love Local campaign highlighted <\/p>\n

Local people love nothing more than those simple local pleasures <\/p>\n

The fantastic walks and cycle rides of Wirral Way <\/p>\n

The stillness of Basingstoke\u2019s old town cemetery \u2013 amid the bustle of the town <\/p>\n

And the joy of Blackpool\u2019s trams, piers, illuminations that brings happiness to millions <\/p>\n

But Civic Voice also found 78 per cent of volunteers fear a community asset they care about could be at risk<\/p>\n

Right to Bid<\/h2>\n

That\u2019s where our new Right to Bid can make all the difference<\/p>\n

All you need are 21 people<\/p>\n

Banding together to list their local loves <\/p>\n

And you can stop the clock on any sale <\/p>\n

Saving it for posterity <\/p>\n

So far hundreds of assets have been listed<\/p>\n

With hundreds more on the way <\/p>\n

From football stadiums and bus shelters <\/p>\n

To mills and museums <\/p>\n

From village shops and village halls, <\/p>\n

To churches, pubs, doctors surgeries and libraries <\/p>\n

Local people in Nunhead even used the Right to Bid <\/p>\n

To buy the historic Ivy House pub outright <\/p>\n

And where committed civic activists dare to tread<\/p>\n

Others will dare to follow<\/p>\n

Coupled with Community Shares<\/p>\n

Which enable concerned local people<\/p>\n

To pool their finances<\/p>\n

Raise money locally <\/p>\n

And keep a vested interest going<\/p>\n

You can now mount daring rescue operations in your neighbourhoods<\/p>\n

Last year \u00a39 million was raised through Community Shares <\/p>\n

Tripling the sum in the year before <\/p>\n

Last week the Prime Minister led the local call to arms<\/p>\n

By announcing a \u00a3250 million community asset fund <\/p>\n

So anyone with a dream of owning their local pub, shop, or community centre, running it for the benefit of their community<\/p>\n

Can make it a reality<\/p>\n

Going further<\/h2>\n

But I know civil societies have even more ambition <\/p>\n

They aren\u2019t just looking to protect and save their neighbourhoods<\/p>\n

They want them to develop and grow as well<\/p>\n

I\u2019m sure you all know King\u2019s Lynn Civic Society last year <\/p>\n

They used Civic Day to launch their campaign to bring empty town centre properties back into use<\/p>\n

Or Haverhill <\/p>\n

No longer prepared to let local youths finish school and graduate to a life on benefits <\/p>\n

They got together with local businesses to change the curriculum <\/p>\n

And churn out the skills local kids needed <\/p>\n

No-one forced them to do it.<\/p>\n

They just got on and did it<\/p>\n

Now young people in their area will fare better <\/p>\n

Community Right to Challenge<\/h2>\n

Our Community Right to Challenge lets local platoons go even further<\/p>\n

And lead the charge to take over local services<\/p>\n

Allowing Inspire Rotherham to improve literacy in their area<\/p>\n

And Ventnor Town Council to take charge of local car parking <\/p>\n

To attract more visitors and shoppers into the town. <\/p>\n

Neighbourhood planning<\/h2>\n

But the real ace up your sleeve are those neighbourhood plans<\/p>\n

Recently we saw Eden Valley, Exeter St.James and Thame pass their neighbourhood planning referendums<\/p>\n

They can now build more houses for local people<\/p>\n

Decide where they go, what they look like and even what they\u2019re made from <\/p>\n

People are now alive to the opportunities<\/p>\n

We\u2019re seeing the floodgates open<\/p>\n

With a further 550 communities on the way<\/p>\n

Any civic society, or local group, ready to put themselves out for the local good<\/p>\n

Will find our helping hand outstretched<\/p>\n

There\u2019s expert advice on the My Community Rights website<\/a> <\/p>\n

And the chance to dip into \u00a360 million pot of public money. <\/p>\n

Conclusion: grasping the nettle<\/h2>\n

So seize this Civic Day<\/p>\n

\n

Civic societies are our community cavalry<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

We\u2019ve still only seen the tiniest fraction of what local rights can do <\/p>\n

But I\u2019m not the one who can make them count<\/p>\n

Only those\u2026ready to do their civic duty <\/p>\n

\u2026with the local know-how <\/p>\n

\u2026sheer determination to make a major difference <\/p>\n

Can do that<\/p>\n

In other words, only you <\/p>\n

So be brave <\/p>\n

Be bold <\/p>\n

Be imperious <\/p>\n

And when you succeed <\/p>\n

Shout it to the rafters <\/p>\n

Involve your local councillors<\/p>\n

Tip off your local MP<\/p>\n

And don\u2019t forget to let me know too<\/p>\n

I will always be your cheer leader in chief.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Communities Secretary Eric Pickles speaking at Parliamentary launch of Civic Day 2013 in the House of Commons.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[13],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15871"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/8"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=15871"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15871\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=15871"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=15871"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=15871"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}