For too long the power of community has tended to be crowded out вЂ“ by bureaucratic commissioning and mega outsourcing contracts. It is for these reasons that eleven trailblazer councils have joined LocalityвЂ™s Keep it Local Network.

WhatвЂ™s more, investing in community organisations means maximising the local economic impact of public sector spending, with wealth being retained and spread across our neighbourhoods, rather than leaking out. And our new research demonstrates that these are the things that community organisations are uniquely well-placed to do. Instead they require deep and lasting relationships to be forged, with power widely dispersed and services joined-up around the distinct needs of every person. These are complex problems that canвЂ™t be fixed by top-down plans or simple market incentives. There is growing body of evidence that it is precisely this quality вЂ“ the ability to connect вЂ“ that can provide the solution to many of the knottiest problems that are putting council budgets under such pressure: from loneliness to community safety to homelessness. Their services may operate independently, but вЂњonce youвЂ™re in one you get linked up to other thingsвЂќ. So staff at Manor and Castle Development Trust in Sheffield see their role as being able вЂњto recognise links and connectionsвЂќ. This makes them able to connect all parts of their community вЂ“ especially those who might traditionally be less likely to engage вЂ“ with not only the different services they need but also with wider local life. They have unrivalled local knowledge and have developed strong bonds of trust. They know the people who live there and they care passionately about their wellbeing. Over time, they build deep relationships with particular places. In particular, it shines a light on the distinctive role community organisations play as local вЂњcogs of connectionвЂќ in their neighbourhoods. New Locality research published this week explores just why more and more councils are looking to Keep it Local. The scheme is already seeing success in reducing unnecessary GP appointments. Staying Well workers are located in local community hubs, working closely with the CouncilвЂ™s neighbourhood workers. It aims to reduce loneliness by supporting people to engage in social activities and health services in the community. So councils have to find ways to keep people living healthier, happier lives in their own communities, so they are less likely to need expensive residential care.Д¬alderdaleвЂ™s Staying Well service is a great example of the potential of this. Government continues to only offer short term cash top ups that barely even qualify for the derisory вЂњsticking plasterвЂќ soubriquet. Take adult social care for example, which the LGIU survey shows remains the top long-term pressure for councils. Indeed, this week Locality is announcing eleven trailblazing вЂњKeep it LocalвЂќ councils who recognise that the solutions to their biggest challenges can often be found on their own doorsteps: in their network of local community organisations. So, in lieu of leadership from elsewhere, many of them are finding their own bold ways forward. But councils arenвЂ™t in a position be Micawberish about the prospects of something turning up. There is no doubt we need national level solutions вЂ“ and fast. And IFSВ analysis of the Conservative manifesto plans for local government showed that further cutbacks are likely. But LGIUвЂ™s survey shows councils are sensibly sanguine about their prospects of being a government priority in the year ahead. вЂњAusterity is overвЂќ, we are told, and a new interest in place will see a grand вЂњlevelling upвЂќ of those areas that have slipped behind the rest. In theory, the new governmentвЂ™s agenda should provide some reassurance. In pursuit of this, in 2020 nearly all councils will again be forced to raise council tax, most will dip into reserves, and there is an overwhelming lack of confidence about the ongoing sustainability of the sector. Deep cuts and rising demand mean councils face a desperate challenge to balance the books while continuing to provide high quality services for residents. Ed Wallis, Head of Policy and Public Affairs explains.ДЇor years now, LGIUвЂ™s State of Local Government Finance survey has been telling us the same story.

LocalityвЂ™s Keep it Local Network brings together councils that are choosing to move away from big outsourcing contracts and instead are commissioning local community organisations that really know the people who are accessing services.

Keep it local