The impact of new community business models

We are starting to see the impact of new community business models. Is this a blueprint for more cutbacks in cultural and community services in the name of austerity or is it the release of control from an overcentralised state.?? People can judge that for themselves (mostly, lets be honest, depending on a political stance & points to be scored), but I think we're beyond debating the theory and moving into the practicals.

1. Locality have a model of community libraries: http://locality.org.uk/projects/community-managed-libraries-2/ and some front-line workers are starting to whistleblow through blogs (which I guess we’ll see more of particularly as it moves ino the NHS)  : http://www.publiclibrariesnews.com/campaigning/volunteer-run-libraries/practicalities/the-reality-is-very-different-a-volunteer-library-manager-speaks
2. Rethinking Parks is about changing long term delivery models and ownership of public parks and green spaces: http://www.biglotteryfund.org.uk/global-content/programmes/england/rethinking-parks
3. Delivering Differently programme for local authorities looking at changing how services are delivered: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/central-and-local-government-team-up-to-improve-local-service-delivery 
4. The Encouraging Social Action report has a range of case studies and measures: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/262771/2901062_SocialAction_acc.pdf
5. Friends of groups are on the increase – google trends shows this graph (although there is no concrete data) http://www.google.co.uk/trends  

Here's some examples from the community libraries data:

Someone suggested to me recently that the ‘social’ in British life is being eroded, that it was ironic that “social housing is bad, but social media good”. In the age of the social everything we seem to like the concept but hate the practical. I'm not sure the wholescale move from civic life to health has been fully understood or debated yet.

So what might replace state institutions in neighbourhoods in 21C.

• Jobs and growth and typical politician answers etc?
• peace and love and more money answers?
• more imaginative ideas like shaping desirability out of market failure?
• idealists and new catalyst for action?
• Leveraging existing infrastructure - eg a new role of housing?

With the rolling back of the state – what options are there except less of the same..? We have a lack of imagination which is worst – Q what do we want?: A not the USA and not government control of everything.

Judy Robinson's blog on the north south devide is a good starting place for looking at the long term implications of these kinds of decisions: http://www.involveyorkshirehumber.org.uk/blog/rebalancing-the-north-south-divide/
One thing is for sure, I’m not sure that just recruiting a business development manager will get us there..