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Published date: 31/03/2010
In the run-up to the general election, the government has unveiled the mutual ownership of local services, including council estates and SureStart children's centres, as one of its core policies.
Publishing the 'mutual manifesto', Cabinet Office minister Tessa Jowell, said that following the global financial crisis and the parliamentary expenses scandal, people no longer trust large organisations over which they have no control.
She added: 'This is the moment for mutualism. Our response means a new approach and a new relationship between the institutions of government and the people that they serve.'
Parents will be encouraged to join with staff to run a network of local children's centres as part of a 'federation' of SureStart centres.
In addition, residents of council homes will be invited to come together to run their estates. The government says it will also aim to help cooperatives and mutuals to access public land on which they can build more social housing.
In a further move the Government said, that 115 Labour groups or councils will pledge to become 'co-operative councils' similar to Lambeth LBC which is examining plans to make all its services part-run by its users.
