The plans will see the creation of a Transformation Space, with a citizen panel determining local solutions to longstanding problems and deciding how money should be spent. This will also remove public sector funding silos that can get in the way of developing cross-cutting services and will allow funds to flow directly to the solutions that citizens determine will make the biggest difference.  

This is a sector-leading approach to prevention and early intervention and implementing a new way of working, as envisioned by the late Campbell Christie in his Commission on the Future Delivery of Public Services, and will fundamentally redesign how public services are provided in Clackmannanshire and reduce failure demand.

To support this new way of working, the council plans include setting up a new public sector funding model which, in the first year, will invest up to £1 million in a Transformation Fund which will be used by local communities to tackle the big issues of housing and homelessness, mental health and wellbeing and improving economic opportunities.

In addition, other public sector partners, and private and third party private investors will be invited to invest in the fund to support citizen-led change and demonstrate the power of cross-sector funding. Already, a number of Trusts and Foundations have expressed an interest in becoming involved.

The plans which have been developed with support from The Hunter Foundation, have been informed by other innovative work across the UK and internationally, as well as local success in the council’s well-established Family Wellbeing Partnership and STRIVE (Safeguarding Through Rapid Intervention) and WM2U (What Matters to You) programmes.  This new way of working is believed to be the most ambitious community voice-led transformation in Scotland.

Extensive work and discussions have taken place with local communities to ensure that their needs and voices are at the heart of the new way of working.  A wide-ranging Citizens Panel will be created with members drawn from all parts of the community with training provided to ensure all those that all those who want to participate are ready and able to do so.  

The role of the Citizens Panel will be to identify and assess proposals to tackle many of the long-standing problems, ensuring that the solutions are created by those who have direct experience of the problems.

Councillor Ellen Forson, leader of Clackmannanshire Council, said: “I’m really excited about the opportunities this new approach will bring to our communities. It can change the way we deliver services, focusing on continuous improvement, and making sure we listen to and meet the needs of the people we serve.  

“By working together with different partners and putting community voices at the centre of our decisions, we can create services that will be more effective and lasting. This Transformation Space will play a key role in shaping the future of public services, and I believe the work we’re doing in Clackmannanshire will set an example for others to follow.”

Sir Tom Hunter, founder of the Hunter Foundation, added: “Clackmannanshire Council are putting community and people at the heart of all that they do, designing services around need, not processes and procedures. We have been delighted to support them in this ground- breaking initiative and we very much hope many more councils and indeed the Scottish Government will follow their lead.”