Fasten your seat belts please

THERE is turbulence ahead.  With our exclusive first call on this story, the network can tell you that the movement over East Edinburgh called the Total Neighbourhood Project (TNP) is a disturbance worth watching with keen attention, and a waterproof hat. 

An intriguing mix of energies drives the project for a start.  Pictured is Pamela Roccio, who provides the community engagement lead from the Edinburgh Partnership.

Also on board is Sue Northrop, bringing to the table the ideals of the Christie Commission, the think tank that prioritised urgent fundamental changes needed to public participation policies in Scotland.  While Edinburgh City Council is represented by policy officer Adam Kassyk – TNP is co-managed by Chief Inspector Matt Richards, a former intelligence manager for the city and CID officer seconded to the project for this year at least!  He can currently be seen moving about the Waverley Court building in full uniform on most days.  What’s that all about then?

Well, while there is no sinister intent in this senior police involvement, Matt does have a steely and singular focus that simply never lets up. Being perceived as challenging doesn’t bother him one little bit. He brings grit, vision and a sense of purpose to a police presence in this scenario that was set in place by former A Division Commander, Gill Imery and maintained with equal commitment by current Commander for Edinburgh Malcolm Graham.  There is no doubt that in Matt’s case, a results-oriented front-of-house change-maker, the Force is with him.

                                                The nuts and bolts

DESCRIBING a ‘triangular’ approach to initiating changes that have already been set in motion, Matt explains why the police are prominent in TNP. “We are undergoing nation-wide reforms in the Scottish Police Service,” he says. “We are becoming comfortable with reform. Major changes are streamlining our service and our costings.  We are well-placed to help drive the efficiency and effective engagement that TNP is helping local staff to initiate in the East of Edinburgh.   It must take place, not just in this arena, but in other policy areas across Scotland in these times of deep recession.  

“We are working closely with the public in a most effective way – first we engaged with 170 front-line staff in the East over three days of honest discussion. These are the practitioners.  Their managers agreed to stay away that day.”

The TNP team noted the ‘eye-watering’ frankness from these experts about the obstacles and ‘broken strategies’ standing in the way of effective service delivery and public participation. Activist and Chair of a Development Trust, Terry Tweed from Craigmillar added that ‘the public shouldn’t be people having things done to them, they should be partners in every process of delivery’. 

A confidential document has been put together recording fifty of the most important recommendations that came from these no-holds barred conversations.  It will be a key document of reference as the strategy unfolds.   

Pamela notes that the second step will entail similar conversations with the wider public in an engagement that should be completed by November of this year. 

The third point to the triangle is what both call a ‘deep dive’ into the finances for service delivery in the East of the city, chasing down ‘every pound, shilling and penny’ to find out where money is being wasted and where value for money provides best practice on which to build.   

“This work is beyond politics and changes in council leadership,” says Matt of a project set in place before the coalition changes of the last election. “We have learned the lessons of the 13 Total Place initiatives in England.  There is no political bias or nuance here, but there is solid support from elected members. At the same time, there’s no getting away from this paradigm shift that will fundamentally change deep strands in our culture,’ he says firmly. “It will happen. Change is the only game in town.”  

Hmmm . . . Well if only this were true.  Entrenched and almost generationally imposed bureaucracy is the greatest bugbear to a public seeking efficiency and accountability from organisational staff.  While one or two with insider strengths may lobby successfully for what they want, the general public are not party to the few exclusive fast-tracks to power within some local authorities.  It takes great tenacity and a thick skin to create very small cracks in this carapace. 

                                                A new trajectory                                                        

IT looks like this project envisions enhancing and stretching previous schemes.  The network hopes that this includes the much-trumpeted 12 Neighbourhood Partnerships that were set up across Edinburgh some years ago.  Seen as an opportunity to streamline services, these generally inaccessible bodies are touted as successful by stakeholders  –  and just about 100 per cent alienating for the general public and community activists and engagers. Except in two or three cases, promises of open and effective engagement have simply never materialised. 

So does TNP offer fresh hope for other parts of the city, and beyond?  Could this become a blue print for national practice? Certainly the Scottish Government is watching with interest. 

Our take is this – in summary it’s a fresh and new approach, it’s encouraging, and it’s entrepreneurial.  But our question would be, can it stay the course?  Will it also succumb, like past change agents, to the leeching exhaustion that creeps in the face of organisational arrogance towards a public that, ironically, foots the bill?

Oh if only.  Dear reader, your heart has missed a beat – it’s heartening I know.  But shall we tread cautiously for now?  We could wait  . . .  and observe . . .   

Meanwhile, in the face of this hesitance, Matt and his team are as ebullient as ever.  “This isn’t a short-term flash in the pan,” he says cheerfully.  “Support for this comes from the top and we are in it for the long haul.  Chief Executive for the City of Edinburgh Council Sue Bruce supports the aims of TNP.  But while change is fine, what the project is aiming for is progress. With this comes frank, brave diagnosis and yes, it’s true, that can bring turbulence.  However, we want to ensure that this initiative is different, bottom up, built on experiences from the coalface and the strengths of all of the community.”  

You have just finished reading Chapter One of Turbulence and the TNP. We hope that this is a story based in fact, not fiction. Experienced activist Terry Tweed believes that it is. Keep in touch with us for the next instalment, on its way to you via the National Network for Change and Community.  There could be so much more to tell  . . .  
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