A guest poster writes:
You can picture the tabloid headlines already, can't you? As part of its plan to become a co-operative council, Lambeth is going to give direct payments to more and more of the people that use its services, to spend as they choose. This could include haircuts, horse riding lessons, presents for their children and even going to the pub, according to a recent report about the plan. Giving money directly to people, rather than spending it on services they can use, is part of the "personalisation" agenda, a key part of the council's plan to go co-op.
The report, called Survive and Thrive and published last month by the council and the charity representatives' group Acevo, says this agenda will be extended in future, and will cover services including health, social care, criminal justice, welfare to work, education, children's services and substance abuse. Under the plan, the council will fund charities and community groups that will let the people using their services decide on how their problems could best be addressed.
Anyhting should be possible as long as it's legal, says the report. Anything? Now read on.
[More Top London Bloggers here].
