Devolution, deckchairs and Community resilience

Clare's thoughts on recent devolution plans...

Last week, the leader of Southampton City Council, Lorna Fielker, announced the 'great news' that the Southampton, Hampshire, Isle of Wight and Portsmouth proposal for devolution has been accepted for fast-track. This means that the most significant plans for change in the governance of our region in many lifetimes may not get the full participation of the local communities that the change will affect. 

I also know that there are many, many other new policies and proposals that will affect us locally, regionally and nationally. The National Planning Policy Framework, our Local Plan, a water management strategy and a new Planning and Infrastructure Bill to name a few.  

In the face of the many challenges we are facing, the climate crisis is just one of many, I can't help but feel that the devolution plans are the biggest rearrangement of deckchairs imaginable at this time. 

As an antidote to the hopelessness that these current changes make me feel, I am reading Adam Greenfield's Lifehouse: Taking Care of ourselves in a world on fire. Adam brings together stories from around the world that have community resilience at their core, stories that speak of people getting together and 'just doing something'.  I am really looking forward to his event at the shop on the 7th March. Book your tickets here, you might be inspired to 'just do something' too.