Business debate on Big Society

03 March 2011

More than 70 businesses, charities and voluntary organisations took part in Maidstone Borough Council’s debate about the issues of localism and what it means for Maidstone.

The event, at The Ramada Hotel, Hollingbourne, was chaired by the Mayor of Maidstone, Cllr Eric Hotson.

The panel, leading the discussions, included the council’s Chief Executive, Leader, Head of Change and Scrutiny and the Development Control Manager. It also included Baroness Debbie Stedman-Scott who is Chief Executive of Tomorrow’s People, a national employment charity.

The debate was on the ‘big society’ and what it means to business, with the overall purpose being to identify actions businesses and the council can take to support our communities and make a positive impact on those communities.

Leader of the council, Cllr Chris Garland, said: “The ‘big society’ assumes we all have responsibilities, it’s about individuals and local groups doing things for themselves, looking at each other rather than up to officialdom to find solutions to local problems. One of the key strands is encouraging social responsibility that is encouraging organisations and individuals to get involved in social action.”

The Mayor said: “An event of this kind is so important to determine what business and localism means to our borough. We decided to hold this breakfast debate to get local businesses, charities and voluntary organisations to have their say on what big society and localism means to them. I think we managed to achieve this successfully but this is an ongoing process.”

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