Paying for change?: Section 11 and local authority social services1

Abstract

The evolution and application of Section 11 of the Local Government Act 1966, are discussed, and the requirements for the receipt of grant are described. These include meeting criteria of additionality, ‘special need’ and consultation. Each of these creates particular problems for local authorities, whose services are normally determined by offices, guided by statute and responsible to local councillors. For these and other reasons, the policy has been extensively criticised. Central Government has recently set in motion a review of Section 11, which provides in excess of £100m annually for meeting some of the needs felt by ethnic minorities. This article is based on a study which examined the application of Section 11 within the field of personal social services. It concludes that each of the charges levelled by the critics has some validity but that the policy has evolved to meet many of them. Further, there is evidence that Section 11 can be a highly valuable resource in sustaining equal opportunity policies under certain conditions. These conditions are not generated by the policy itself so that, at best, Section 11 monies act to facilitate intentions that arise elsewhere in the policy process.

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