Alastair Tibbit: What's the Conservatives Big idea, then?

IT WAS a surprise to be invited to Downing Street this week, especially to talk about an idea no-one seemed very certain of. Did anyone really understand what the Tories meant by the "Big Society"?

David and Nick explained they saw the idea as one of the areas where Tories and Lib Dems shared common ground.

Apparently, they both have a "love of this area" and "hope for a beautiful friendship" between the non-profit sector and the government. A cynic would say they might well. After all, with cuts coming, how else will our services be maintained? The Big Society vision sees citizens directly managing services through local trusts, mutuals, or charities.

The Prime Minister spoke of a "community right to buy" for public assets, and a "social investment bank" to support it. He wants to see thousands of community organisers, and more accessible public data.

The ensuing discussion focused a lot on sustaining neighbourhood organisations, and how good projects can be replicated elsewhere. Some made the case for new technology as a means of helping people to get more involved in their community.

As the only Scot around the table, I was conscious this policy area was devolved to Holyrood. So with my three minutes to advise the Prime Minister, I made mention of the community right to buy, and the climate challenge fund as examples of initiatives that already work.

But there were things I didn't get to say. I've seen the Big Society idea likened to self-service checkouts at supermarkets – people still choose to wait in queues for the staffed checkouts. It seems better to have someone who knows what they're doing work the complicated machines for you.

Who will help communities that might not have the resources to run things for themselves? Is the Big Society big enough for them? We'll have to wait and see.

Alastair Tibbitt is Greener Leith's development manager