The government has chosen four ‘vanguard communities’ to pilot its vision of Big Society. Liverpool, Eden Valley in Cumbria, Windsor and Maidenhead and the London borough of Sutton will each be given a community organiser and access to dedicated civil servants to help empower local people to take control of services.

Co-production of local public services offers the best chance of making Big Society a success, according to a new report. Right here, right now calls for a radical shake-up in the way services are delivered, so that users become equal partners.