So now we know for sure. If we had any doubts that maybe life wouldn't be so different under a coalition government, David Cameron vanquished them yesterday as he laid out our dire financial situation in all its hideous detail (although we still don't know where the cuts will fall!). Cutting the deficit will be a painful process for all of us. Yet when the Prime Minister says we're all in it together, you could forgive people for feeling that some of us are in it more than others - particularly as his speech came on the same day a Downing Street review into poverty was announced. Government is aware of these accusations and our new lib dem deputy prime minister is at pains to refer to 'progressive cuts' and avoid parallels with Margaret Thatcher's 'sink or swim' economics. People point to the successful models of liberal administrations in Canada and Sweden, where massive reductions in public expenditure were broadly supported by residents, because they were engaged in the process of deciding where the axe should fall.

For that to work here, we need to make people feel they have some control over decision-making. Engaging communities in public sector reforms is something I've blogged about in previous posts, and it's vital that their involvement is meaningful. But perhaps there are additional benefits too. Perhaps we can start to make up for austerity by turning to community. Getting to know your neighbours, meeting new people, finding a shared interest in the neighbourhood - these are all really worthwhile activities which we all value highly when we do get involved. It's a bit of a cliche too but I predict we'll start to appreciate shared community spaces like parks, gardens, wildlife areas and woodlands. Places that we can meet up, go for a walk, take the kids - these will have a new importance and resonance for communities in the next couple of years.

The recent announcements from the Department of Communities and Local Government changing the classification of gardens from 'previously residential land', ie brownfield sites, seems to be proving very popular with residents and local authorities alike. In so doing Government has given councils the ability to reject planning developments in areas like gardens, applications for which are massively on the increase from one in ten to one in four between 1997 and 2008. Despite the 'garden grabbing' rhetoric designed to appeal to the rural and surburban middle classes worried about the increasing pressure to find space to build thousands of desperately needed affordable homes, this represents real recognition of the importance of green space. In the past year or so the vital role of gardens and wild spaces has fallen off the agenda a bit so it's really welcome to see these areas prized as the assets they are for the whole community.

However whilst it's important to place a premium on green space we must make sure that the debate is kept distinct and separate from the issue of housing. It must not distract from tackling the housing crisis. Within a few days of CLG's announcement the National Housing Federation warned that house building was facing a very uncertain future due to cutbacks and planning changes. The millions of new homes required to tackle the 4.5m people on waiting lists are not currently being built and urgent carrots are needed to ensure that affordable family homes are planned as well as luxury one bed apartments. The issue of green space and all the benefits it brings must not be used as a reason not to build. Else the communities that are able to enjoy the greenery will be few and far between.

The Council of Europe has recently released a report calling for the ban of the ‘Mosquito’ teen dispersal device, which received very little coverage while the media’s attention was split between events in Toronto, South Africa and Wimbledon towards the end of last week. Police Minister Nick Herbert has since rejected these calls to ban the device, saying it was up to Local Authorities dealing with anti-social behaviour to decide, but conceded he may reconsider if it could be proven young people’s health were being damaged.

For those not familiar with the Mosquito, it’s a device designed to discourage groups of young people from congregating together in public areas by emitting a high-pitched noise audible only to those under the age of 25. This disproportionate approach to reducing anti-social behaviour strikes me as being similar to taking a sledgehammer to an ant.

The problem with the Mosquito is that it labels all young people as potential troublemakers and treats them accordingly. Imagine how those over 25 would feel if we were treated similarly. Demonising young people doesn’t solve the problem of anti-social behaviour - in Groundwork’s experience building their confidence and self-esteem, while helping them to understand how to get on with other people of different ages and backgrounds and develop life skills is the best way to achieve this. It’s not rocket science - viewing everyone under the age of 25 with suspicion is not the best way of encouraging community spirit. And it's not the way we will build a Big Society.

The Commission for Climate Change (CCC) have today called for major policy changes to meet the UK’s climate change targets - which, given the issue seemed to have fallen down the agenda at the recent G20 meeting - I feel is very timely.  I found Lord Adair Turner’s comments very interesting.  Lord Turner, Chair of the CCC, commented that the recession has created the illusion progress is being made to reduce carbon emissions, but a step change is needed in a number of areas, particularly home insulation, to secure a low-carbon future.  

Today also saw Chris Huhne at the Department for Energy & Climate Change demand energy suppliers work harder to insulate lofts and walls to ensure low-income households benefit from these measures, which can offer significant energy bill savings.

This is welcome news, but I would like to see energy efficiency advice for the most vulnerable get as personal as possible.  The question is, are energy suppliers best placed to provide this advice?  Groundwork has been helping people on low-incomes reduce their bills and get more heat for their money for several years, and have found that providing bespoke advice from someone they trust is a very effective way to change behaviour. 

As Lord Turner suggests, a lot of people have had to learn how to save energy because times are tight.  If the most vulnerable are given personalised support to understand how energy efficiency measures can save them money while also reducing carbon emissions, then that learnt behaviour is likely to continue when the economy picks up – and ensure as many as possible are able to participate in the Green Deal of the future.