Then the clock starts ticking.

You must identify which bits of the service you are talking about: something small enough to be manageable and big enough be be viable. You know what’s needed, you can see where efficiencies could be made. Being in control, charging a fair but reasonable price – it just might work!

But you never were good with figures, so you’ll need a proper manager and a finance director.

You’ve been reading up about Sandwell Community Caring Trust doing a really good job. They’re massive now, running adult care in Torbay too. And what about Oldham Community Leisure? They went independent from the council in 2002. They’re an employee owned enterprise with more staff than before and a £6 million turnover on half the subsidy. Exciting!

But the clock’s still ticking.

Wasn’t the Oldham thing all the union’s idea? The old co-operative principles, an alternative to privatisation? So why isn’t your rep too keen this time round?

Neither is the bank manager. You sounded him out and he asked about your company’s ability to repay any loan, ‘collateral’ and so on. In the end he said no.

Then someone said you should try the Council for Voluntary Service. They help local charities with business planning – everyone needs a business plan these days.

And they did help. You met a woman who knows all about social enterprise. She suggested a couple of local charities that might like to talk about some sort of collaboration. Great!

Tick. Tock.

Of course, you’ll need start up cash. Within a month you and your new friends could have that business plan and aren’t there all these social entrepreneurs desperate to invest in enterprises like yours?

You found one! He was clearly more supportive than the bank manager. He’ll seriously consider supporting you and writing a cheque with several noughts on the end. It could take a year to come together, he said, nine months if we’re lucky.

A year? But the cuts are now! There won’t be a service to save in a year! Is that what Big Society’s about? And you were so full of hope. You’d have done a good job if only they weren’t so desperate to make cuts without thinking them through.

And who was the man in the suit measuring the office up this morning? 

Photo: Leo Reynolds