Promoting sustainable local economic development for all areas: Looking forward or looking back? (original) (raw)

Local government and local economic development in Britain: an evaluation of developments under labour

Progress in Planning, 2004

This paper assesses the emerging impact of the British government's modernisation programme on the economic development role of local government. New survey and interview evidence is used to compare with earlier surveys, dating from the 1980s. In addition surveys of local government relations with other partner bodies are used to assess how governance has developed in the new institutional setting of devolved institutions in Scotland and Wales, and regional bodies in England. The paper demonstrates that local economic development has stabilised in the level of dedicated staff, with resource of about 2.5% of local budgets, representing a national contribution of approximately £360m. Central government's modernisation programme is, as yet, only a minor influence on these changes. The Community Strategy and new well being powers have as yet had only limited impact on activities. Best Value has, however, induced major change in approach in the majority of areas, especially by focusing on targets. The development of a complex network of regional, sub-regional and local partnerships evidences a complex multi-agent environment for local government in which its role has remained important, but in which its inter-links with other bodies have multiplied and complexity has significantly increased. The paper demonstrates the emergence of a closer inter-linkage of economic and social agendas within the new governance regime since 1997, which continues to be inclusive of private sector concerns, but has also sought greater social inclusion. This appears most evident in areas with access to well-funded urban regeneration programmes, rather than systematically across the system, which tends to confirm the continuing dominance of central government roles in local and regional governance. q

Strategic Partnerships at Local Level: Just Rhetoric or a Way Forward?

This paper explores the issues around the recent developments of Strategic Partnerships at Local Level based on the initiatives for community regeneration and economic development introduced by the New Labour in order to achieve urban renaissance. The paper sets the policy scene emphasising on strategic partnership arrangements and suggests the steps needed for achieving urban renaissance. It concludes with the reasons why Strategic Partnerships at Local Level constitute a worthwhile way forward recognising though significant dysfunctional elements in the implementation of policies.

Partnerships as an Aspect of Local Governance: A Community Governance-Local Development Model within Local Government?

psa.ac.uk

Partnership' is a buzzword that is entering the orthodoxy of public policy. This work attempts to present the main attributes of partnerships constructed at a local level with regard to policymaking. This endeavour is based on the development of a policy-driven framework, called Community Governance-Local Development, applied in the light of current evaluations in the local politics arena. The paper argues that the main features of the model can explain the current policy-making implemented within the contemporary local government context, though it recognises evidence of significant dysfunctional elements. It suggests that the current trends in local politics towards a 'local governance' mode tend to be dominant.

Local Government: Practices and Lessons for Delivering Services Through Public Private Partnerships

Proceedings of the IPADA Conference, 2021

Governments across the world have given local authorities more freedom and power to meet the needs of their citizens and communities. Establishing local authorities has been in line with the quest for self-governance in matters that affect their local aspirations. Existing studies acknowledged that while decen-tralisation has increased urbanization and a sense of fulfilment of local community aspirations, it has plunged local administrations in a state of administrative grief caused by resource constraints to meet needs of the rising populations and local communities. To salvage constraints, public private partnerships (PPPs) have been adopted as a rescue option. Little is known on the applicability of PPPs in local governments in developing economies. The aim of the study was to explore practices associated with PPP application in local government setup. Based on an exploratory review of literature, the study provides guidance on the use and context of the application of PPPs in local government. The outcome of the study is important since the administrative grief is enlarging due to COVID-19 effects, yet the bulk of citizens continue to put pressure on local authorities to deliver service amidst financial constraints.

LOCAL SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT – IMPLICATIONS FOR LOCAL PUBLIC FINANCES

Local sustainable development implications on local public finances are complex because this phenomenon explained by development strategies mobilizes local resources towards achieving the three dimensions that define the phenomenon. This paper aims to develop these implications in Romania, showing that the local development strategy determines the reorganization of local government finances in identifying resources to cover expenses, which are directed towards achieving the goals.

Developing a sub-regional growth strategy: Reflections on recent English experience

Local Economy: The Journal of the Local Economy Policy Unit, 2013

This article critically reviews the experience of a major sub-regional strategy which sought to bring housing and economic development together, under the aegis of the Sustainable Communities Plan. It draws on evidence from a current ESRC-funded project focused on Milton Keynes and Northamptonshire, the northern part of the growth area of Milton Keynes and the South Midlands identified in the Sustainable Communities Plan. The Sustainable Communities Plan promised a comprehensive approach to regional development in a series of ‘growth areas’ in key locations around the South East of England, based primarily upon building ‘sustainable communities’ which would include investment in jobs, town centres, schools, transport, housing and community facilities. However, a much-desired ‘step change’ in housing, economic delivery and sustainable development relied heavily on the expectation of extensive activity by the private sector (particularly by the house-building industry). The extent to ...

Reforming local government- impacts and interactions of central government policies from 2000 to

Reforming local government- impacts and interactions of central government policies from 2000 to 2006, 2009

This report summarises some of the key findings of a five year study conducted on behalf of the Department for Communities and Local Government between 2003 and 2007. The research evaluated the overall impacts of more than twenty local government policies which were associated with the 1998 and 2001 Local Government white papers. The research team has already produced a series of reports, summaries of which are available from the Department’s website and the Cardiff Business School website. The purpose of this report is to provide an assessment of the coherence of the overall strategy that was pursued by the Department. The research drew upon evidence from a wide range of primary and secondary sources. Secondary data used included published and unpublished reports produced for or by the Department; statutory performance indicators; Comprehensive Performance Assessment (CPA) scores and inspection reports; public satisfaction data; and studies funded by research councils and charitable foundations. Primary data were gathered through national surveys of local authority officers and elected members; interviews with senior councillors, local authority officers and representatives of other local service providers; and focus groups with members of the public.