Need to do more than 'follow the money' to deliver local economic growth…
As we approach a pivotal Budget next month, now is an important moment to consider whether government’s local government finance reforms will really provide the powers and resources to stimulate local economic growth. This analysis can shape the steps local authorities (LAs) and Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) need to take to realise returns from any of these changes.
The publication of 1981 Cabinet Papers discussing a strategy of ‘managed decline’ for Liverpool has caused considerable comment at the start of a year in which many places in the UK may well face this direction of economic travel. Beyond the controversial emotive terminology, what is most striking is development and regeneration’s enduring struggles with the relative balance between investing in success and tackling deprivation; and that tackling deprivation still needs to present a compelling case for interventions sustaining better futures as opposed to making present poverty bearable. How far might we see continuity and/or (transformational) change in 2012?
When I was Chief Executive of EEDA, I was never sure whether my change of mood as summer moved into autumn was an onset of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) or the expectation of attendance at Party conferences.
Whilst these events may be something of an unwelcome distraction for some delegates, they are good economic news for the cities which host them. For instance, the LibDems at Birmingham next week (17th September) are estimated to bring 8000 delegates, 1600 media and £10-£12m of visitor spend to the city. The Labour Party conference has been reputed to bring double the number of delegates and about £18m of spend; whilst the Conservatives may raise that figure to £20m.
Latest news from Regen.net and PlanningResource.co.uk
Haymarket Business Media © 1957 – 2012 | Terms & Conditions | Contact us
