Strategy
Tackling Worklessness Review
Derrick Johnstone acted as lead Neighbourhood Renewal Adviser for CLG and DWP in support of the Tackling Worklessness Review led by Councillor Stephen Houghton, Leader of Barnsley Council. This investigated the role of local authorities and partnerships and its final report has proved influential, with the Government accepting many of the recommendations. These include the intorduction of what has become the Future Jobs Fund, intended to create short-term jobs aimed at young people and at localities hardest hit by the recession.
Derrick's input involved co-ordination of NRA contributions to the Review, including support for fact-finding visits and analysis of briefings and visit reports, eg, in identifying good and promising practice and use of the Working Neighbourhoods Fund. He also presented on the Review to a conference organised by the National Association for Neighbourhood Management on 'Tackling Worklessness: A pivotal role for neighbourhood management?'.
Material from this research phase has fed into case studies and 'How to' guides published by the IDeA. Educe prepared case studies on the Manchester Economic Development Services Framework (which marks a radical change in the City Council's apporach to commissioning services), and Enable, Nottingham (a highly successful learning and skills consortium in the voluntary and community sector).
Derrick's input involved co-ordination of NRA contributions to the Review, including support for fact-finding visits and analysis of briefings and visit reports, eg, in identifying good and promising practice and use of the Working Neighbourhoods Fund. He also presented on the Review to a conference organised by the National Association for Neighbourhood Management on 'Tackling Worklessness: A pivotal role for neighbourhood management?'.
Material from this research phase has fed into case studies and 'How to' guides published by the IDeA. Educe prepared case studies on the Manchester Economic Development Services Framework (which marks a radical change in the City Council's apporach to commissioning services), and Enable, Nottingham (a highly successful learning and skills consortium in the voluntary and community sector).
Dudley recession summit
We were invited by Dudley Community Partnership in the Black Country to facilitate a 'Recession Summit' which drew together local partners to discuss the impact of the recession on the borough and appropriate responses, both short term and longer term. This led to the setting up of a task group, an action plan, and a subsequent request to Educe to faciliate a meeting between the local authority and bank representatives to explore the scope for collaboration.
SEEDA and Sub-Regional Working
The South East England Regional Assembly undertook a Select Committee (scrutiny) investigation into SEEDA and Sub-Regional Working. We were commissioned with Makesfive to prepare the Context and Issues paper. This was published on the Assemby's website, and fed into the Select Committee held on 16 January 2009.
The focus was in particular on how effectively SEEDA's approach to sub-regional working with a range of partners helps to deliver both the Regional Economic Strategy (RES) and address local needs and priorities.
The South East England Regional Assembly has now published its recommendations. These sit within the context of implementation of the Review of Sub-National Economic Development and Regeneration (SNR), and relate to:
The focus was in particular on how effectively SEEDA's approach to sub-regional working with a range of partners helps to deliver both the Regional Economic Strategy (RES) and address local needs and priorities.
The South East England Regional Assembly has now published its recommendations. These sit within the context of implementation of the Review of Sub-National Economic Development and Regeneration (SNR), and relate to:
- the need for greater co-ordination and alignment, notably through a joint approach to locality investment planning
- extending the cross-organisational task force approach within SEEDA in tackling specific issues, including work around 'priority places'
- supporting and enabling co-ordination of local economic assessments
- improving communications, including dissemination of research and evaluation and strengthening the use of the SEEDA website
Framework for Regeneration
Workshop to help members of the West Cumbria Partnership develop a fresh understanding of the Government’s approach to ‘Regeneration’, as set out in the Framework for Regeneration in its consultation form.
The event, with senior councillors and representatives of partner agencies sought to build a consensus response from West Cumbria to the consultation questions, and identify the implications for regeneration-related policy and programmes locally. West Cumbria Partnership is unusual in covering two local authority districts (Allerdale and Copeland).
Download the slides (
288KB).
The workshop informed responses by the West Cumbria Partnership and by Copeland Borough Council. The Government has since published its response to the entire consultation (May 2009).
The event, with senior councillors and representatives of partner agencies sought to build a consensus response from West Cumbria to the consultation questions, and identify the implications for regeneration-related policy and programmes locally. West Cumbria Partnership is unusual in covering two local authority districts (Allerdale and Copeland).
Download the slides (
288KB).The workshop informed responses by the West Cumbria Partnership and by Copeland Borough Council. The Government has since published its response to the entire consultation (May 2009).
Trades unions and the Sub-National Review
Significant changes are underway in the institutional framework for regional economic development, including a 'more strategic' role for Regional Development Agencies (RDAs) and a bigger role for local authorities.
These changes produce a number of opportunities for trades unions to influence policy and investment. The North West TUC commissioned us to draft an online briefing describing the background to the proposed changes to how regional and local economic development policies will be delivered. This summarises the Government's proposals for implementing the Sub-National Review of Economic Development and Regeneration (SNR) and the wider policy context including proposals for shifting control over learning and skills budgets to sub-regional level.
The briefing maps key organisations and partnerships in the North West and highlights current trade union involvement in these. It also provides a full listing of relevant partnerships and developments at regional and sub-regional level, including Multi-Area Agreements.
These changes produce a number of opportunities for trades unions to influence policy and investment. The North West TUC commissioned us to draft an online briefing describing the background to the proposed changes to how regional and local economic development policies will be delivered. This summarises the Government's proposals for implementing the Sub-National Review of Economic Development and Regeneration (SNR) and the wider policy context including proposals for shifting control over learning and skills budgets to sub-regional level.
The briefing maps key organisations and partnerships in the North West and highlights current trade union involvement in these. It also provides a full listing of relevant partnerships and developments at regional and sub-regional level, including Multi-Area Agreements.
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