What will life be like after RDAs?
Author: Claire MaughamDate: 11/10/2010
Publication: Public Servant
Local enterprise partnerships have the potential to reflect the real needs of local people and businesses but might we end up with too many small and ineffective bodies?
Regions have been out of favour since Eric Pickles took the helm at Department for Communities and Local Government. Regional spatial strategies were abolished with immediate effect in July, and Regional Development Associations (RDAs) and government offices for the regions have also fallen foul of the Pickles axe.
The whole regional and local tier is indeed in need of reform, as cities currently don't have the political or financial powers they need to shape their local economies and deliver the jobs growth the UK needs. The Centre for Cities has long argued that cities, as the drivers of the national economy, should have power over transport, housing and skills– the levers which grow urban economies – at the level of 'real economic areas'. These areas are usually larger than single local authorities, but smaller than regions. The 10 authorities which make up Greater Manchester, for example, cover an area within which people tend to travel to work.
This is why we think working at this level can lead to healthier local economies – because policies would better reflect the real needs of local people and businesses.
For the full article see Public Servant.
