Strategic Planning inprospect and retrospectand the role of LEPs

Dr Nicola HeadlamCentre for Urban Policy StudiesThe University of Manchester

Strategic manoeuvring…

Prospect and Retrospect

• Introduction• Coalition view and localism bill• LEPs• Manchester examples• Summary

Introduction

Fundamental questions of constitutional structures, centre-region relations, institutional co-ordination, and public expenditure… are addressed as the perhaps unglamorous dimensions of sub-national government and governance.” (Pike and Tomaney)

Introduction II

• Sociology /Social Psychology• Regeneration Social Inclusion Oxford City• CLES• 2006 arrived in Manchester• Thesis on LAAs and sustainable communities

ended up 2011 on city-regions and economic development

• Parliament and Constitution Centre

Legislative Process

Policy Process

Governance and Spatial Planning

Academics arguing among themselves (!)Governance debates : hot air or fresh wind?

Market – State – Network

Governance and Spatial Planning II

Academics arguing among themselves (!)Governance debates : hot air or fresh wind?

Market – State – Network

Planning System = a place where this becomes very real indeed!

Governance and Spatial Planning III

Access…Resources…Power

Governance and Spatial Planning IV

Planning = if it doesn’t work in practice then it doesn’t work in theory (Salet)

a (nother) definition of Spatial Planning

what can and should happen where?

a (nother) definition of Politics

Who/whom?

Crowd sourcing views

for policy purposes essential• Linkedin• Especially linkedin groups • Twitter

LinkedIn groups

networknicola and #LEP

#LEP discussions

Coalition and Localism

Control Shift Green Paper

Public Sector and Big Society

LEPs

LEP definition

LocalEmptyPockets

LEP Map

LEP Map is not…

Question to you…

How spatially aware are the LEPs in your area?

How engaged are you (as planners) with them?

Are you hopeful for their development?

Manchester LEP

Manchester Miracle?

Think tanks: Manchester

• Work Foundation : Ideopolis• Localis : Can Localism Deliver? Lessons from

Manchester• Policy Exchange : Cities Limited • NESTA : Original Modern Manchester’s

journey to innovation and growth

How Manchester is managed, 1935

Regional Planning : The most effective planning scheme is one which is comprehensive in character and not limited by the artificial boundary of a local authority’s area. It’s success depends upon (1) securing an area capable of economic development (2) effective joint action with neighbouring authorities

Local Enterprise Partnerships LEPs

• Manchester City Region Governance CRDP 2003 MAA 2007 EPB 2008 SCRP 2009 Combined Authority 2010

Doing things differently: policy tools

LEPs: the new way of supporting businesses across Greater Manchester and other places

Question is to what extent will this policy tool provide additionality

LEPs do have the potential to be an overarching body for joined up working

Overseeing planning, housing and transport, as well as employment, skills and enterprise support

Such a body could ensure increased value for money and cost effectiveness

Greater Manchester already has strong partnership infrastructure in place….

….But are there gaps whereby only certain players have influencing and enabling roles?

LEPs could help close such gaps and ensure that issues facing businesses and individuals across whole are addressed

Has to be clarity about their blue-print or businesses won’t engage

City / City Regional reification

Agglomeration

• Economists discovering space ?!• Arguably foundation of city-regional

arguments.

Local government

In Summary