CLES Bulletin
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Together we can
September 2005 - ‘Together We Can’ was launched at the end of June 2005, with the primary aim of setting out Government plans to reconnect citizens and state; empower individuals to play a role in shaping local services; and recreate a sense of mutual responsibility. This Bulletin will look at the context of ‘Together We Can’ as well as the structure of the programme and the core themes identified by the action plan.
Regional Economic Strategies
September 2005 - In order to meet key statutory purposes, each Regional Development Agency, must in coordination with a series of local partners draw up a Regional Economic Strategy (RES) which sets out key challenges and economic development priorities, for their region, for a period of ten years. In order to assess changing needs and priorities RDAs must review their RES and undertake a period of consultation on related matters, every three years. Central government must then sign off the reviewed strategy. Several regions are currently consulting on their draft RES, with others due to review theirs in 2006 or 2007.
Regional Government
July 2005 - One of the key Labour Party manifesto commitments for the 1997 general election was their vision for a degree of decentralisation of responsibility away from Whitehall to enable a greater regional focus to the way in which the United Kingdom was governed. The Government not only saw regional government as key to increasing the identification local people had with their neighbourhoods, towns and regions and as a way to improve local democracy, but also saw regional government as key to increasing inward investment and economic development.
Local Enterprise Growth Initiative
May 2005 - The Local Enterprise Growth Initiative (LEGI) was introduced in the 2005 Budget by the Chancellor Gordon Brown . Subsequently, a consultation document was released by HM Treasury after the Budget announcement in March. Local Authorities and other public, private and voluntary bodies have until 8th June 2005 to respond to a list of consultation questions, which appear at the end of the document.
Local Area Agreements
April 2005 - Local Area Agreements (LAAs) were introduced in a government prospectus in July 2004 with the primary aim of improving the relationship between central and local government and Local Strategic Partnerships. LAAs are expected to reach agreements that achieve local solutions by meeting local needs, whilst also contributing to national priorities and standards set by central government. Originally, the prospectus hoped to pilot nine LAAs, one for each of the English regions.
Connecting Regeneration - people, place and policy
April 2005 - Successful regeneration and creating sustainable communities is about effective governance, and bringing together people, place and policy. This bulletin is adapted from a conference paper presented at the CLES annual conference 2005 and summarises the key themes, challenges and opportunities presented by the governance of regeneration today.
The Future of the Sustainable Communities Agenda
February 2005 - The Delivering Sustainable Communities Summit 2005 was the largest event of its kind to be ever held in the UK. Over 2,000 delegates from the UK, Europe and the wider world attended the three-day conference at Manchester’s GMEX. This CLES Bulletin looks at some of the key messages that have come out of the Summit, summarising the themes that are likely to provide the future direction of the sustainable communities agenda.
Active Citizenship
February 2005 - This CLES Bulletin looks at active citizenship in the UK. There has been a decline in traditional democratic engagement in recent times, however other forms of citizenship are being displayed in society, such as formal and informal volunteering. Encouraging an increasing number of people to take part in society more widely is a growing agenda within government and this bulletin looks at the ways the linkages between civic participation and democratic participation can be made.
Business Improvement Districts
November 2004 - Business Improvement Districts (BID’s) are a partnership between local authorities and local businesses to provide additional services or improvements to a specified area. The first English BID has started this month following a pilot process that began in January of 2003. They are designed to improve the economy of a local area. They are in essence a voluntary tax that local businesses pay to fund improvements to their locality. The money raised is typically spent on combating crime, providing a clean, attractive environment and promoting the local economy.
Housing & Community Cohesion
October 2004 - This CLES Bulletin looks at the impact housing policy can have on community cohesion. In 2001 disturbances in areas like Bradford, Oldham and Burnley highlighted the extent of the underlying tensions in some of our urban areas. Since 2001 the promotion of "community cohesion" has been identified as a long-term response to addressing these underlying tensions.
CLES Commendations 2010
Three projects received commendations at this year's CLES Summit - Grow (Hull); The Star Inn (Salford) and East Lindsey Active (Lincolnshire).
Full details
Local Economic Assessment Network
CLES has launched its national Local Economic Assessment Network.
For more information click here.
Wellbeing Evaluation
Norwich LEGI
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HCA Placemaking Practice Review Panel
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