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Regionalisation

Whilst power is being devolved to the local level, the role of the regions is less clear.  The sub-national review is attempting to address this, but a lack of clarity in its overall thrust, and the disparity between how it will be implemented in different areas means that this issue will remain unclear for some time to come.  Alterations to the regional structure are set to continue, with the dissolution of the Regional Assemblies (RAs), and changes to the Regional Development Agencies (RDAs), with economic and social development agencies being merged. 

What are the implications?

• Risk of the VCS being excluded from decision making as RAs are dissolved and RDAs are re-structured
• Increased complexity in tiers of government, resulting in a lack of clarity for organisations of all sizes in influencing local, regional and national agendas and understanding where decisions are made
• Alterations in funding streams
• Increasingly complex targets
• Confusion amongst organisations of where and how to access information and support

Moving forward

At the moment there are no obvious avenues for the VCS to influence regional decisions.  How can you ensure that your voice is heard?  Would collaborating with other organisations put you in a stronger position to do this?

With a lack of clarity of future structure, organisations may find planning difficult.  How can you keep informed of upcoming and proposed changes?

Many organisations work towards government targets; with the future structure of these unclear, how can you ensure that you are working towards those that are most appropriate? 

With decision-making being devolved to ‘the most appropriate level’, how will you know what this level is? Where can you find out this information?

If you receive funding from these avenues, how can you plan for reduced or changing funding from these income streams?

Want to know more?

National Impact Evaluation Report

Published by: Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR)

Date: 2009

Format:  PDF

What is it?  Report evaluating the impact of spending by the nine Regional Development Agencies (RDAs) between 1999 and 2007.

How useful is this?  This is an independent review of the RDAs and their impact, both within the Regional economic strategies, and within each of their specific corporate plans, allowing you to assess for yourself what the government’s drive towards regional development has achieved, and how the extension of RDAs responsibilities has affected their outcomes.  The report examines both outputs and outcomes, and makes for interesting reading for those interested in regional development.

Other comments:  The report comes in two parts, or can be downloaded by region.

Why place matters and implications for the role of Central, Regional and Local Government

Published by: CLG

Date: 2008

Format: Word document and PDF

What is it?  Report analysing the political and economic reasoning behind the Sub-National Review. 

How useful is this?  The paper offers insight into the government’s regional and local policies, examining the underlying principles for the allocation of responsibility at different levels of locality.  Split into four chapters, the splits its analysis to examine the governmental aims; the theory behind these; and evaluated results from undertaking these aims.  Of particular interest is chapter 4, which whilst evaluating the principles mentioned above, makes the case for further devolvement, illustrating where the government is likely to keep their focus, at least in the near future.

Other comments: This is the second in a series of papers, all of which can be downloaded from the CLG website.

All Inclusive?  Third sector involvement in regional and sub-regional policymaking

Published by: Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR)

Date: 2009

Format: PDF

What is it? A report examining regional involvement in policy making, and how the VCS can impact on this

How useful is this?  This report asks the following questions: How open and responsive is public policymaking at sub-regional and regional levels?  How well organised and skilled is the third sector in seeking to engage?  How effectively is current engagement communicated within the sector?  It finds that problems with governance structures and ease of understanding these within the regions, as well as disparate working and skill gaps within the sector mean that the VCS is not as involved as it should or would like to be in policy making.  It identifies areas for development, and provides suggestions for moving forwards, both for the VCS and for regional and sub-regional government.

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