The government published a Greater London Authority Bill, proposing an enhanced package of powers for the GLA - including new lead roles on housing and tackling climate change, a strengthened role in planning and waste, and enhanced powers in health and culture.
Source: Greater London Authority Bill, Department for Communities and Local Government, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Text of Bill | Explanatory notes | DCLG press release | London Assembly press release
Date: 2006-Nov
The second annual interim report was published of a study which assessed the eight regional assemblies in England over the period from spring 2004 to the end of 2005. It set out the main findings in relation to the progress, issues, and achievements of the assemblies over this period.
Source: Arup, Evaluation of the Role and Impact of Regional Assemblies: Second Annual Interim Report, Department for Communities and Local Government (0870 1226 236)
Links: Report
Date: 2006-Oct
A think-tank published a collection of essays on the future of city-regions. City-regions needed to reflect grassroots realities, not top-down design by central government.
Source: Views of the City: Can city-regions find their place?, New Local Government Network (020 7357 0051)
Links: NLGN press release
Date: 2006-Aug
A think-tank report called for greater devolution to the regions and local government, and greater collaboration within city-regions, without the imposition of fixed models or new governance structures. (The authors included two government ministers.)
Source: Ed Balls MP, John Healey MP and Chris Leslie, Evolution and Devolution in England: How regions strengthen our towns and cities, New Local Government Network (020 7357 0051)
Links: Summary | LGA press release | Planning Resource report
Date: 2006-Jul
A report provided a snapshot of regional governance in England in 2004. It said that the strengthening of regional governance arrangements and the proliferation of regional strategies and programmes appeared to have made no discernible difference to long-run patterns of uneven regional development in England: but the blame for this could not be laid at the door of the regional agencies.
Source: Alan Harding with Mike Coombes, Charlie Jeffery and John Tomaney, English Regional Governance in 2004, Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (0870 1226 236)
Links: Report | Data paper
Date: 2006-Mar
A government report set out a more "streamlined, strategic role" for the Government Office network in the English regions. There would be an overall staff reduction of at least 33 per cent, as well as a strong "outcome focus" on future work.
Source: Review of Government Offices, HM Treasury (020 7270 4558)
Links: Report
Date: 2006-Mar
A report sought to develop an evidence base to underpin any sustained future move towards a clear national policy for 'city-regions' (enlarged territories from which core urban areas draw people for work and services, such as shopping, education, health, leisure and entertainment).
Source: Simon Marvin, Alan Harding and Brian Robson, A Framework for City-Regions, Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (0870 1226 236)
Links: Report | Summary | Link to working papers | Guardian report
Date: 2006-Feb
A think-tank report said that Britain s existing level of centralization was holding cities back, with consequences for the national economy as a whole. It identified greater financial autonomy as a top priority, especially for the biggest city-regions.
Source: Adam Marshall and Dermot Finch with Chris Urwin, City Leadership: Giving city-regions the power to grow, Institute for Public Policy Research, available from Central Books (0845 458 9911)
Links: Summary | BBC report
Date: 2006-Feb
A report examined whether England needed devolution - either an English Parliament, English votes on English laws, or the development of English regional structures.
Source: Robert Hazell, The English Question, Constitution Unit/University of London, available from Imprint Academic (01392 841600)
Links: Summary
Date: 2006-Feb