A report examined the determinants and regional economic impacts of internal migration, and how these were likely to change over time.
Source: Alan Wilson and Mike Phillips, Regional Economic Performance: A migration perspective – Economics paper 4, Department for Communities and Local Government (0870 1226 236)
Links: Report
Date: 2009-Sep
An article examined the regional distribution of workplace employment using the 'quality of jobs' framework. There was evidence of marked regional differences in average 'job quality', with the gap between regions growing over the decade from 1997, and the focus of high-quality job creation biased towards already advantaged regions. There was evidence of increased job polarization across most regions.
Source: Paul Jones and Anne Green, 'The quantity and quality of jobs: changes in United Kingdom regions, 1997-2007', Environment and Planning A, Volume 41 Number 10
Links: Abstract
Date: 2009-Sep
Researchers examined the extent to which regional European Union Social Fund frameworks for 2007-2010 addressed regional employment and skills needs and informed the plans of the regional cofinancing organizations (which included the Department for Work and Pensions, the Learning and Skills Council, and some regional development agencies and local authorities).
Source: David Devins and David Usher, Regional European Social Fund Frameworks: A case study evaluation, Research Report 596, Department for Work and Pensions (0113 399 4040)
Date: 2009-Aug
A think-tank report put forward proposals designed to accelerate sub-regional economic collaboration across England in the wake of the economic recession. It said that 'accelerated development zone' status should be made widely available to sub-regions at the earliest opportunity, in order to ensure that large infrastructure schemes did not became unviable.
Source: Nick Hope, Bordering on Prosperity: Driving forward sub-regional economic collaboration, New Local Government Network (020 7357 0051)
Links: NLGN press release | RSN Online report
Date: 2009-Jul
The government responded to a report by a committee of MPs on regional development agencies. It said that in view of the nature of the agencies' responsibilities it was appropriate that they were business-led.
Source: Government Response to the House of Commons Business and Enterprise Select Committee Report on Regional Development Agencies and the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Bill, Cm 7643, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Response | MPs report
Date: 2009-Jun
A report by a committee of MPs expressed concerns about aspects of the structure, work, and responsibilities of regional development agencies; and that proposals in the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Bill about the relationship between the agencies and local authorities placed too much weight on the views of business interests, particularly during the drafting and agreement of the single integrated regional strategy.
Source: Regional Development Agencies and the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Bill, Fourth Report (Session 2008-09), HC 89, House of Commons Business and Enterprise Select Committee, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Report | New Start report
Date: 2009-Mar
An article examined the state's governance of regional and local economic development within England. The results had been complexity, experimentation, fragmentation, and incoherence – with largely negative implications for territorial equity and justice.
Source: Andy Pike and John Tomaney, 'The state and uneven development: the governance of economic development in England in the post-devolution UK', Cambridge Journal of Regions, Economy and Society, Volume 2 Number 1
Links: Abstract
Date: 2009-Mar
A report examined the impact of the spending by regional development agencies, and their achievements against the objectives of both their regional economic strategies and their corporate plans. There was 'credible evidence' that all RDAs had generated regional economic benefits that exceeded their costs.
Source: PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, Impact of RDA spending, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (0870 150 2500)
Links: Report | Annex | DBERR press release | Hansard | FT report | New Start report
Date: 2009-Mar
The opposition Conservative Party outlined a series of policies designed to transfer powers from the central state to local people and local institutions. They included: abolishing all regional planning and housing powers exercised by regional government; allowing local councils to benefit more from the increase in council tax revenues from new homes; allowing councils to establish their own local enterprise partnerships to take over the economic development functions and funding of the regional development agencies; and giving local authorities a new discretionary power to levy business rate discounts, allowing them to help local shops and services.
Source: Control Shift: Returning power to local communities, Conservative Party (020 7222 9000)
Links: Plan | Conservative Party press release | LGA press release | LGA briefing | LGIU press release | NHF press release | NLGN press release | Unlock Democracy press release | CFC press release | CPRE press release | CBI press release | IOD press release | FT report | Community Care report | Guardian report | Telegraph report | Inside Housing report
Date: 2009-Feb
The government published a document explaining its proposal (in the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Bill) for further options for sub-regional co-operation, which included Economic Prosperity Boards and Multi-Area Agreements with statutory duties.
Source: Policy Document on Options for Sub-Regional Cooperation in the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Bill, Department for Communities and Local Government (web publication only)
Links: Report
Date: 2009-Jan
The government published a document explaining its plans (in the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Bill) for single integrated regional strategies, designed to ensure a much closer alignment between economic and spatial planning.
Source: Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Bill: Policy Document on Regional Strategies, Department for Communities and Local Government (web publication only)
Links: Report
Date: 2009-Jan