Where next for the Sub national Review?

davswil — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 11:14:27 +0000

Where next for the Sub national Review? Since its publication in the summer 2007 when the report was greeted by such enthusiasm from local authority economic development practitioners we have heard little. There was nothing in the Queen’s Speech and so there is little apparent commitment to introducing the structural changes that the report heralded. Despite its apparent importance, is this just another report to be consigned to dusty on shelves in the Treasury and local authorities?

The report proposed a change of gear for local economic development and, most seriously, challenged the conventional approach to planning strategy by bringing considerations of the local economy to the fore in developing local development strategy. If this is to happen the key question will be whether economic development, as a profession, has the capacity to deliver the changes – and have the influence on development policy that the proposals in the review presage.

Brome Associates feel that most local authorities have yet to appreciate the potential impact of the changes the review will introduce and, more importantly, will not have the capacity to deliver. So their potential to take control of the resources allocated by the RDAs for their areas will be compromised.

Local authorities need to consider how they should respond to the challenges the review presents. Brome Associates can help.