Suchergebnisse

PurposeTo present a paper which examine the UK's approach to devolution in respect of the English regions.Design/methodology/approachThe paper seeks to understand the policy choices facing the UK Government in redesigning governance arrangements in the English regions. This is achieved by an analysis of the evolution of regional governance arrangements in the past decade drawing on secondary and semi‐structured interviews undertaken by the author.FindingsRegional governance arrangements evolved in an ad hoc manner due to the government's focus on the establishment of elected regional assemblies. In this policy vacuum existing regional institutions succeeded in establishing effective working relationships. However, with an increasing focus on cities as the engines of regional growth and the pressures to devolve responsibilities to local government the existing institutional policy framework has increasingly been challenges.Research limitations/implicationsThe paper critically examines different policy choices for reforming regional governance.Practical implicationsDrawing on research and consultancy studies undertaken by the author for the English Regions Network, individual Regional Assemblies, the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions, the Cabinet Office and the Economic and Social Research Council, the paper explores issues of policy development and implementation at the regional level.Originality/valueThe paper presents a comprehensive overarching analysis in a complex field of territorial public policy.

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine the way in which the UK Labour Government "framed" the policy and practice debate on social enterprise, the way in which "strategic" networks were (or were not) facilitated and the extent to which scale and geography shaped policy choices after 1997.Design/methodology/approachThe paper examines three phases of development through a series of examples/case studies all of which are based in the West Midlands in the UK. The paper draws upon the author's practice and experience as both a practitioner and researcher during this period. Interviews with other key individuals are undertaken to inform the author's reflections and analysis.FindingsThe paper suggests that there is a risk that experience, knowledge and understanding are at risk as there seems to be poorly developed processes and systems to "capture" informed understanding and that the importance of regional networks to promote practice and to protect innovation are often poorly developed and supported.Research limitations/implicationsThe paper is timely given the renewed focus by political parties in the UK on the role of the third sector in providing the "solution" for a number of public sector initiatives.Practical implicationsThe paper cuts across both the literature/debate on public policy as well as that on the role of networks and decision making within informal (as well as formal) organisations.Originality/valueThe paper is timely and will add to an awareness of policy choices and the importance of sustaining a "memory" of past (and current) programmes.