Reflections on the Task Force Model in Economic Development

Abstract

The task force has re-emerged as a mechanism for co-ordinating economic development activity in the context of the current New Labour administration's emphasis upon including 'stakeholders' in 'joined-up' approaches to 'cross-cutting' issues. Recent experience in the North East region of England reveals both prospects and problems in the way task forces have been utilised at employer, sectoral and territorial levels to organize economic development. Improvements are suggested to the task force model that involve integrating it more closely within a strategic and proactive regional economic development framework and ensuring its accountability within the multi-level governance structures for economic development emerging in the UK.