Making the Links: Economic Deprivation, Neighbourhood Renewal and Scales of Governance

Abstract

North D. and Syrett S. Making the links: economic deprivation, neighbourhood renewel and scales of governance, Regional Studies. A policy focus of the New Labour Government in the UK has been upon attempts to tackle problems of concentrations of deprivation at the neighbourhood scale. This paper presents evidence from five local authority districts to consider how issues of scale matter in seeking to address such problems and the institutional arrangements and policies currently in place to improve their economic prospects. The results demonstrate that for economic deprivation to be tackled more effectively requires both a clearer specification of the rationale for the kind of intervention needed and improved integration and coordination of strategies and actions across spatial scales.

North D. et Syrett S. Joindre les ‘trois’ bouts: les privations économiques, la rénovation des quartiers et les niveaux de gouvernance, Regional Studies 41, 1–16. Au Royaume-Uni, le gouvernement New Labour a mis l'accent sur des actions destinées à répondre aux problèmes de la concentration des privations au niveau du quartier. Cet article cherche à fournir des preuves provenant de cinq circonscriptions administratives locales afin de considérer l'importance de la notion de niveau pour aborder de tels problèmes, et les démarches et les politiques institutionnelles en vigueur pour améliorer leurs perspectives économiques. Les résultats montrent que la maîtrise efficace des privations économiques nécessite à la fois une articulation plus claire de la raison d'être du type d'intervention nécessaire et une intégration et une coordination améliorées des stratégies et des actions à tous les niveaux géographiques.

Quartiers en déclin Politique de quartier Economies locales Angleterre Gouvernance économique aux niveaux régional et infra-régional

North D. und Syrett S. Herstellen der Verknüpfungen: wirtschaftliche Benachteiligung, Sanierung von Wohngebieten und Maßstäbe der Regierungsarbeit, Regional Studies 41, 1–16. Einer der politischen Schwerpunkte der Labour-Regierung Großbritanniens war der Versuch, die Probleme der Konzentration sozialer Benachteiligung auf der Ebene der Wohngegenden zu lösen. In diesem Aufsatz werden Belege von fünf Kommunen vorgestellt, um zu untersuchen, welche Rolle Fragen des Maßstabs bei der Lösung solcher Probleme spielen und welche institutionellen Vorkehrungen und Politiken derzeit zur Verbesserung der wirtschaftlichen Chancen dieser Kommunen vorhanden sind. Die Ergebnisse zeigen, dass für eine effizientere Bekämpfung wirtschaftlicher Benachteiligung eine klarere Spezifikation der Gründe für die Art der benötigten Intervention sowie eine verbesserte Integration und Koordination der Strategien und Maßnahmen für die verschiedenen räumlichen Maßstäbe erforderlich sind.

Benachteiligte Wohngegenden Politik für Wohngegenden Lokalwirtschaften England Regionale/subregionale wirtschaftliche Regierungsarbeit

North D. y Syrett S. Atando cabos: marginación económica, renovación en los barrios y escalas de gobernanza, Regional Studies 41, 1–16. El Gobierno laborista británico ha intentado solucionar con una política que la marginación se concentre en determinados barrios. En este artículo presentamos ejemplos de cinco comarcas locales para analizar la importancia de las cuestiones de escala en solucionar estos problemas y averiguar cuáles han sido los acuerdos institucionales y las políticas actualmente en práctica para mejorar las perspectivas económicas. Los resultados indican que para abordar con más eficacia las penurias económicas es necesaria una especificación más clara de las razones para este tipo de intervención y mejorar la integración y coordinación de las estrategias y medidas a todas las escalas espaciales.

Barrios desfavorecidos Política de vecindad Economías locales Inglaterra Gobernanza económica regional/subregional

Keywords:

• Deprived neighbourhoods
• Neighbourhood policy
• Local economies
• England
• Regional/sub-regional economic governance

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to acknowledge the involvement of Rob Baldock, Stacey Clift, Mark Ramsden and Ian Vickers for their contribution to the research on which this paper is based. The authors would also like to thank three anonymous referees for their helpful comments.

Notes

1. In this paper the term ‘deprived neighbourhoods’ is used in line with current English government definitions where such areas were defined initially at ward, and latterly at Super Output Area, on the basis of the Index of Multiple Deprivation (ODPM, 2004b). This is based on the measurement of seven dimensions of deprivation, namely: income; employment; education, skills and training; housing and services; crime; and living environment.

2. Results reported in this paper are taken from research completed in 2004 for the Government's Neighbourhood Renewal Unit entitled ‘The Dynamics of Local Economies and Deprived Neighbourhoods’ from North and Syrett. The views expressed in this paper are those of the authors and are not necessarily those of the government.

3. For each case study location the research combined a review of the existing literature and evidence base with primary research on the relationship between local economic development and neighbourhood renewal. As well as analysing changes at the district scale, the research focused on two of the most deprived wards in each case study area in order to highlight the specificities of deprived neighbourhoods and differences between them in terms of their economic contexts (e.g. city centre fringe locations compared to outer housing estates) and their spatial dynamics (e.g. changes in local economic structures and local housing markets). The deprived neighbourhoods selected comprised: for Mansfield: Northfield and West Titchfield; Sunderland: Hendon and East End; Oldham: Hathershaw and Fitton Hill; Brighton and Hove: East Brighton specifically Saunders Park and North Moulsecoomb and Newham: Beckton and Green Street.

4. Results presented in the following sections draw upon the analysis of economic development and neighbourhood renewal strategies and policies and semi-structured, face-to-face interviews with a number of ‘key actors’. These interviews provided insights into the workings of governance arrangements at various spatial levels with regard to the economic aspects of neighbourhood renewal. The selection of key actors was specific to each case study, but included: those with responsibility for economic development at the regional, sub-regional and local levels (i.e. within RDAs, sub-regional partnerships, and local authorities); members of local strategic partnerships; representatives of private sector organizations; representatives of key public sector organizations (e.g. Learning and Skills Councils; Business Link Operators; Jobcentre Plus); neighbourhood managers and community workers; and other key local stakeholders.

5. The authors are currently conducting research (funded by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation) which considers how emerging governance structures at the regional and sub-regional scales are impacting on the economic and employment needs of those living in the most deprived areas. This involves identifying effective partnerships working across various spatial levels of governance as well as effective integration between the pursuit of improved economic performance and greater economic inclusion.