Meta-governance and developing integrated territorial strategies: The case study of MIRT territorial agendas in the Randstad (Netherlands)

Abstract

This paper considers the role of meta-governance in developing integrative territorial strategies at the regional level, drawing evidence from the Randstad (the Netherlands). We look at three cases of regional strategy-making within the context of a long-term national government investment programme on infrastructure and territorial development called MIRT. In terms of findings, we observe that the MIRT programme has created an institutional context which enables governmental stakeholders to effectively deal with the fragmented governance situation in their part of the Randstad. The findings fuel further reflection on the possible role of meta-governance in regional integrated strategy-making.

Keywords::

• meta-governance
• MIRT territorial agenda
• multi-level governance
• policy integration
• Randstad

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Erratum

Acknowledgements

This paper draws upon the ESPON RISE project, in which Birmingham University, Copenhagen University, Umeå University, Delft University of Technology and Nordregio participated. It reflects the authors' views alone, and the ESPON Monitoring Committee is not liable for any use that may be made of the information contained therein. The RISE project was supported by the ESPON 2013 Programme.

Notes

^1. MIRT stands for Meerjarenprogramma Infrastructuur, Ruimte en Transport.

^3. Polderen (“to polder”) is derived from the noun “polder”, which is the quintessential water management unit for most of the country. Reclaiming land and building defences to keep areas protected from floods was only made possible through cooperation and by balancing different interests at the level of a polder and was not the result of grand top-down schemes.

^4. The Infrastructure Fund finances national motorways, rail and water projects. The 2014 budget was EUR 6.8 billion. Funding for investments in regional infrastructure and the operation of regional public transport is the responsibility of 19 regional transport authorities in the form of a block grant. This implies that provinces and urban regions can decide how to spend the funds that are allocated to them as they wish. For projects that cost more than EUR 12.5 million (EUR 250 million for the urban regions of Amsterdam, Rotterdam and The Hague), the national government will provide co-funding (OECD, 2007, p. 128).

^5. The three territorial agendas we refer to are: (1) Rijk, provincie Utrecht, gemeente Utrecht, Bestuur Regio Utrecht, gemeente Amersfoort, Regio Amersfoort, gemeente Hilversum and Gewest Gooi en Vechtstreek (2009), (2) Rijk and Zuidvleugelpartners (2010), and (3) Stadsregio Amsterdam, Provincie Flevoland, Provincie Noord-Holland, and Rijksoverheid (2009).

^6. 2010–2028 for the territorial agenda, South Holland/South Wing.

^7. There are slight differences between agendas in this respect. In the Northwest Netherlands agenda, regional projects without national government leadership are also listed, while this is not the case in the other two.

This article was originally published with errors. This version has been corrected. Please see Erratum (http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/14649357.2014.984481).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Wil Zonneveld

Wil Zonneveld is professor of Urban and Regional Planning and Marjolein Spaans is senior researcher, both at Delft University of Technology, Faculty of Architecture and the Built Environment.

Marjolein Spaans

Wil Zonneveld is professor of Urban and Regional Planning and Marjolein Spaans is senior researcher, both at Delft University of Technology, Faculty of Architecture and the Built Environment.