Localis report urges nationwide expansion of community budgets to drive local regeneration
Author: Localis |
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Local government think-tank, Localis, in partnership with the Local Government Association (LGA), will tomorrow launch a report that argues that a new locally-driven approach to regeneration is needed. The report analyses the lessons from a number of case studies of successful regeneration programmes and concludes that local authorities are best placed to provide the local leadership that is crucial to drive successful regeneration. The report also advocates an expansion of the community budget pilots across the country and the introduction of bolder funding mechanisms to allow councils to coordinate and fund regeneration programmes from the bottom up despite the challenging financial climate.
Click here to read a copy of the report
‘Grow Your Own Way – Taking a localist approach to regeneration‘ will be launched at the LGA Town Hall Debate and makes several key recommendations to central government:
1. Roll out community budgets across the country, allowing them to be used in support of regeneration programmes. This would have the benefit of:
· Aligning service objectives and making the most of limited resources
· Bringing together enough of a critical mass through, e.g. shared assets and development plans, to encourage private sector investment
· Giving the private sector a greater voice in regeneration efforts and shaping a local area, if it were to be included within the process
2. Support bolder funding mechanisms, such as Tax Incremental Financing and municipal bonds, to help finance regeneration programmes, as:
· Past attempts to fund programmes using millions of pounds of central government finance have met with mixed success
· Large pots of central government funding are no longer available
3. Look to local government to lead on regeneration programmes. Given the complex and locally-dependent conditions inherent in regeneration, local authorities are best placed to understand specific local circumstances and develop bespoke responses to those circumstances, and to broker deals to make things happen.
Alex Thomson, Chief Executive of Localis said:
“Regeneration is essential to the vitality of the country, but is tricky to get right. The most consistent ingredient that we found in successful regeneration efforts is strong, effective local leadership. Local authorities must be given the freedom to lead the economic and social renewal of their localities, and empowered to make the most of the local opportunities they identify using whatever methods work.”
Cllr Peter Box, Chair of the LGA’s Economy and Transport Board, said:
“Council leaders are completely focussed on bringing fresh investment and jobs to their local areas.
“As part of this, the LGA is running a local growth campaign to press for an expansion of city deals, plus other work to drive forward local economies.
“This contribution from Localis plays an important role in the debate around regenerating local places, particularly the recommendations around community budgets and new ways to finance infrastructure projects.
“Local communities across the country are badly in need of a growth stimulus to get their economies kick-started and now is the time for action.”
‘Grow Your Own Way’ will be launched tomorrow at the LGA’s Town Hall Debate in Newton Abbott, Devon and will be available for free download from Localis’ website.
ENDS