Kevin Rowan column

Apr 18 2006 By Kevin Rowan, The Journal

The cynic inside me suggests current debates about the appropriate entity for delivering economic success are fuelled as much by "political" dynamics as by economic aspirations.

"City Regions" were given prominence following the emergence of the Northern Way, which focused on pan-regional co-operation to accelerate growth in the whole of the North.

The Northern Way initiative certainly strengthens the "northern voice" and it is arguable that this collaborative approach has helped influence the way Government approaches regional regeneration.

However, the proverbial genie is now well and truly out of the bottle, and we have moved on from pan-regional structures to city regions seeking some kind of pseudo-independence.

There is mixed evidence of the value of city regions. The Northern Way presumption that we need to concentrate resources in the city regions, as that is where most jobs will be created, is a truism, based upon the fact that 90% of the North- East's population is in the two main travel-to-work areas that make up our city regions.

However, this presumption should not extend to establishing total freedom for city regions to act without checks and balances.

An analysis of current evidence on the impact of city regions on economic and social progress would show that the cities that have been most successful are ones that operate within a robust regional strategic framework.

There is a difference between affecting economic and social impacts and establishing the strategic framework - the public policy - that secures the legitimacy of priorities to which limited public resources are diverted.

This is a key question of governance and accountability.

Who decides what the priorities are? More local flexibilities around these relatively scarce resources would provide more effective delivery.

One example would be to enable Jobcentre Plus, LSC and RDA resources to work seamlessly in tackling economic exclusion, and there is work going on in this area.

Other examples might include housing provision and public transport investment. These are issues that cross local authority boundaries and have a direct impact upon the broader region. That is why they need to be taken within a broader regional framework.

Kevin Rowan is regional secretary, Northern TUC