Localism devolution and structures Rupert Waters Helen Lawton

Localism, devolution and structures Rupert Waters & Helen Lawton Smith Presentation at CIMR workshop Innovation and the UK’s Industrial Strategy: How did we get here and where are we going? Friday 23 March 2018

Agenda Understanding the geography of local economic development – How policy changes as structures change – While these are inter-linked, one gets ahead of the other at different times Consequence – different geographies are appearing in relation to how the industrial strategy operates in practice

Industrial Strategy “Simply put, there is considerable potential for cities, towns and areas whose performance has been lagging to close the gap – to catch up. Green Paper, January 2017 “Since 2010, City, Growth and Devolution Deals have shifted power and funding to local areas to enable them to take strategic decisions about local priorities. . . more powers to create the right conditions for prosperity. White Paper, November 2017

Localism “We’re making progress on our plans to deliver the Cambridge-Milton Keynes-Oxford Corridor. We’re devolving powers and budgets to elected mayors across the Northern Powerhouse and Midlands Engine. We’re in negotiations for city deals with Stirling and Clackmannanshire, Tay Cities, Borderlands, North Wales, Mid Wales, and Belfast. And today we invite proposals from cities across England for the £ 840 million fund I announced at the Budget to deliver on their local transport priorities”. Philip Hammond, Spring Statement, 13 March 2018

LEPs and the localism landscape LEPs are part of a diverse array of bodies in local government, in which relations and responsibilities can at times be complex and lacking in clarity. LEPs sit alongside various other local bodies whose constitution and powers have also changed since LEPs were created. Public Accounts Committee (para 20, 2018) Governance and departmental oversight of the Greater Cambridge Greater Peterborough Local Enterprise Partnership

Combined Authorities as FEAs “Combined authority boundaries may not cross those of district or unitary authorities. However, they can cross county council boundaries. This allows combined authority boundaries to reflect ‘functional economic areas’, meaning that they are not bound by traditional local government geographies. ”. House of Commons Briefing Paper, Combined Authorities, 4 July 2017

West Midlands Combined Authority • WMCA is based on the functioning economic geography of three LEP areas: Greater Birmingham & Solihull; Black Country and Coventry & Warwickshire. – The seven metropolitan authorities of Birmingham, Coventry, Dudley, Sandwell, Solihull, Walsall and Wolverhampton have established a West Midlands Combined Authority, working alongside the Local Enterprise Partnerships of the Black Country, Greater Birmingham & Solihull and Coventry & Warwickshire and other Local Authorities. – Nuneaton & Bedworth Borough Council is a non-constituent member, whilst Warwickshire County Council, North Warwickshire Borough Council, Rugby Borough Council, and Stratford-on-Avon District Council act as observers, with a view to joining as members in the future.

Combined Authorities % of England • 27. 6: Population • 26. 2: Employee jobs • 22. 3: GVA

Size of Combined Authorities Sources: MYPE, ONS, 2017; Regional Accounts, 2017 & 2018, BRES, ONS, 2017

Combined Authorities’ Funding

Closing remarks Governance determines support Inconsistency of functional economic areas between LEPs and Combined Authorities Rebalancing remains predominant spatial policy agenda