26 September 2003
Labour's regeneration initiatives received a timely boost this week with the publication of a new Audit Commission report praising councils for improved policy selection and implementation.
Economic and community regeneration, published on September 22, identifies the key lessons from council regeneration initiatives using findings from 65 inspections by the local government watchdog.
It forms part of a wider study of the government's flagship Sustainable Communities Plan and will also inform Comprehensive Performance Assessments for single and upper-tier authorities from 2005/06.
Although the commission acknowledges there are no universal solutions to problems in deprived areas, inspections 'have identified encouraging examples of local authorities of all types and sizes that are making a difference'.
Over 73% of councils were judged to be 'good' or 'excellent', and 61% had either 'excellent' or 'promising' prospects for improvement.
Authorities cited as exemplary include Hartlepool, Derby, Caradon (in Cornwall) and Manchester. However, councils such as Maidstone and Crawley are currently judged to be 'poor'.
Characteristics common to successful councils included working in partnership with local agencies such as businesses and the voluntary sector, and providing 'direct assistance' to those supposed to benefit from regeneration.
Successful councils also have clear priorities, strong performance management and outcome-based targets, they seek feedback and use economic development to tackle deprivation.
But sceptics pointed out that some local authorities have failed to address deep-rooted social inequalities. Such problems, the Commission for Racial Equality has claimed, underpinned the divisions that spurred the 2001 race riots across northern England.
Conservative MPs were quick to use failing authorities to criticise the government's broader regeneration policies.
Geoffrey Clifton-Brown, the Tories' housing spokesman, told Public Finance: 'This report shows that Labour's policies are far from perfect. What is needed to improve communities is strategic, focused investment from a wide range of stakeholders – not more government diktats.'
A spokesman for the centre-Left think-tank Demos said difficulties often result from councils becoming too ambitious. 'Successful regeneration schemes are not necessarily about big-scale investments and quick fixes.
'Many successes come from "organic growth" – attracting the right people to the area, those who are prepared to help regenerate it and sustain it in the long-term.'
PFsep2003
