Northumbria University, Department of Social Sciences & St Chad’s College, Durham University (Professors Keith Shaw and Fred Robinson)

£15,250 (2011) first instalment for a participative study: From Regionalism to Localism: Opportunities and threats for the North East

The aims of this study, started in January 2011, were to describe, assess and respond to forthcoming changes in governance, representation and accountability in the North East. In particular, it was intended to contribute to public understanding of a wide range of changes to the governance of the region; to establish how we can make the best of the opportunities on offer; and, at the same time to consider what may be worth preserving from the experience of regional-level governance.

A report “From ‘Regionalism’ to ‘Localism’: Opportunities and Challenges for North East England” was completed in September 2011. A central element of the project was a series of three round-table meetings held in May 2011, in Newcastle, Durham and Stockton- on -Tees, involving over 60 stakeholders from all sectors and areas of the North East. A fourth event, held in London in July 2011, brought together senior civil servants (from various departments with responsibilities specifically for the North East) and key stakeholders from the region.

Keith Shaw and Fred Robinson concluded that there was wide-ranging concern that, following the abolition of regional institutions, the region would be politically isolated and that there would be a loss of strategic thinking and analytical capacity; however, within the ‘localism’ agenda, there were advantages in developing more direct contact with government departments; there were opportunities for innovation at the sub-regional level through the Local Enterprise Partnerships; rather than the establishment of yet another institution to replace those which had been lost, there was a need for some kind of ongoing forum or network of networks; discussion of issues that cut across government departments could be facilitated if civil servants with a North East remit were to meet regularly within the region.

In January 2012 Durham University’s Institute for Local Governance hosted a conference, which was attended by government and local government officials and others from all sectors, including the media. There were presentations and discussions on Keith Shaw’s and Fred Robinson’s study and on research undertaken by Professor Martin Laffin and Dr Christianne Ormston on “Connecting Communities to the Nation: new ways of service delivery and building new strategic relationships”. There was a broad consensus at the conference about the need to protect and promote the interests of the region but, as yet, no certainty about how this should be done. Keith Shaw and Fred Robinson, together with the Institute of Local Governance and other bodies represented at the conference, will be considering how their findings can be taken forward.

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