Changes to the governance of Scotland, Wales and the English regions will affect the organisation of community involvement. Demands on companies to get involved are growing, but can the downsized community affairs departments cope?
REGIONAL STRATEGIES
The deputy prime minister, John Prescott MP, wants regional development agencies to work in partnership and take an integrated and sustainable approach to tackling business competitiveness, productivity and social exclusion. On October 20 he published draft strategic guidance on preparing RDA regional strategies.
Meanwhile on October 29, the secretary of state for trade and industry, Peter Mandelson MP, announced a new competitiveness fund to enable RDAs to develop regional business clusters, containing a critical mass of skills and support services for specialist industry sectors.
The new chief executives of the eight RDAs outside London were announced on November 27, including Anthony Dunnett, currently chief executive of English Partnerships, and Mike Shields, formerly of Trafford Park Development Corporation. Contact DETR Enquiries on 0171 890 3000 or DTI Enquiries on 0171 215 5000
LONDON REGENERATION
The results of a two year study into the development of London were published on November 17. Funded in part by the European Commission, the CBI and the London TEC Council, the London Study looked at social, economic and environmental factors to produce a comprehensive framework for action. Among the recommendations was a call for the new Mayor to set up an ‘Investors in Community’ accreditation to rewards companies which run community programmes with young people.
Coinciding with the launch of the Study, the London Development Partnership (the ‘shadow’ RDA in London, pending appointment by the Mayor) issued its first report on the key regeneration issues, covering business competitiveness, social inclusion and local partnerships. Earlier in November, West London Leadership, one of the sub-regional partnerships, issued a strategic framework for development, at a launch event hosted by British Airways. Contact London Study on 0171 222 7799, LDP on 0171 248 5555 or West London Leadership on 0181 453 0910
TRANSPORT FOR LONDON
Effective public transport is vital to the competitiveness of private business, but London First is concerned that the new London Mayor will not have adequate control and funding to create an integrated transport system. The business-led campaign is consulting on a draft framework document on necessary policies and immediate action, including new and upgraded river services and a commitment to having a reliable service running on the Jubilee Line Extension by next October. Contact Irving Yass, London First, on 0171 665 1500 (www.london-first.co.uk)
BT BETTER TOWNS
Four of England’s small towns won nearly £200,000 between them to help improve their environment and regenerate their communities. Announced on November 30, the winners were chosen from among 79 eligible towns of between 5,000 and 20,000 residents in four counties, through the BT Better Towns awards. Run with support from The Post Office and managed by Business in the Community, four different counties were eligible last year. Contact Bill Hay, BITC, on 0171 224 1600
NEIGHBOURHOOD RENEWAL
BG, the gas pipeline business, hosted a BITC seminar on business involvement in neighbourhood renewal on November 4, designed to identify what contribution business can make to the development of the government’s New Deal for Communities initiative. Lead by David Varney, chief executive of BG, and Sir David Barnes, sessions included a discussion of opportunities arising from the Social Exclusion Unit’s Bringing Britain Together report, as well as the local government perspective on business contribution. An action plan is being prepared and a booklet will be available shortly. Contact Sarah Paltenghi, BITC, on 0171 224 1600
VOLUNTARY SECTOR PARTNERSHIP
A new study by the Charities Aid Foundation, supported by NatWest, has found great scepticism among community groups about their participation in regeneration projects, based on over 400 respondents. Four in five local authorities say voluntary sector bodies are included for their expertise, but more than nine out of ten (92%) of the charities view their participation purely as a funding requirement. Far from being a partnership, more than seven in ten (71%) voluntary sector bodies think overall control of regeneration schemes lies with the local authority. Contact Vicki Pulman, CAF, on 01732 520 094
WEEKEND WORKOUTS
During September and October ‘weekend workouts’ were held across the country as part of Barclays SiteSavers programme. Teams of Barclays staff joined forces with other volunteers on local regeneration projects. Launched in 1996, Sitesavers is a partnership between Barclays, Groundwork and the Department of the Environment. In 1998, some 66 projects won awards of up to ?10,000 each to transform derelict or run-down sites. Contact Graham Duxbury, Groundwork, on 0121 236 8565
Comment
Slowly the geography of corporate community involvement is starting to shift. Unlike the USA, the UK has been characterised by very local engagement around specific major sites and a central team at corporate HQ with a budget for national activity. That mirrors the disposition of state power in highly centralised Britain. But Welsh and Scottish devolution and the beginnings of a regional tier in the UK, all due to go live in the first half of 1999, mean the balance is beginning to shift.
The signs are companies are starting to react. For example, active corporate engagement is growing in the debate about regeneration and competitiveness in the big cities, especially London. The arrival on the scene of elected mayors will further tilt UK practice towards the American model of active civic engagement. So will the new regional dimension to the distribution of National Lottery cash (and the consequent demands for matched funding).
For individual companies, this opens up a new set of key audiences at regional and big city level which existing structures of corporate HQ and product line management are ill equipped to service. Downsized community affairs departments cannot be expected to cope without additional resources.
Slowly the geography of corporate community involvement is starting to shift.
Slowly the geography of corporate community involvement is starting to shift. Unlike the USA, the UK has been characterised by very local engagement around specific major sites and a central team at corporate HQ with a budget for national activity. That mirrors the disposition of state power in highly centralised Britain. But Welsh and Scottish devolution and the beginnings of a regional tier in the UK, all due to go live in the first half of 1999, mean the balance is beginning to shift.
The signs are companies are starting to react. For example, active corporate engagement is growing in the debate about regeneration and competitiveness in the big cities, especially London. The arrival on the scene of elected mayors will further tilt UK practice towards the American model of active civic engagement. So will the new regional dimension to the distribution of National Lottery cash (and the consequent demands for matched funding).
For individual companies, this opens up a new set of key audiences at regional and big city level which existing structures of corporate HQ and product line management are ill equipped to service. Downsized community affairs departments cannot be expected to cope without additional resources.
COMMENTS