Freedom through partnerships
South Tyneside Council seals deal with government
South Tyneside Council has agreed to work in partnership with neighbouring councils in the north-east in a deal with the government which will allow them greater freedom to stretch their targets and achieve more in the way of inward economic investment. The idea is to boost economic prospects and deliver greater prosperity prosperity, more jobs, and less reliance on benefits, as well as to formulate regional based transport policies (this may include moves to reduce traffic congestion).
Freedoms include more flexible resources on housing, pilot transport schemes, integrated and flexible employment and skills investment and choice to refocus national targets to increase support to businesses.
The ambition is to drive growth in local economies and to close the gap with the top performing areas in the country through partnerships that cross local authority boundaries – authorities, government agencies such as Jobcentre Plus and the Learning and Skills Council and the private and third sectors.
Ultimately this should help boost regional prosperity and help people to reach their potential – connecting them to jobs, skills, and affordable homes, regardless of where they live or work.
Local Government Association Vice Chairman, Sir Jeremy Beecham said: “MAAs have the potential to be a stepping stone to genuine devolution of powers and funding. They will allow councils, local partners and government agencies to work together to challenge the artificial limits of boundaries.
“The diversity of the issues tackled in the first MAAs reflect the critical importance of local priorities. Some of the issues identified, such as the need to tackle worklessness across a geographic area that more realistically reflects the local labour market will bring real improvements for local people.
My only concern is that some large scale plans and ideas may not be seen to have sufficient accountability with local voters, who having already voiced their opinions on John Prescott’s ideas about regional government with a resounding NO, have made it plain that they prefer local decisions to be made at a very local level. However, schemes such as this should be judged on their outcomes, and if as a region we can manage to effectively reduce the need for the benefits system to support the north-east, and stand on our own two feet, it will be seen as a success for individuals and for the wider community.
We need to support the idea of growing an enterprise culture in the north-east, an area which in real terms is equal to or better than others in terms of it’s jobs and new company start ups.
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