Regional governance in England: past experience, future directions?
International Journal of Public Sector Management
ISSN: 0951-3558
Article publication date: 28 August 2007
Abstract
Purpose
To present a paper which examine the UK's approach to devolution in respect of the English regions.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper seeks to understand the policy choices facing the UK Government in redesigning governance arrangements in the English regions. This is achieved by an analysis of the evolution of regional governance arrangements in the past decade drawing on secondary and semi‐structured interviews undertaken by the author.
Findings
Regional governance arrangements evolved in an ad hoc manner due to the government's focus on the establishment of elected regional assemblies. In this policy vacuum existing regional institutions succeeded in establishing effective working relationships. However, with an increasing focus on cities as the engines of regional growth and the pressures to devolve responsibilities to local government the existing institutional policy framework has increasingly been challenges.
Research limitations/implications
The paper critically examines different policy choices for reforming regional governance.
Practical implications
Drawing on research and consultancy studies undertaken by the author for the English Regions Network, individual Regional Assemblies, the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions, the Cabinet Office and the Economic and Social Research Council, the paper explores issues of policy development and implementation at the regional level.
Originality/value
The paper presents a comprehensive overarching analysis in a complex field of territorial public policy.
Keywords
Citation
Mawson, J. (2007), "Regional governance in England: past experience, future directions?", International Journal of Public Sector Management, Vol. 20 No. 6, pp. 548-566. https://doi.org/10.1108/09513550710818412
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2007, Emerald Group Publishing Limited