Tom Warburton Head of Regional Strategy One NorthEast The Regional Perspective on Sub-National Review and Regional Strategy Development Tom Warburton Head of Regional Strategy One NorthEast

SNR Prosperous Places – areas to be welcomed Regional flexibility within a national framework Increased emphasis on democratic accountability Increased local authority role in economic development Broad scope with focus on ‘Sustainable Economic Growth’ Move to Single Regional Strategy led by the Agency Recognition of the importance of business led RDA Boards Strong regional leadership role of the RDA working closely in partnership with local authorities Expanded Regional Funding Allocations The principle of streamlining and simplifying

Regional Strengths Small region Strong working relationships 12 strategic Local Authorities Government confident that we can make this work Regional Minister keen to show what we can do Strong sub-regional and city-regional collaboration already, e.g. Multi-Area Agreements and sub-regional assessments

Strong, healthy society Sustainable Economic Development Strong, healthy society Live within environmental limits Sustainable economy Sound Science & Evidence Good governance

Timetable – initial thinking 2008/09 Improve the evidence base Baseline work and Policy and Evidence Reviews; Sub-Regional Assessments Futures Activity Summer 2008 to Summer 2009 RDA and local authorities Leaders’ Forum with stakeholders scope the issues and appraise options: involving examination in public (SNR: 12 months) Scoping of issues and appraisal of options – sustainability implications a key factor Independent testing/EiP Agree guiding principles and develop vision Agree strategic aims, objectives and indicators For information, Regional Funding Allocations Round II process during this period Autumn 2009 RDA drafts Strategy and agrees with local authority Leaders’ Forum (3 months) Strategy formulation and drafting, including production of draft delivery plan – Sustainability Appraisal informs

Initial thinking on Timetable (cont) By Spring 2010 Formal consultation and Examination in Public of preferred Strategy (SNR: 6 months) Full and open public consultation of Regional Strategy and Sustainability Appraisal Amend Strategy to reflect outcome of consultation Examination in public of preferred Strategy For info: RDA should be granted RPB status during this period. By Summer 2010 RDA and Leaders’ Forum refine and sign off draft final Regional Strategy (SNR: 2 months) Final amendments following EiP Formal regional sign offs Summer to Autumn 2010 BERR and CLG Secretaries of State approve Regional Strategy (reserve right to make further changes) (SNR: 2 months) Submission to Government

Key points The notion of an Integrated Regional Strategy is a significant opportunity for the region. Emphasis on delivery – not just about developing strategy! The more flexibility within the region to make this work, the more likely we are to achieve success. Central Government seem to have recognised that policies will manifest themselves differently in regions, and this move away from one size fits all is to be welcomed.

Learning from best practice elsewhere Leadership through development of evidence and promoting consensus (Cork) Public leadership and multi-level consensus building through the process of visioning, scenario building and strategic planning (Turin/Piedmont) Internal relationships of the industrial system (Styria) Integration of economic, social and environmental perspectives through Regional Growth Agreements (Västra Göteland) ‘Learning region’ strategy (Ontario)

Common themes across the case study regions Leadership: key role of public sector Strategic, long term (and collective) vision: an agreed and sophisticated analysis of ‘the regional problem’ Strategic capacity: important role in the pursuit of success development Institutional support: alignment of appropriate institutions The institutional framework for development: the variety of governance frameworks: ‘its co-ordination not institutions?’ Impressive evidence base and economic intelligence has underpinned decisions

Need for integration in strategy making Many regional strategies in existence in the North East – complex picture Need to embed integration into strategy process: Integrated evidence base Integrated policy analysis Integrated appraisal processes Integrated delivery Integrated monitoring Currently, there is a desire within region to adopt a joined up approach and real efforts have been made to make the best of what we have, but in reality this is difficult.