Neighbourhoods
The private sector advisory panel on neighbourhood renewal: Report and Government response
The Private Sector Panel was formed in 2003 to advise the Deputy Prime Minister on effective ways to engage business in neighbourhood renewal. It is made up of representatives from a range of businesses. The panel's task was to visit a number of neighbourhood renewal areas and report back on what works and what could be improved. The panel makes its own recommendations and outlines what practical measures businesses can undertake to support neighbourhood renewal.
Title: The private sector advisory panel on neighbourhood renewal: Report and Government response
Author: Private Sector Advisory Panel (Neighbourhood Renewal)
Date published: December 2004
Number of pages: 32
Availability: Download
this document 
PDF 353kb
The panel looked at:
the effectiveness of the National Strategy for engaging business in neighbourhood renewal
how to overcome any barriers to greater private sector investment in neighbourhood renewal
Summary of findings
The effectiveness of the National Strategy
Observations
There is a lack of clarity in the structures, decision making and accountability between national and regional Government departments and local delivery.
The role of Regional Development Agencies (RDAs) in relation to LSPs is unclear.
The LSPs varied in their effectiveness but most could be engaged much better with businesses, especially national companies. For businesses to get involved at senior level they need to be equal partners with LSPs in smaller strategic decision-making boards.
There are too many Government initiatives and funding streams. This diverts staff from delivery into chasing funding.
There is confusion and duplication between businesses and support services.
Recommendations
Simplify structures to provide a clear line of decision-making and accountability from central Government to the frontline.
Simplify funding streams into a single pot. Also, develop LSP models to handle the budgets.
Review the working of LSPs and identify best practice to create national templates and revise guidance in such a way that business can get involved more effectively.
Review the role and consistency of delivery of Business Link.
Business Action
Members of the panel would be willing to work with Government to share business experience and insights in tackling the problem of silos and creating clear structures for decision making.
Business should support the development of LSPs to take a leadership role, and focus where the greatest difference can be made.
Business could assist in the production of a clear and consistent statement for Business Link providers.
Overcoming barriers to greater private sector investment
Observations
The main barriers to investment were crime, skills and connections, whether psychological or physical transport.
Some of the neighbourhoods felt isolated. There is a need for mixed housing.
Regeneration is not sustained because people who get jobs soon move out of the area. Social and economic issues need to be tackled together.
Government departments and services still seem to be working in isolation.
The new flexibility in the vocational curriculum and the introduction of enterprise advisers in schools provide an opportunity for greater business involvement.
There was a common theme in addressing crime and skills by focusing on youth.
Alcohol was identified as the most significant cause of youth crime and needs to be given higher national priority.
There needs to be a balance between the long-term approach to improve the physical and social environment of an area, and short-term goals, which can be achieved by focusing on priority issues.
Recommendations
Focus on cross-departmental work on 2 or 3 major issues, which affect neighbourhood renewal (e.g. mixed housing and planning strategy, youth crime).
Develop a mechanism for identifying best practice in local initiatives.
Improve the strategic relationship of RDAs and LSPs in economic development.
Business Action
Members of the Panel and other relevant businesses could engage in high level panels to advise on major issues such as vocational and enterprise education.
Business can offer expertise to assist national Government with guidance to LSPs and RDAs in business strategy, business models, and project management in order to spread best practice.
A menu of opportunities for business to support LSPs
Observations
There were some excellent examples of business engagement in schools and youth projects that need to be encouraged.
As well as a menu, both businesses and schools neighbourhood projects needed an ongoing brokerage service to guide them towards the opportunities and best use of each other's time and resources.
The menu of opportunities based on the opportunities structure of the Birmingham 'Better Together ' Charter helps companies to focus on simple actions to get started at level 1 and subsequently to progress to levels 2 and 3.
Recommendations
Adopt the menu of opportunities with a view to promoting this model to all LSPs.
Keep the recommendations made by teams on individual visits, under review.
Last update: