Ed Miliband’s speech on devolution signalled plans for a change in the relationship between central and local government but how should organisations react?
Speeches of this type rarely appear alone. Often they are accompanied by media releases, sometimes policy documents and speeches by others. All these should act as a starting point to work out what do to. They all form part of the evidence base needed to decide on an appropriate public affairs response.
Miliband’s speech did not take place in isolation. Michael Dugher MP, Shadow Minister for the Cabinet Office gave a speech to the IPPR on the importance of growth across all the regions. Ed Miliband and Ed Balls wrote to local government leaders and Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) on their plans. Various press releases were also issued. However, we will have to wait for the final report of Lord Adonis’ Growth Review before anything is published.
It is important to consider what such documents actually say and to not just rely on the media reports. Miliband said:
“Cities and towns that come together with local businesses will be given historic new powers over transport, housing, skills and economic developmentâ€.
In addition, Miliband mentioned greater control over the funding of skills and delivery of the Work Programme. He also suggested that cities should be working with their universities – but most already are. Miliband also stated that there would be a sharing in the proceeds of local growth (my emphasis added).
Even in this speech there is plenty of scope for organisations to start to work with the party in its policy development. Not least, given the criticism of the previous Labour Government the old target driven approach should not be allowed to creep back in.
Potentially significant changes could come forward. Miliband puts the private sector at the heart of decision-making and looking at the letter we start to find out more. If the plan comes forward then the bodies:
“will receive powers and access to resources from Whitehall the like of which we have not seen in living memory.â€
That is some promise and also some incentive for engagement.
Examining Dugher’s speech, he talked about:
“redesigning the relationship between central and local government to spread the power out to our cities and regions.â€
He appeared to go slightly further by promising:
“radical devolution of power over funding for skills, infrastructure and economic development at a local level.â€
The speech covered a ‘revamp’ of LEPs and support City Deals. Critically, he also promised to bring back Regional Ministers with the speech listing the role that they would have. There would also be a strong voice for the regions at the heart of Government with a new Regional Committee sitting in the Cabinet Office. What isn’t so clear though is what ‘views’ the Ministers would be representing as ‘regions’ do not actually exist. It could be that the views of LEPs and others are competing in a regional space so how does the new Minister deal with such tensions?
Turning back to the letter, there is a clue in the reference to changes to LEPs saying that the party would like “a single LEP coterminous with the city and county regionsâ€.
The letter also emphasised direct investment in infrastructure such as housing and transport.
So using this one policy announcement it is clear that in looking at a public affairs programme it is critical to consider all the materials available. Only with all the information, clues and questions can a programme be put together.
As Lord Adonis’ report continues to take shape there will be consultation with businesses, local government and university leaders so all should be looking at the details and starting to work out how to react.
And thank you (sort of) to the Kaiser Chiefs for the blog title!