|
The skills capacity within local government to deliver sustainable communities Inquiry . Memorandum by Inspire East (the Regional Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Communities in the East of England.
27th February 2008.
1. Introduction to Inspire East and relevance to the Inquiry. 1.1 Inspire East is the regional centre of excellence for sustainable communities (RCE) in the East of England. It is one of nine RCEs in the English Regions. Inspire East was established by the East of England Development Agency (EEDA) (and the team forms part of EEDA's Strategy and Development Directorate) at the request of the former Office of the Deputy Prime Minister.
1.2 The national policy setting for RCEs began with the Urban Task Force report 'Towards an Urban Renaissance' (1999) and the concept developed through a number of publications, including ODPM's Neighbourhood Renewal Unit's report into Regeneration Programmes, "The Learning Curve". The Egan Review of Skills for Sustainable Communities (2004) also included RCE's as part of the delivery mechanisms for four of the recommended actions, as outlined below:
· raising the profile of core occupations to encourage new entrants · brokering cross occupational working and generic skills as part of formal training · brokering secondments and joint project working to share skills and experience · collating information on successful project as part of wider dissemination of information.
1.3 The Egan Review also established the Academy for Sustainable Communities (ASC) - the National body responsible for improving skills for sustainable communities. Inspire East has developed a good relationship with the ASC and has worked in partnership on a variety of projects.
1.4 The creation of Inspire East was announced in December 2004 following the approval of a 3 year Budget and Business Plan by EEDA's Board in November 2004. The detailed proposals and strategy for Inspire East were originally determined through a consultative business planning process which involved over 350 stakeholders in the region from the private public and voluntary and community sectors. The stakeholders helped to determine the original priorities for Inspire East in terms of aims, actions and methods of delivery.
1.5 Inspire East has been operational since April 2005. The role of Inspire East is to improve the 'Place making' skills of the wide range of professionals and practitioners involved with delivering and managing sustainable communities. The aim is to improve the quality of sustainable communities in the region, by sharing information more effectively, creating a learning culture among the occupations involved in sustainable communities and influencing policy through the evidence base gathered in the region.
1.6 Inspire East's aims: o To promote better community and physical development in regeneration areas and areas of growth to create sustainable communities. o To enhance skills required for sustainable communities by sharing knowledge, information and experience and close working with training providers. o To improve quality through action to benchmark and share best practice. o To influence and guide policy for sustainable communities through evidence based advocacy and linking of practice.
1.7 Since its establishment, Inspire East has responded to changes in the National and Regional policy context
· The Stern Review on the Economics of Climate Change (October 06) and the suite of government publications relating to climate change "Building a Greener Future- Towards Zero Carbon Development", which encompass the new Code for Sustainable Homes and the PPS on climate change, (December 07) the government's targets for all new homes to be carbon neutral by 2016- Inspire East had as one of its priorities in 2007/8 skills and capacity building to deal with the issue of climate change
· the Local Government White Paper, "Strong and Prosperous Communities" (November 06) - which aims to give local people and communities more influence and power to improve their lives- and the CLG Empowerment Plan (November 07) Inspire East included "neighbourhoods as a priority theme in 2007/8
· the regional Spatial Strategy (RSS) sets out the level of growth to be accommodated in the region to 2021. The latest revision proposes job growth of 452,000 and 508,000 new homes with a concentration on the key urban centres. Inspire East's third priority in 2007/8 was around growth and in particular mechanisms for delivering quality places
· Sub National Review of Economic Development- this will affect the role of RDA's and local authorities and Inspire East will be directing its resources in 2008/9 to address skills and capacity building for local authorities especially around the devolution of economic development.
1.8 Since our establishment Inspire East has made some significant achievements highlighted through 2 evaluation reports (which can be provided if required). At this stage I attach a copy of our latest Annual Report (document A).
1.9 In summary our activity is delivered under 4 building blocks:
i) Information Sharing- web site; newsletter; annual conference
ii) Networking and enabling-
· Support for 4 networks: o Network for Local Delivery Vehicles (LDV's) ie Urban Regeneration Companies etc, o Funding East a network for funders and funding advisors, o Design and Historic Champions Network; o Community Development Network,
· Enabling Service
iii) Skills Development: · attracting new entrants to sustainable communities occupations · supporting Lifelong Learning needs of people working in sustainable communities occupations · creating an employer culture that supports the needs of the sustainable communities workforce · capacity building the supply side to better meet the needs of the sustainable communities workforce
iv) Policy and Best Practice: development and dissemination of best practice through- · Design Review Panel; · awards · best practice guidance; evaluations and toolkits
2. Specific Evidence 2.1 Set out below is evidence based on Inspire East's work and experience to-date which addresses the issues which you have indicated that will form the focus of the Inquiry.
Recent changes to the range and detail of knowledge and skills needed by staff within planning departments;
2.2 Shortage of Planners- There is considerable evidence of the shortage of planners in the East of England. I attach a copy of the report prepared by East of England Regional Assembly which has helped to inform some of Inspire East's activities (document B) http://www.eera.gov.uk/Text.asp?cat=371&id=SXBD71-A77F9020
2.3 Skills for Sustainable Communities- Inspire East has concentrated on some of the key skills that are needed by sustainable communities professionals and practitioners- notably the generic and cross disciplinary skills and understanding which were highlighted in the Egan review. The need for this focus has been substantiated through our own research: Regional Cities East Skills Audit (see attached report- document C). This research investigated generic skills deficiencies in the 6 local authorities which form part of Regional Cities East network- Peterborough, Luton, Ipswich, Norwich, Colchester and Southend. The most frequently occurring skills gap was communications and engagement and Inspire East has developed a programme funded as part of a Learning Laboratory project with the academy for Sustainable Communities to address this.
2.4 Inspire East believes that the skills needs should be addressed through different professions and occupations and professions working together to adopt different practices and learning together to change behaviours. In addition local authorities need to work better with other sectors i.e. voluntary and community sector and the private sector and learning and skills development needs to be achieved through better collaboration. Interestingly an understanding of development finance is one key skill which is lacking in planning and regeneration professionals.
2.5 Inspire East believes that sustainable communities professionals- including planners and other local government officers and members need support to develop a more holistic approach to the planning delivery and management of quality places. To help with this, Inspire East has developed a web based tool, "The Excellence Framework" based on CLG's definition of a sustainable community and which draws together standards which assist in setting a level of quality which should be aspired to in projects. East of England Development Agency has adopted quality standards based on the Framework and Regional Cities East have signed up in principle to using the standards - which also feature in English Partnerships Urban Design Compendium. The Excellence Framework can be found at www.inspire-east.org.uk/excellenceframework
2.6 Inspire East will shortly be delivering training based around the Excellence Framework and components of a sustainable community to develop more holistic thinking and skills for non-specialists.
2.7 the LDV network Winter School has also addressed topical issues for planners and related professionals including "Linking Education and Planning" and "Linking Health and Planning" and a forthcoming event on "Energy Supply Companies" and a second Winter School event looking at the regeneration of Harlow Town Centre.
2.8 Inspire East has supported the development of a Cambridgeshire Quality Charter looking at committing local authorities and developers to delivering quality development in the new housing growth including Northstowe. This has involved study visits to the UK and abroad and symposia. The value of this approach was through the shared learning achieved.
The main areas where a lack of skills is most pronounced (examples, for illustration only, include: use and viability of carbon reduction technologies, economic prosperity, infrastructure planning and the viability of affordable housing within market housing developments);
2.9 Inspire East has collaborated with GO East and the ASC to produce a guide for planners and councilors on Low Carbon Growth. Related training is now starting to be delivered in 3 locations in the Region to improve skills for non-experts in this field.
2.10 Inspire East has supported the production of a best practice on s.106 Agreements and Housing- due to be published in March 2008. Working with the Housing Pipeline group on the Region Inspire East aims to develop better collaboration between planners and housing professionals and share good practice on delivering affordable housing through the planning process.
2.11 Inspire East has produced an Evaluation on Master planning in the East of England and delivered related training based on the experience of master planning in key locations in the Region- Stevenage, Chelmsford, Felixstowe and Kings Lynn.
2.12 Inspire East has produced a report- "Lessons from Cambourne" aimed to share experience of practice of delivering major new settlement in the Region and has disseminated this via an event working with University of Cambridge.
2.13 Inspire East has signed a Memorandum Of Understanding with Construction Industry Council in the East of England to deliver pan-professional Continuing Professional Development (CPD). Events included "Zero Carbon Future" addressing particular skills needs but in an inter disciplinary approach.
The skills needed by, and level of training provided to, councillors who make planning decisions, including on the proposed local member review bodies;
2.14 Inspire East, together with the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment (CABE) and English Heritage supports a network for Design and Historic Environment Champions in the region- principally members but also officers. This together with training on urban design and architecture in the workplace has helped provide support and addressed the lack of understanding of urban design issues.
2.15 Inspire East provides support through its Design Review and Enabling Services for local authorities- addressing broad design skills and providing independent support and advice on a wide range of sustainable communities projects The role and effectiveness of agencies involved in monitoring, developing and providing specialist knowledge and skills for planning officials and councillors, and their response to changes to the demands placed on planning departments; 2.16 The background to Inspire East and evidence provided hopefully gives an insight into the role and effectiveness of Inspire East in providing knowledge and skills for planners and councillors. Inspire East has delivered almost 2000 training places per annum over the last 2 years (for sustainable communities practitioners). It should also give an indication of the way we work with other agencies to provide support and influence. Inspire East has contributed to the development of the Regional Improvement an Efficiency Strategy and will hopefully act as a delivery partner on some of the programmes. Inspire East also works closely with professional bodies and education providers- notably Anglia Ruskin University- providing evidence of demand and developing a masters degree in Urban Design contributing to the development of a broader range of sustainable communities qualifications. The effectiveness of Government in supporting local authorities as they respond to changes in the demands placed on them. 2.17 The government (via the then ODPM) set up Regional Centres of Excellence like Inspire East and over the last 3-4 years they have been able to start to demonstrate impact. The continued work of bodies like RCE's will be significant in providing skills and capacity building support for local authorities and their partners. The long-term effectiveness of measures being taken by local authorities and others to mitigate gaps in the skills and knowledge within planning departments. 2.18 Information already outlined above sets out some examples of the effectiveness of Inspire East's interventions. Further information can be provided in Inspire East's evaluations which can be supplied. As Inspire East has been operational for only 3 years, the long term effects can not yet be assessed. We are however already noting changes in behaviours, and changes in organizational practices as a result of our activity- see the extracts below from the 2007 evaluation: Organisational benefits: · 69% reported that Inspire East had had at least a marginal influence on their own policies or practices (2% to a great extent; 26% to some extent; 41% at the margins)[1] · 17% considered that their use of Inspire East services had led to specific improvements in their organisation or partnership (11% in 2006) - with a further 10% expecting improvements but thinking it too early to be sure
Types of improvement cited were: solution to a particular problem/ way forward identified (by 8% all users); improved service delivery (7%); improved project design (5%); success in attracting resources (5%); and more robust plans (4%). For two in five users, however, it was 'too early to say' whether or not Inspire East had contributed to any organisational improvements.
2.19 Inspire East continues to develop innovative approaches with local authorities e.g. with South Bedfordshire District Council and Planning Aid developing a programme to upskill local activists from the community to train as planning technicians- the first step to becoming planners- in short supply in the local authority.
[1] This was higher than in 2006, though we note that options for response to the question were modified slightly. Previously the choice was 'Yes - to a great extent' and 'Yes - at the margins'; Yes - to some extent' was not offered. |