Written evidence from RAISE
1. EXECUTIVE
SUMMARY
1.1 This submission to the House of Commons
New Local Enterprise Partnerships Select Committee is from RAISE,
a registered charity and company providing support services to
the voluntary and community sector (VCS) in South East England.
1.2 We provide a brief summary of our work
and the reasons why we support the establishment of Local Enterprise
Partnerships. Key conclusions are as follows:
— We support the establishment of Local
Enterprise Partnerships to oversee economic development activities
within a prescribed area.
— We believe that economic development
activities and spending should enhance the quality of life for
local communities as well as their prosperity.
— We believe that certain communities and
individuals should not suffer greater financial exclusion or restricted
access to employment as a result of neighbouring economic development
activity.
— The VCS should be invited to participate
formally in Local Enterprise Partnerships by virtue of its position
as an employer and also of its position as a provider of support
and public services to communities and individuals, particularly
marginalised or excluded groups.
2. INTRODUCTION
2.1 The VCS is a significant employer and
contributor to GVA in the South East of England. A recent survey[71]
of the sector for a 12 month period, undertaken by RAISE concluded:
— There are 41,450 VCS organisations, employing
303,200 (FTE 97,960), equating to 7% of the South East's workforce.
— Additionally, 657,780 people volunteer
their time to support the sector's activities in the South East
(one in 10 of adult population).
— The economic value contributed by the
sector to the economy is calculated to be £2,397 million
by employees and £2,567 million by volunteers (Total GVA
£4,964 million), this equates to 3% of the South East's GVA.
2.2 Historically, economic development planning
and oversight activities have not been undertaken with a formal
contribution from appropriate VCS representatives. This has sometimes
resulted in economic decisions being taken that have resulted
in a given locality or community benefitting at the cost of another
locality or community suffering due to polarisation or economic
migration. By widening the range of Local Enterprise Partnership
members to include the VCS, a broader range of evidence and expertise
could be called upon which in turn could remove the possibility
of creating disparity in economic opportunity between communities.
3. MARGINALISED
COMMUNITIES
3.1 Communities containing a disproportionate
level of social or financial deprivation must not only be regarded
as those with the most to gain as a result of stimulated economic
activity but should be viewed as the resource with which to deliver
the means to achieve increased economic activity. By considering
skills, transport and socio-demographic needs, marginalised communities
can be supported to play a vital role in a local area's economic
regeneration as employees and agents for positive change. The
VCS has a supportive role to play in atypical scenarios such as
communities comprised of disproportionately high levels of unemployment,
migrant workers, rural communities, or an ageing population.
3.2 Often marginalised communities are not
able to access opportunities afforded by local economic development
in neighbouring localities as a result of restricted access to
transport, skills, or other means of participation in economic
activities. This scenario can be compounded when those members
of the community which are able to participate in economic activity,
leave the community once they are able to do so. RAISE believes
that it is important for Local Enterprise Partnerships to guard
against such polarisation and local economic migration. The VCS
can add value to activities addressing such trends.
4. BIG SOCIETY
4.1 The Government has signalled its intention
to empower communities and individuals to play a role in the improvement
of society and localities. The VCS is an acknowledged enabler
of civic participation and participative democracy. It is also
a conduit through which communities will be better able to participate
in and benefit from economic wellbeing and employment opportunities.
By working more closely with local authorities and the business
community, the VCS can add greater value to the activities of
Local Enterprise Partnerships. RAISE believes that Local Enterprise
Partnership activities should protect all that is valued by localities
whilst undertaking additional economic development in line with
the needs of local authorities, the business community and communities
together.
5. RECOMMENDATIONS
5.1 RAISE respectfully makes the following
recommendations for action by Government:
— That recommendation is made to establishing
authorities that Local Enterprise Partnership membership should
be drawn from appropriate business sectors, including the VCS.
— That the responsibility of Local Enterprise
Partnerships should include the assessment of impact on communities
and individuals by economic development activities; including
conducting Equality Impact Assessments where appropriate.
— That where negative impact is identified
or experienced by specific communities or groups of individuals
as an indirect result of Local Enterprise Partnership activities,
appropriate support is identified and resourced to mitigate against
such results.
12 August 2010
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