The future of devolution, accountability and local democracy

Schedule

Wed Jun 21 2023 at 04:00 pm to 05:00 pm

Location

The Exchange | Birmingham, EN

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What we can learn from governance and institutional structures over the last ten years to support future economic growth?
About this Event
Governance and institutions: the future of devolution, accountability and local democracy Speakers:

David Hope - Business Development Manager, Coventry City Council

Courtney Stephenson - Researcher, Demos

About the event

The last ten years have seen considerable change in terms of local and regional governance structures and funding available to address local inequalities. Changes include the establishment of Combined Authorities, the creation and now disbandment of Local Enterprise Partnerships as well as the ending of eligibility for European Structural and Investment Funds and successive waves of short-term funding for local economic growth policies. Key questions exist regarding the future of devolution, accountability and local democracy.

The West Midlands Regional Economic Development Institute (WMREDI) invites you to this seminar to discuss what we can learn from governance and institutional structures over the last ten years to support future economic growth.

David Hope will reflect on the last 10 years of local authority local growth funding and structures including the transition from the formation of LEPs to where we are now. David will outline challenges and opportunities relating to governance and institutions going forward.

Courtney Stephenson will focus on Demos’ recent research in the Tees Valley, which looked to carry out a ‘progress check’ into levelling up in the area, specifically the impact of having a metro mayor and combined authority. The research draws on the lived experience of people from across the Tees Valley, through a series of focus groups. Courtney will talk through some of the key findings from the research and how they relate to the topics of devolution, accountability and local democracy. Identifying mistrust of politics and politicians, both at the national and local level, her presentation will offer insights into how democratic and participatory innovations could enable local people to engage more closely with the policymaking process.

Speakers details:
David Hope

David leads Coventry City Council’s Economic Strategy & Funding Team and leads the Authority’s work in economic policy and strategy, which includes working with local, regional and national business support partners in designing business support and capital programmes for the Coventry & Warwickshire economy. After an initial career in economic research and consultancy, he was responsible for leading the EU Structural Funds Technical Assistance function in Coventry & Warwickshire, as well as contributing to the design of Local Growth Fund schemes. More recently, He has been working with West Midlands Combined Authority and fellow West Midlands Local Authorities in designing activities for UK Shared Prosperity Fund, and other funding streams that can help deliver the West Midlands Plan for Growth.



Courtney Stephenson

Courtney is a Researcher at the cross party think tank Demos, where she leads their work on power and place. Her research has focussed on local government and levelling up, including in the Tees Valley, Blyth and Mansfield. She was previously an intern at WMREDI, where she worked on a project looking at the role of anchor institutions in Birmingham. She is the founder and chair of ‘Working Class Wonks’ a network for working class people working in the think tank sector.


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Where is it happening?

The Exchange, The Assembly Room, Birmingham, United Kingdom

Event Location & Nearby Stays:

Tickets

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City-REDI, University of Birmingham

Host or Publisher City-REDI, University of Birmingham

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