2008年-世界发展银行全球_City-Regions___Emerging_Lessons_from_England_6页_3mb

DIRECTIONS in Urban Development: City-Regions in England

Core Content

The document "DIRECTIONS in Urban Development: City-Regions in England" by Kieran Larkin and Adam Marshall from the Centre for Cities explores the concept and implementation of city-regions in England, with a focus on the Greater Manchester case study. It highlights the importance of city-regions in addressing the challenges of urbanization, particularly in the context of economic development, governance, and inter-jurisdictional collaboration. The document also proposes the use of City-Region Contracts as a policy tool to enhance cross-boundary governance and service delivery.

Main Viewpoints

• City-Regions as a Concept: City-regions are designed to promote cross-boundary collaboration across large urban areas. They aim to align policy and service delivery with the actual economic footprint of cities, which often extends beyond their political boundaries.

• Challenges of Urbanization: As urban populations grow, traditional governance structures are inadequate. Fragmented local authorities, lack of horizontal coordination, and outdated administrative boundaries hinder effective policy-making and economic development.

• Greater Manchester as a Case Study: Greater Manchester has been a pioneer in city-regional governance, with a long history of informal cooperation. The Multi-Area Agreement (MAA) has allowed for pooled resources and shared strategies, though challenges remain in terms of public understanding and political cooperation.

• Need for Formal Governance: The current voluntary and informal nature of MAAs is insufficient to achieve major improvements in economic development, transport, and training. The authors advocate for statutory City-Region Contracts to formalize governance and devolve more power and resources to city-regions.

Key Information

• Population and Economic Impact: In England, 75% of the population lives in city-regions, and 80% of jobs are located there. City-regions are crucial for driving regional and national economic performance.

• Current Policy Framework: The Local Government White Paper (2006) and the Sub-National Review (2007) recognized the importance of city-regions. They introduced MAAs, which are voluntary partnerships between local authorities and central government.

• Governance Structure in Greater Manchester:

  • Executive Board: Composed of ten elected local leaders, with seven votes needed for approval.
  • Council: Made up of three elected councillors from each authority, meeting quarterly.
  • Commissions: Seven policy-focused bodies overseeing economic development, skills, transport, planning, health, environment, and safer communities.

• Strategic Priorities: The proposed City-Region Contract would focus on integrating skills and employment, developing transport and housing strategies, and improving regeneration. It would also unlock additional funding sources, including a supplement on business property taxes.

• Economic Benefits: A unified strategy can help prioritize investment, improve labor market effectiveness, and create a more integrated transport system. These benefits are particularly relevant for cities in developing countries facing similar challenges.

Transferable Lessons

The English experience with city-regions offers several lessons that are applicable to urban development in the developing world:

1. City-Region Agreements are Important Policy Instruments: They can encourage optimal outcomes in service delivery and rationalize the role of multiple actors in urban development.

2. Governance Challenge: Voluntary agreements are a step forward but may hinder executive decision-making due to political compromises and the need for consensus.

3. Urbanization Economies: Cities cannot act alone; they require an enabling environment that aligns traditional structures with the dynamics of labor markets and urban expansion.

Conclusion

The document emphasizes that city-regions are a necessary evolution in urban governance, especially for rapidly urbanizing cities. It argues that formalizing these arrangements through statutory City-Region Contracts is essential for achieving effective economic development, service delivery, and cross-boundary collaboration. The Greater Manchester case study serves as a model for how such structures can be implemented, though challenges remain in terms of political will, public engagement, and institutional clarity.

References

• The document includes several endnotes and references to studies and reports from institutions such as the Centre for Cities, the UNFPA, and the World Bank, highlighting the broader context and policy implications of city-regions.