1. Tom Warburton Head of Regional Strategy One NorthEast
The Regional Perspective on Sub-National Review and Regional Strategy Development
Tom Warburton
Head of Regional Strategy
One NorthEast

2. SNR Prosperous Places – areas to be welcomed
Regional flexibility within a national framework
Increased emphasis on democratic accountability
Increased local authority role in economic
development
Broad scope with focus on ‘Sustainable Economic Growth’
Move to Single Regional Strategy led by the Agency
Recognition of the importance of business led RDA Boards
Strong regional leadership role of the RDA working closely in partnership with local authorities
Expanded Regional Funding Allocations
The principle of streamlining and simplifying

3. Regional Strengths Small region Strong working relationships
12 strategic Local Authorities
Government confident that we can make this work
Regional Minister keen to show what we can do
Strong sub-regional and city-regional collaboration already, e.g. Multi-Area Agreements and sub-regional assessments

4. Strong, healthy society
Sustainable Economic Development
Strong, healthy society
Live within environmental limits
Sustainable economy
Sound Science & Evidence
Good governance

5. Timetable – initial thinking
2008/09
Improve the evidence base
Baseline work and Policy and Evidence Reviews;
Sub-Regional Assessments
Futures Activity
Summer 2008 to Summer 2009
RDA and local authorities Leaders’ Forum with stakeholders scope the issues and appraise options: involving examination in public (SNR: 12 months)
Scoping of issues and appraisal of options – sustainability implications a key factor
Independent testing/EiP
Agree guiding principles and develop vision
Agree strategic aims, objectives and indicators
For information, Regional Funding Allocations Round II process during this period
Autumn 2009
RDA drafts Strategy and agrees with local authority Leaders’ Forum (3 months)
Strategy formulation and drafting, including production of draft delivery plan – Sustainability Appraisal informs

6. Initial thinking on Timetable (cont)
By Spring 2010
Formal consultation and Examination in Public of preferred Strategy (SNR: 6 months)
Full and open public consultation of Regional Strategy and Sustainability Appraisal
Amend Strategy to reflect outcome of consultation
Examination in public of preferred Strategy
For info: RDA should be granted RPB status during this period.
By Summer 2010
RDA and Leaders’ Forum refine and sign off draft final Regional Strategy (SNR: 2 months)
Final amendments following EiP
Formal regional sign offs
Summer to Autumn 2010
BERR and CLG Secretaries of State approve Regional Strategy (reserve right to make further changes) (SNR: 2 months)
Submission to Government

7. Key points
The notion of an Integrated Regional Strategy is a significant opportunity for the region.
Emphasis on delivery – not just about developing strategy!
The more flexibility within the region to make this work, the more likely we are to achieve success.
Central Government seem to have recognised that policies will manifest themselves differently in regions, and this move away from one size fits all is to be welcomed.

8. Learning from best practice elsewhere
Leadership through development of evidence and promoting consensus (Cork)
Public leadership and multi-level consensus building through the process of visioning, scenario building and strategic planning (Turin/Piedmont)
Internal relationships of the industrial system (Styria)
Integration of economic, social and environmental perspectives through Regional Growth Agreements (Västra Göteland)
‘Learning region’ strategy (Ontario)

9. Common themes across the case study regions
Leadership: key role of public sector
Strategic, long term (and collective) vision: an agreed and sophisticated analysis of ‘the regional problem’
Strategic capacity: important role in the pursuit of success development
Institutional support: alignment of appropriate institutions
The institutional framework for development:
the variety of governance frameworks: ‘its co-ordination not institutions?’
Impressive evidence base and economic intelligence has underpinned decisions

10. Need for integration in strategy making
Many regional strategies in existence in the North East – complex picture
Need to embed integration into strategy process:
Integrated evidence base
Integrated policy analysis
Integrated appraisal processes
Integrated delivery
Integrated monitoring
Currently, there is a desire within region to adopt a joined up approach and real efforts have been made to make the best of what we have, but in reality this is difficult.