Growth Coalitions Ltd

See and Growth Coalitions’, the private sector and local well-being: My work with UK central and local government on the ‘growth coalitions’ and ‘smart local government’ project originally focused on the need for an overarching economic objective, leading to a rationalisation and coordination of local services and the development of the local area, addressing what I termed ‘initiativitus’. This work concentrated on working with or adapting and developing existing mechanisms for governance, strategic leadership, organisational working, programme development and funding in order to realise a better scenario for local business, communities and service users. Growth coalitions sought to drive growth in all local economies on the basis that what is good for local people – good housing and education, a good environment etc. – is good for local business. It aimed to get rid of the wastage, in terms of releasing unrealised potential for people and places that remains inherent in the system, realising significant efficiencies. This was the precursor to Local Area Agreements, Total Place, Community Budgets, City Deals, LEPs and the Single Pot, etc. There were engagements with various ministries including DCLG, the Treasury, the Cabinet Office and Numbers 10 and 11 on this agenda. I was then invited to provide expert evidence to: The Cabinet Office’s ‘Improving the prospects of people living in areas of multiple deprivation in England’ review (Cabinet Office, 2003) The Lyons Review into Local Government, contributing to its extended remit and focus on the role of LAs in fostering local economic development (Cabinet Office, 2005, 2007) The Treasury’s review of sub-national economic development and regeneration (HM Treasury, 2007) with proposals to strengthen the role of LAs in promoting economic growth and for LAs to coordinate on this at the sub-regional level.