Delegates attending this workshop engaged in a lively discussion around functioning geography of the West Midlands region, ranging from polycentricity (having a number of centres of leadership) to the appropriateness of sub-regions.
Chaired by Observatory Board member Peter Shearer, the workshop looked at two main issues, identified at a previous State of the Region meeting. These were:
- Functional geographies and sub-regions
- Joint evidence base — a local perspective
Alan Harding provided a good introduction, as part of the main conference proceedings, in establishing the implications of the Sub National Review.
Regional Development Agencies and the sub-regions
Philip Amison (Director of Strategy, Advantage West Midlands) highlighted some of the reasons for defining sub-regions, including the principle of subsidiarity (an organising principle that matters ought to be handled by the smallest, lowest or least centralised competent authority). Philip introduced existing policy designated sub-regions in the West Midlands. Looking further afield, Philip looked at the approaches being taken in other regions.
Regional geography
Stephen Howarth (Deputy Chief Executive at the Observatory) introduced previous studies undertaken in the Region, and the idea that we are a ‘polycentric region’.
Through a series of maps he presented various types of functioning economic geographies including travel to work areas, knowledge economy and high productivity areas.
Connecting spatial planning to economic development
Dave Hill (Warwickshire County Council) provided a very thought provoking account of some of the issues faced at local/sub-regional level when integrating policies.
The complexity of geographies was clear from Dave’s slide indicating the number of administrative areas covered by one definition of his ‘sub-region’ (including 3 regions, 10 local development plans, 6 local area agreements).
An interesting point coming through from both Stephen and Dave’s presentations was the influence of London and its sub-region, as it points towards the importance of looking beyond our boundaries and improving partnership working with neighbouring areas.
Delegates discussed the value of sub-regions at some length and appropriate measures for defining them. It was generally concluded that while we can probably broadly define sub-regions, they shouldn’t be regarded as exclusive, and that some policies are better suited to sub-regional delivery than others. It was also suggested that perhaps we need a clearer understanding of the value that sub-regions can bring over and above other ‘methods’.
The Observatory will be taking this debate further as part of its State of the Region dialogues and also in terms of developing the evidence base for the Single Integrated Regional Strategy.