In November, the South West Observatory hosted an event in Exeter with the Regional Improvement and Efficiency Partnership (RIEP) to consider the merits of developing a joined-up approach to Local Economic Assessments (LEAs).
The event drew together individuals working in economic policy and/or research at the regional and sub-regional level. Speakers from the Department for Communities and Local Government (CLG), the South West RDA, and Dorset County Council considered the aims, challenges and opportunities of the new duty from each of their perspectives whilst a multi-agency panel considered the base from which the region was starting. Break-out groups considered what needed to be done to achieve high quality, useful assessments across local authorities in the region and how the Observatory and RIEP could help this come about.
The outcome of event was resoundingly positive, with participants buying into developing a consistent approach to LEAs where appropriate; outlining work that needed to be done; and asking the South West Observatory to take a lead role in supporting Local Authorities in developing consistency in their approach to LEA evidence.
As a result, an action plan was drawn up, consulted upon and agreed. This informed a submission to the RIEP which agreed funding for a dedicated post, hosted by the Core Unit, to support Local Authorities in their work on LEAs and to facilitate agreement on the foundations of the evidence base. This work is being steered by a multi-agency group with strong Local Authority representation and will link into those working on the Single Regional Strategy. The steering group is fully aware of balancing consistency of approach across the region with the need to allow local flexibility. The South West is now at the forefront of developing a joined-up approach to LEAs and in a good position to hit the ground running when the definitive guidance on LEAs is published.
A first task for the LEA evidence co-ordinator is to baseline current and planned economic assessment activity in each Local Authority in the South West. This will be used to help decide where resources are targeted in order to best support Local Authorities in developing high quality LEAs which can influence regional – or national - strategies. The South West Observatory and RIEP partnership in this work has been flagged nationally.
