Blog Archives - Southern Policy Centre

Let’s make cities in the central South greener, healthier and wilder: the Southampton National City Park project

December 13, 2021

All, Blog, Environment, General, Guest posts

Let’s make cities in the central South greener, healthier and wilder: the Southampton National City Park project This is a guest blog by Milo Maguire from the Southampton National Park City project. The content of this post is solely the opinion of the author and does not necessarily reflect the opinions and beliefs of the Southern Policy Centre. Let’s make cities in the central South greener, healthier and wilder: the Southampton National City Park project National Park city is an…

Life after Covid – Building Back Fairer in the South

September 27, 2021

Dave Shields

All, Blog, Guest posts, Local Government, Skills

Life after Covid – Building Back Fairer in the South This is a guest blog by Councillor Dave Shields who is currently Southampton City Councillor for the Freemantle Ward. Dave was born, raised and educated in Southampton. Leaving full time school education at 17 he held a number of jobs – including a zoo-keeper, accounts clerk with a local shipping company and clerical officer at the Census Office – before moving to London to study for a degree. Dave was…

Levelling up and devolution: what might it mean for the central South

September 21, 2021

Simon Eden

All, Blog, Devolution, General, Local Government

Levelling up and devolution: what might it mean for the central South ‘Levelling up’ – ensuring there is equality of opportunity across all parts of the United Kingdom – is a key theme for Boris Johnson’s Government. We are promised a White Paper in the autumn which will address regional disparities and put forward proposals to give those who feel they’ve been left behind the chance to catch up. There is a perception in some quarters that we can achieve…

The Circular Economy – just how do we do that?

September 20, 2021

Chas Bradfield

All, Blog, Guest posts, Local Government, Skills

The Circular Economy – just how do we do that? This is a guest blog by Chas Bradfield, who recently stepped down as Strategic Director – Place at Winchester City Council after a career in the health service, local government and regeneration consultancy work. Town centre regeneration has been a passion in recent years, in particular, Camberley, Basingstoke and Winchester, building partnerships with local businesses and directing large scale regeneration schemes. Chas is currently a consultant with Citicentric, (a regeneration…

Deliberative Democracy: exploring fresh approaches to consultation

September 16, 2021

Simon Eden

All, Blog, General, Local Government

Deliberative Democracy: exploring fresh approaches to consultation Introduction Test Valley Borough Council led a Government-funded pilot to explore how a deliberative approach could inform decision-making on important local policy and service issues. Following that pilot the Council are keen to adopt that model for citizen engagement where it offers the best approach to informing decision-making. The Council commissioned the Southern Policy Centre to lead a seminar designed to help their senior managers understand how deliberative democracy works and discuss when…