Publications Archives - Southern Policy Centre

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

September 21, 2021

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…

close up photo of person holding lensball

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…

Levelling up: making the case for investment in the central South

July 28, 2021

Ruth Eastwood

All, Devolution, General, Publications

Levelling up: making the case for investment in the central South This new report from Southern Policy Centre asks whether the central South risks losing out to areas in the Midlands and the North in the Government’s Levelling Up agenda. There is a widely held assumption that all areas in the supposedly affluent South East experience the positive effects of prosperity but SPC research suggests that some areas of the population experience poor life chances similar to those found in…

Recovery in the Central South: An update

March 16, 2021

Simon Eden

All, News, Publications

In June 2020, the Southern Policy Centre published Recovery in the central South: collaboration for growth. That report summarised the conclusions of a series of online consultations with key players from business, economic development, local authorities, further and higher education and the voluntary sector. It focused on priorities for economic recovery for the central South in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.