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newstart 7 November 2008 | Volume 10 No 456 | www.newstartmag.co.uk Informing and inspiring people who make a difference where it matters Democratic candidate Benjamin Barber has advised world leaders on democracy – now he has a message for you regeneration | economic development | sustainable communities
Contents
New Start – the independent voice of regeneration
Poverty group urges caution
over social mobility claims
Anti-poverty campaigners have urged told New Start: ‘Those unable to access
caution over claims that social mobil- work should not be left socially exclud-
12 We say: Comment ity is on the rise for the first time in ed and their lives must be taken into
‘Social mobility without 30 years. account too.
A government report published ‘Comparisons with wealthy coun-
social capital is no route to this week said the social background tries that have greater social mobility
of teenagers is now less important in than the UK make clear that it’s the gap
a more equal society.’ determining educational achievement between rich and poor in the UK that
and income than it was in 1970. is at the root of low social mobility. We
13 Debate It found that ‘positive changes’ began have to narrow this gap to succeed in
in 2000 after three decades of stagnation creating the fair country we want.
The impending recession is in which children were unable to over- ‘This needs government to make
a chance to fundamentally take their parents on the social ladder. the moral case for an end to Britain’s
The findings suggest some of the gov- culture of inequality, which has not
change the way we work to ernment’s key initiatives of recent years, only left those at the bottom in financial
such as Sure Start and inner-city acade- crisis for years, but now has our whole
bring about real social change, Analysis: Making mies, may be having an impact and that economy in crisis.
argues David Robinson. the economic case for further planned spending on childcare ‘The chancellor must start by mak-
and early years will be effective. ing the investment needed to halve
13 Column: Jackie Sadek green spaces... page 11 But the Child Poverty Action Group child poverty by 2010 as part of the
(CPAG) argued the report used a narrow economic rescue package in the pre-
‘Regeneration practitioners definition of social mobility that was budget report.’
restricted to employment outcomes. Getting on, getting ahead, www.cabi-
are well used to there being Kate Green, chief executive of CPAG, netoffice.gov.uk
no money or the money being
in the wrong places, so we Mayor’s Time for Action offers help for young offenders
First-time offenders in London’s prisons are to be kept separate from long-term
already excel at thrift.’
criminals and targeted with education and training to help them develop careers.
London mayor Boris Johnson’s ‘radical’ new approach to youth crime, Time for
15 Column: Catherine Greig Action, was launched this week in Edmonton, is aimed at tackling the root causes
of teenage violence which has led to 27 teen murders in the capital this year.
‘It isn’t enough to say you have Based around five core projects, it includes proposals to crack down on truancy,
asked the question, but to ask improve the educational prospects for kids in care and use sport and youth
organisations to improve the health and ‘character’ of young people.
it in a way that gives people Other proposals include a pan-London approach to truancy that uses
the opportunity to answer.’ technology, such as instant texting, to keep track of young people absent from
school, and Project Oracle, which will establish and disseminate best practice in
Inspiration: Want a tackling youth crime.
15 Significant others: Brian Time for Action is open to consultation until 16 December at www.london.gov.
Robson, director of the Centre
fairer society? Then uk/mayor/consultation/current.jsp
for Urban Policy Studies. roll your sleeves
up, says Benjamin Justice ministry hamstrung by ‘chronic’
20 Feature: Private and public
partners in the housing world
Barber... page 16 lack of community orders data, say MPs
MPs have criticised the Ministry of While unpaid work is focused on
are likely to become closer Justice for a ‘chronic’ lack of basic infor- projects that benefit local community
than ever in a recession, say mation on the effectiveness of commu- groups, it could be broadened to wider
nity orders in England and Wales. public areas including work like lit-
Paul Miller and Chris Moquet The public accounts committee ter clearing and chewing gum remov-
said the ministry did not have data on al. The use of requirements relating
22 Diary: Forthcoming events whether offenders had completed their to alcohol and drug misuse remains
community order or why some had low. While alcohol abuse was behind
and conferences. failed to finish them. a quarter of crimes, the committee
It said the ministry also lacked infor- found only 2% of offenders were given
23 Review: Sick of the mation about which criminals were less an alcohol treatment requirement.
likely to reoffend if given a community Meanwhile, 60 areas across
vanity and detachment sentence rather than a short custodial England and Wales have signed up
penalty. Without this key information, to become new neighbourhood crime
of the architecture world, MPs said it was harder for probation and justice pioneer areas. They will
one practice in Leeds has
Learning: How to officers to advise courts on what might each appoint a neighbourhood crime
produced a new book on how give your city the discourage people from reoffending.
Some officials regard community
and justice coordinator to ensure that
community payback work is visible
to do things differently. wow factor... page 18 orders as a soft option and are there- and tough.
photo: jody kingzett
fore less likely to use them. More could The supervision of community orders in
be done to improve confidence in the England and Wales, www.publications.
Job of the week: Community safety partnership officer, orders as a better alternative to custody parliament.uk
by promoting them more proactively, Crime and justice pioneer areas, http://
Lancashire County Council, £37,555-£40,220 (p25) MPs added. press.homeoffice.gov.uk
2 7 november 2008 new start www.newstartmag.co.uk
Newsdesk: 0114 281 6133 news
Changes to WNF put leading jobs scheme
under threat as focus shifts to unemployed
by Clare Goff from worklessness back to unemploy- of worklessness but we now just miss ‘The clarity means councils can now
clare@newstartmag.co.uk ment. WNF will now be based on new out on the fund. Our regeneration is get on with the job of supporting their
population data from the 2007 census, predicated on employment. We spend local economies by helping to get more
A flagship employment scheme is fac- which is measured against the employ- £3-4m each year on employment.’ people into work.’
ing a severe funding cut due to changes ment rate. Revised data will ensure the The changes will not affect fund- Matthew Jackson, senior research-
announced this week in the way the most up to date information is used ing for the 2008-9 period, but will come er at the Centre for Local Economic
working neighbourhoods fund (WNF) and will widen the range of councils into force in 2009-10. Brent will see its Strategies think tank, believes the
is calculated. which now qualify. WNF fall from £2.8m to £1.4m in 2009- changes reflect the downturn. ‘The WNF
Brent was chosen as a beacon Those councils entitled to full fund- 10, while its third year funding – almost was targeting worklessness, but now its
council for its pioneering approach to ing will receive extra money and two £3m – will be cut to just £500,000. emphasis has shifted back to unemploy-
worklessness in the London borough councils currently receiving transition- Local government minister John ment. The government is being proac-
via the Brentin2Work scheme, but the al funds – Enfield and Lewisham – will Healey said areas which no longer tive in understanding that the economy
initiative could be in jeopardy if the now receive full funding. However, two qualify will be eligible for extended is changing and that unemployment
shake-up goes ahead. authorities – Brent and West Somerset transitional funding and insisted the will become a bigger issue.’
DCLG this week said it planned – will no longer be eligible. proposed changes would clear up con- The proposals are now open to con-
to tighten up the third eligibility cri- Andy Donald, assistant director fusion over the fund. sultation until 9 January 2009.
teria for WNF to ensure it is targeted of regeneration at Brent Council, said: ‘It was right for government to take Details: www.communities.gov.
where it is needed most. The changes ‘Our ratio of employed people is now action to deal with concerns and end uk/publications/communities/wnf-
could also signal a shift in emphasis, too high. We have deep concentrations uncertainty over this fund,’ he said. 200911consultation
Peabody Avenue in London’s
Pimlico was transformed
from an ordinary social
housing estate into a film set
when residents of housing
association Peabody and
Westminster Council got
together to remake the 1949
English comedy, Passport to
Pimlico. Their recreation
features older people’s
stories and memories of
forties Pimlico, while younger
residents helped with the
making of the film. With a
cast including a mix of all age
groups, it proved to be a
successful community
project. The film, initiated by
Groundwork as part of its Up
To No Good programme, is
ongoing and will provide a
platform for residents to
learn more about local
heritage and the process of
film making.
Scots economic growth measures ‘confusing and inconsistent’
by Barry McCarthy Slovenia and Slovakia in others. This ourselves against Ireland, Iceland and ers (CEA) and executive vice president
barry@newstartmag.co.uk imprecise system, compounded by the Denmark then maybe we should know and chair of US computer firm Sun
economic downturn, has made it dif- more about them. We hardly ever hear Microsystems in Europe, said it would
The Scottish Government’s targets for ficult to gauge Scotland’s progress, they of them other than when things go be better for Scotland to pick ten coun-
assessing economic growth have been argue. wrong.’ tries with populations between three
branded confusing and inconsistent by After speaking at the Economic He added it was unfair to com- and seven million to consistently com-
leading figures. Development Association Scotland pare many of these countries because pare itself against.
Ministers outlined their economic annual conference in Linlithgow, Alf of their radically different history. He added that this system of eco-
strategy last year saying they were Young, chair of urban regeneration Scotland has had an ‘intensely indus- nomic measurement would be the
aiming to reach the growth level for company Riverside Inverclyde and trial’ past, while Ireland went through subject of a forthcoming paper from
the rest of the UK by 2011 and that of assistant editor at The Herald, told New decades of poor performance before its the CEA.
small successful European countries Start: ‘It’s difficult to see what we are economic boom in the 1990s. Meanwhile Willy Roe, chair of Skills
by 2017. benchmarking ourselves against. If ‘Just because they are roughly the Development Scotland and Highlands
But finance experts claim the gov- we are going to have a mechanistic same size doesn’t make it obvious they and Islands Enterprise, said: ‘The gov-
ernment has been comparing Scotland approach to do one thing by 2011 and should experience the same economic ernment has not got a grip on adult
to countries in the ‘arc of prosperity’ another by 2017 then we need regular curve,’ he said. numeracy and literacy. People can’t
like Ireland, Iceland and Norway in monitoring of progress. Crawford Beveridge, member of play a full part in 21st century society
some instances, and states including ‘If we are going to benchmark Scotland’s council of economic advis- if they can’t read or write.’
www.newstartmag.co.uk new start 7 november 2008 3
news in brief Newsdesk: 0114 281 6133
Defra strategy to boost third sector
contribution to climate change goals
by Clare Goff sations can help the government reach tor strategy will play an important part
clare@newstartmag.co.uk its goals. A new task force, looking at in achieving the goal of a healthy natu-
ways to help national third sector pro- ral environment for this and future
Building his career A third sector strategy was launched grammes promote sustainability, will generations to come,’ he said.
A teenager from Stoke has been this week aimed at working more close- be jointly chaired by ministers from The new social enterprise part-
crowned Youthbuild UK’s young builder ly with organisations in order to achieve Defra, the Department of Energy and nership will work with five key
of the year. Phil Heraty gained an Entry the government’s environmental goals. Climate Change, the Cabinet Office and organisations – Plunkett Foundation,
to Employment placement with local The Department for Environment, third sector organisations. Development Trusts Association,
training provider Project Management Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) is to The strategy includes a number Social Enterprise Coalition, Co-ops UK
Training and having been written off at establish a new ‘high level’ advisory of commitments from government to and Rise – to help promote the contri-
school has now learned an array of new board to replace its Compact group, and improve the way it works with organi- bution social enterprises can make to
skills. He is pictured with Newcastle- a new social enterprise strategic part- sations, from communications to con- Defra’s agenda.
under-Lyme MP Paul Farrelly. nership will boost links with firms. sultation and procurement. Third sector groups have wel-
The launch coincided with the Announcing the move, environ- comed the new strategy. Groundwork
BAA invests in Crossrail announcement of a new Greener Living ment secretary Hilary Benn said that UK director of development, Graham
London’s Crossrail project took another Fund, worth £6m, to support environ- without the contribution of third sec- Duxbury, said it ‘recognises the key role
step forward this week after airport mental programmes and projects from tor groups Defra would not be able to the third sector can play in promoting
operator BAA invested £230m in the third sector organisations. achieve its strategic objectives in terms behavioural change in respect to cli-
scheme. The company said the project The strategy is aimed at raising the of tackling climate change. mate change’.
would be crucial in keeping London and role of the sector in tackling climate ‘I appreciate the significant time Details: www.defra.gov.uk/corpo-
the UK globally competitive. Crossrail change, building its capacity and find- and effort these organisations under- rate/how-do-we-work/third-sector/
is due to open in 2017, providing a 10% ing ways in which third sector organi- take and believe that Defra’s third sec- strategy/index.htm
increase in rail capacity across London.
The £15.9bn project will be funded by
government and the businesses that
are set to benefit from it.
Rocket Science to
Young want race action
launch ‘drilldown’
Almost half of young people believe
racism is getting worse according to
planning method
a new survey. The Britain and beyond A new planning tool aimed at identi-
report by online charity YouthNet fying the market strengths and eco-
also found that 82% of respondents nomic opportunities of an area is to be
thought better school education about launched in the UK.
different cultures would help to tackle Consultancy Rocket Science has
the problem and that two-thirds joined forces with US based NGO Social
thought a multicultural society was Compact to utilise its neighbourhood
good for the UK. market ‘drilldown’ tool.
Rather than focusing on data such
South coast growth points as crime and unemployment, drilldown
A bid for £11.6m of transport uses a range of often overlooked statis-
investment in Dover and Shoreham tics to tell the story of a neighbourhood
has been backed by the south-east or city from a market perspective.
England regional transport board. Andrew Carter, director of Rocket
The towns have been named as new Residents in Manchester are starring in campaign that aims to shift perceptions Science, said: ‘It will allow businesses
‘growth points’, allowing them to of their neighbourhood. Wythenshawe is often incorrectly referred to as ‘Europe’s looking to operate in these areas to get
access government’s community largest council estate’. Local people of all ages and backgrounds feature in a film better real-time information. It uses
infrastructure fund. The transport as part of Real Lives Wythenshawe, a project which is aiming to raise awareness language that resonates on all sides
improvements will support major new of more than a decade of investment and regeneration – the south Manchester and talks about an opportunity agenda
housing and economic development. district has enjoyed more than £600m of investment since 1998. Pictured is local rather than a deprivation agenda.’
market trader Pat Royle. Go to www.realliveswythenshawe.com for more details. The tool has been used in the US
Boland is new GLA chief for the last decade and has identified
Leo Boland has been appointed the areas which are underserved by, for
new chief executive and head of paid Manchester moves to secure road pricing vote example, banks or by grocery stores. It
service at the Greater London Authority has been used in more than 300 neigh-
(GLA). He joins the GLA from Barnet Councillors have approved a package Changes to the TIF bid include cap- bourhoods and has changed the way
Council, where he has been chief of measures to help secure a ‘yes’ vote ping the daily charge for regular users in which the public and private sectors
executive since 2001. in Manchester’s congestion charge ref- at £5 instead of £10, more school buses, work together. The UK pilot is currently
erendum. extra rail and tram capacity at peak being developed with Tower Hamlets
An invitation to innovate A series of relatively minor chang- times and a 20% discount on bus fares Council in London and private sector
Proposals for ‘innovative’ projects es to the transport innovation fund for those on the minimum wage. partners including Deutsche Bank and
that improve skills and employment (TIF) proposals have been agreed by The weekday, peak-time conges- Citigroup. The first results will be avail-
opportunities are being invited by the Association of Greater Manchester tion charge will not be introduced until able at the end of this year.
government as part of a new £27m Authorities, following a 14-week con- 80% of the public transport improve- Juanita Haynes, the council’s regen-
initiative. Up to three schemes will sultation process. ments are in place, which is expected eration manager, said: ‘This process
be supported in each English region, Introducing road charging will to be in 2013 at the earliest. Just over will enable us to promote investment
plus Cornwall, Merseyside and South help trigger around £2.75bn of invest- £1bn of the total investment would be in neighbourhoods that up until now
Yorkshire. ment in Manchester’s public transport a loan, paid back over 30 years out of has been either overlooked or ignored.’
Details: www.esf.gov.uk/innovation_ network, including tram extensions profits from the charge. The referen- Details: Rocket Science, tel, 020
transnationality and new bus stations. dum is due to take place next month. 7253 6289.
4 7 november 2008 new start www.newstartmag.co.uk
news
Report reveals unwelcome inflexibility within shared ownership schemes
One of the government’s key housing lone parents and low income fami- prevented from doing so by a lack of the ability of shared owners to move
policies has fundamental flaws, accord- lies – are more likely to be ‘stuck’ and flexibility in the system. on to their next property.’
ing to a report published this week. unable to move homes than tenants or Alison Wallace, author of the The study found shared owners’
Buying a share in a house or flat outright homeowners. report and research fellow at York typical starting investment had fallen
became an increasingly popular way The cost of a full home owner- University’s centre for housing policy, from 50% to 40%, with 25% shares now
to ‘own’ a home during the house- ship mortgage remains out of reach said: ‘There is confusion over whether more common. Shared ownership has
price boom and is also seen by prime to many shared owners, according to shared-ownership provides affordable become a permanent housing solution
minister Gordon Brown as one of the the study by the Chartered Institute market housing or is another form of as only half then move on to full own-
solutions to the current property mar- of Housing for the Joseph Rowntree social housing. ership.
ket slump. Foundation. ‘Clarification is needed on the Achieving mobility in the intermediate
But a new report says people living And those seeking to move within social policy aims to focus the role of housing market: moving up and moving
in shared ownership schemes – often the shared-ownership sector are being providers in supporting or controlling on?, www.jrf.org.uk
Liverpool estates see the light
by Clare Goff
clare@newstartmag.co.uk
With winter months bringing fewer
daylight hours, UK cities are looking
for artificial means to keep their cities
alight. Leeds recently held its annual
Light Night event, in which 50 venues
were illuminated by artists, while the
Blackpool illuminations have drawn
tourists to the city since 1879.
But in Liverpool a month-long
light festival will, for the first time,
include the places in which people live.
Residents of two housing estates in
Liverpool are taking part in the Pool
of Light festival in which they will
help design lighting solutions for their
neighbourhoods.
The Baltic Triangle and Great
George Square housing estates are
among seven locations chosen to host
a temporary lighting installation.
Liverpool Vision, the regeneration agen-
cy behind the project, visited schools
and held community consultations to
explore lighting in an urban environ-
ment and find ways to use lighting to Lighting designers Olsson & Linder’s installation lights up housing around Great George Square, near the Anglican Cathedral
improve their estates.
Eight lighting designers came to the to regenerate the areas where peo- ‘Using light is a very cost-effec- ‘In community locations it’s a bit
city last week to erect temporary light- ple live, he said. In Sweden he has tive way of transforming an area,’ said different. It’s a really good case study of
ing installations in line with the needs been involved in many social housing Christine Johnson, project manager at how we can transform urban space in
of the local communities involved. projects in which lighting plays a cen- joint venture company 2020Liverpool, terms of lighting,’ Ms Johnson said.
Swedish social lighting experts Erik tral role and found that it has a huge also involved in the project. ‘But in As well as the two community loca-
Olsson and Joran Linder worked on impact on crime and how people feel many regeneration programmes light- tions, the Pool of Light festival will also
lighting up a piece of parkland in the about their local surroundings. ing plays no part at neighbourhood light up five public locations, including
Great George Square area. ‘Crime is lower and people are level. We want to highlight its role.’ connecting the Wirral with Liverpool
‘It looked like a prison yard,’ said Mr more proud of their area. They don’t The company has been involved in via illumination.
Linder. ‘We’ve been speaking to school want to destroy it.’ a number of lighting projects around The project was organised by
kids and they say it’s boring, they want During consultations with local the city, but previous projects focused the Professional Lighting Designers’
us to make it a nice place to be.’ communities in Liverpool many resi- on lighting civic buildings and present- Association and Liverpool Vision, with
When lighting is used in regenera- dents said that they avoid particular ing the city at night. This is the first funds from Northwest Development
tion projects it’s usually about lighting paths or routes home because of a lack time that it has worked within a social Agency.
up the city centre, and is rarely used of lighting. housing situation. Pool of Light, www.pool-of-light.co.uk
photo: mccoy wynne photography/lverpool vision
Inadequate support for Chinese migrants exacerbated by language barriers
Chinese migrants in London are isolat- according to two linked studies by culty communicating with established importance of Chinatown as a source
ed and forced to take ‘undocumented’ Middlesex University’s social policy Cantonese speaking residents. of support for both new and older gen-
and dangerous jobs because support research centre. Insecurity about status, a lack of erations of migrants.
organisations are failing to meet their Other service providers are also English language skills and a lack of Cityscapes of diaspora: images and real-
needs, say researchers. failing to meet the different needs of information about accessing services ities of London’s Chinatown and The
New migrants are reluctant an increasing diversity of migrants. add to the problems of isolation and changing Chinese community in London
to seek support from established Many of the more recent migrants exclusion. will be available from 14 November at
Chinese community organisations, are Mandarin speakers and have diffi- The projects also highlighted the www.mdx.ac.uk
www.newstartmag.co.uk new start 7 november 2008 5
news in brief Newsdesk: 0114 281 6133
MPs see chance to reshape house
building targets as market slows
by Clare Goff that proposals by regional planners to Meanwhile, CPRE this week reit-
Loughborough partner clare@newstartmag.co.uk reduce the environmental impact are erated its call for the eco-town pro-
Countryside Properties has been named routinely overridden by government. gramme to be scaled back after the
house builder partner for the £105m Plans to build three million new homes Last year the government government announced its revised list
regeneration of Loughborough Park by 2020 should be revised in the light announced plans to build three mil- of potential sites.
estate in south London. The estate is of the changing economic climate, lion homes by 2020, with two million Just nine of the 15 schemes short-
owned by the Guinness Trust, which according to MPs. to be built before 2016, when the zero- listed in April remain in the running,
plans to replace the 390 existing homes The Commons environmental carbon rating for new homes comes although the new list of 12 includes
with a new mixed tenure scheme of audit committee said a revision of the into effect. The committee wants alternative sites to those rejected. Only
530 homes and community facilities. targets could save greenfield sites from to see the balance of new homes one on the new shortlist was deemed
being developed unnecessarily, and changed so that a higher proportion suitable by ministers to become an eco-
Access all arias for north would provide an opportunity to focus of properties are built after the rating town – Rackheath near Norwich. Ten
Manchester City South Partnership on lowering the environmental impact is introduced. ‘might be suitable’ if they meet ‘specific
welcomed plans by the Royal Opera of house building. Committee chair Tim Yeo said: planning and design objectives’.
House to establish a northern base The report coincided with the ‘This is an opportunity for the govern- The remaining scheme, Weston
at Manchester’s Palace Theatre from release of an investigation by the ment to place environmental concerns Otmoor in Oxfordshire, will only be
2013. The plans, which are to be Campaign to Protect Rural England at the heart both of targets and plan- accepted after ‘substantial and excep-
examined by the Arts Council, would (CPRE), which found that regional hous- ning regulations for new housing.’ tional innovation’, although an alterna-
create 500 new jobs in the area. ing targets have been increased while The government must reintroduce tive site in north-west Bicester is also
policies to secure less damaging devel- into planning policy a clear sequential on the list.
Pat is exceptional trainer opment have been seriously diluted. test in favour of brownfield develop- Greener homes for the future?, www.
Pat Shea-Halson, owner of the Centre More than 2,250 hectares of green- ment and should investigate the poten- parliament.uk
for Personal Development in Liverpool, field land is set to be developed for hous- tial of vacant buildings to provide new Planned use of greenfield land, www.
won the UK training award for ing each year, it said, amid evidence housing, said the committee. cpre.org.uk
exceptional achievement at this year’s
National Training Awards. Pat is also
chair of Train 2000, the women-only
enterprise agency that helped her to
Defra urged to help rural areas realise their potential
set up the business. Rural England has billions of pounds per year and make a ‘substantial differ- departmental objectives as few have
of untapped potential that will only ence’ to the English economy. any belief that the current ones really
Cles debunks the jargon be realised by a change in the govern- There was a strong perception that will build a successful and sustainable
The Centre for Local Economic ment’s approach, an influential com- rural affairs had been ‘marginalised’ in rural economy.’
Strategies will publish the sixth edition mittee has warned. Defra, it added. The committee wants Defra to clari-
of its glossary of regeneration and local A report by the environment, food Committee chair, Michael Jack MP, fy what help it needs from other depart-
economic development next week. It and rural affairs select committee said said Defra must ‘bang heads together ments, regional development agencies
contains up-to-date definitions of the there was little to convince it that the across Whitehall’ to make thorough and local authorities, to achieve its
latest policy documents, regeneration Department for Environment, Food ‘rural proofing’ of policy a reality. rural objectives. It has also called on
jargon and acronyms and is available and Rural Affairs (Defra) had adopted ‘Entrepreneurialism is “alive” in the the department to support economic
for £7.50 from 10 November. the tailored strategies needed to help rural economy. But if it is to be “well” growth in all rural areas, not just poor-
Details: www.cles.org.uk rural business. government must now find a lasting ly performing ones. Defra argued it
It said rural areas ‘punch above solution to the challenges of affordable already ensured its policies account for
Pelton Fell wins asset grant their weight’ in economic terms but housing, transport costs and the main- the needs of rural areas.
The first community assets programme a more effective approach could see tenance of a skilled labour force. The potential of England’s rural econo-
grant has been awarded to the Pelton them contribute up to £347bn more ‘Defra should look again at its rural my, www.parliament.uk
Fell community resource centre in
Chester-le-Street, which will receive
£337,000. The programme was
launched by the Office of the Third
Building of the week Ida Kinsey Village Centre, Grove Village, Manchester
Sector in 2007 to help organisations to
refurbish local authority buildings.
Futurebuilders site upgrade
Futurebuilders England has launched
a new website enabling organisations
to apply to the £215m fund online. The
site also features success stories, top
tips, application resources and interactive
tools such as a loan repayment calculator.
Details: www.futurebuilders-england.
org.uk/
Compact guide launched
The Commission for the Compact has
published a concise compact guide,
reference tool and checklist to help What is it? A new centre in Grove Village, a £100m housing PFI scheme in Ardwick, a mile south-east of the city centre.
public sector and third sector bodies. What’s there? Shops, community facilities and a one-stop shop for residents have replaced a crumbling, run-down precinct.
The launch of the guide marks the start Name check: Ida Kinsey, who died in 2002, was a resident and a prominent member of the steering group set up to shape
of compact week 2008 and the tenth the area’s future regeneration. She was ‘an extraordinary woman and in many ways ahead of her time. What she achieved,
anniversary of the compact this month. long before the birth of so-called “girl power”, was really remarkable’, said son Mike.
Details: www.thecompact.org.uk
6 7 november 2008 new start www.newstartmag.co.uk
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news Newsdesk: 0114 281 6133
Crime charity calls for
urgent improvement to
prison education system
by Ian Alexander delivery process. Funding was not pri-
news@newstartmag.co.uk oritised and there were no incentives
to target the hardest to reach prisoners.
A leading crime reduction charity has Payments were made to providers irre-
called for ‘urgent improvements’ to spective of attendance or success.
England’s prisoner education system ‘The different agencies involved
after MPs said reforms had ‘failed in in this, including the LSC, the Prison
almost every respect’. Service and the department, must
Nacro demanded action following work together to sort out this wasteful
the publication of a damning report situation,’ said Mr Leigh.
on the Offender Learning and Skills Claire Bassett, Nacro’s director of
Service (OLSS) by the public accounts operations, said the problems were exac-
select committee. erbated by overcrowding and the move-
OLSS, managed by the Learning ment of prisoners around the country.
and Skills Council (LSC), was launched ‘The tragedy is that getting it right
in 2006 to improve the education sys- would pay huge dividends for crime
tem for offenders in prison and the reduction, as gaining employment
community. reduces the likelihood of reoffending by
But the committee said inmates’ between a third and a half,’ she said.
learning plans were ‘frequently defi- ‘Urgent improvements are clear-
cient’ and only about a fifth of prisoners ly needed and we would like to see
with serious literacy or numeracy needs increased overall coordination along-
had enrolled on a course. A quarter of side more localised support with links
prisoners have no screening for their to education establishments in the com-
learning needs. munities where prisoners are resettled.’
It added that the courses on offer Action for Children said skills pro-
are of little use to offenders serving less grammes needed to take account of
than 12 months and so reconviction any underlying personal and emotion-
rates for this group have not changed. al issues a young inmate may face. Minister for children and young people, Beverley Hughes, approved £650,000 to
There is no core curriculum, leaving The government said the report fund Haringey’s intensive intervention project (IIP) while on a visit to the London
offenders unable to continue courses had been based on a National Audit borough last week. IIPs are part of the government’s youth task force action plan,
when transferred between prisons. Office study on the ‘very early days’ of which will see a total of £13m shared among 20 areas to help them set up the IIPs
The committee’s chair, Edward OLSS, since when significant improve- to deal with youth crime and antisocial behaviour over the next three years. The
Leigh, said progress had been ‘stymied’ ments had been made. minister is pictured left, with Haringey’s cabinet member for enforcement and
by inadequate joint working between Meeting needs? The Offender Learning safer communities, Nilgun Canver, and ten year old Josiah, a youngster whose
the bodies involved and failures in the and Skills Service, www.parliament.uk parents have welcomed support to help him focus at school.
One Northeast sets aside £2m for the regeneration of Barnard Castle
Work to transform a County Durham The money will be spent on improve- Deborah Jenkins, chair of Barnard on projects that will make a real dif-
market town into a visitor attraction ments including new lighting for the Castle Vision, said: ‘This further injec- ference to the future prosperity of the
and leading business location will go castle and the Bowes museum grounds, tion of funding will enable the vision town.’
ahead following a £2m funding pledge. improved links to visitor attractions partnership to move into full project Barnard Castle Vision is a joint
One Northeast has announced it and work to develop the retail heart of delivery mode. initiative between One Northeast,
will provide the finance for the second the town. The scheme will also look at ‘With all the major studies com- Teesdale Council, Durham County
phase of a 20-year programme to reju- encouraging retail distinctiveness and pleted and a small team in place, we Council and County Durham Economic
venate Barnard Castle. expanding local food production. will be concentrating all our efforts Partnership.
People
Roy Roberts has been Conservation charity BTCV Capabilities Programme and Paul Steele is the new Supported by
appointed chair of Wales’ has made Richard Rogers one Sonia Sodha has joined as senior programme manager for
Fuel Poverty Advisory Group. of its new ambassadors. Mr researcher. The programme will Creative Exchange, an
He previously worked for Rogers led Northern Ireland ‘explore the skills, learning and economic development
the BBC in roles including Environment and Heritage development of children and initiative in South Yorkshire,
deputy controller for regional Service until his retirement this young people in Britain’. where he has also worked as
programming. year and was previously director programme coordinator. Before
of environmental policy in Shanaaz Carroll has joined that he was learning and skills
The founder of architects Northern Ireland’s Department regeneration consultancy Colin manager at Community Media
practice PRP has died at the age of the Environment. Buchanan from Government Association in Sheffield.
of 77. David Parkes, who set up Office for London. She
PRP in 1963, was a renowned Think tank Demos has has worked in all tiers of Joining Bura are… The
residential architect with appointed two researchers government over the last 15 Northfield Town Centre The association at the
designs including The Ryde, an to develop a social mobility years and will help the firm Partnership, Thomas Wong, heart of regeneration
award winning housing scheme and inclusion programme. expand its work in economic Martin Hall and Sravanthi
in Hatfield, Hertfordshire. Julia Margo will head up the development and regeneration. Rallabandi. www.bura.org.uk
8 7 november 2008 new start www.newstartmag.co.uk
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10 7 NOVEMBER 2008 new start www.newstartmag.co.ukNewsdesk: 0114 281 6133 news analysis
authors of the report hope it represents
another important milestone in efforts
to prove that green infrastructure is not
a luxury but a necessity.
But Britain needs to act fast if it is
to keep up with others on the green
agenda. Delegates at the seminar also
referred to the good work done in New
York, where in 2006 mayor Michael
Bloomberg invited residents to come
up with ten key goals for the area’s
sustainable future. This resulted in a
commitment to build more affordable
and environmentally friendly housing
and ensure all New Yorkers live within
a ten-minute walk of a park. There
were also pledges to produce cleaner
energy and restore all contaminated
land in the city.
European cities have also been
making swift progress. Stockholm has a
city-wide green infrastructure strategy,
Copenhagen has prioritised cycling and
walking paths, and Berlin has embarked
on a tree planting programme.
While there was much enthusiasm
among speakers and delegates at the
Seoul boldly replaced an elevated six-lane motorway with a five-mile long park along the banks of the Cheonggyecheon river seminar, there was still a little confusion
about who should be talking the lead for
Healthy green space ideas begin the green agenda. Some mentioned it
should be politicians, while others sug-
gested it was a job for Agma. One del-
to take seed in ambitious cities
egate said the introduction of a mayor
for Manchester would provide strong
leadership, as we have seen in Seoul.
But having a mayor in itself
In 2003 work started on tearing down
an elevated six-lane motorway that
Barry McCarthy reports Funded by Northwest Development
Agency and environment body Natural
wouldn’t be enough unless people are
convinced that green infrastructure can
had been built over a river in the South on a new drive to prove England, the report identifies 11 tangi- be used in meeting a range of diverse
Korean capital Seoul. The then mayor, ble economic and social benefits that targets such as improving health and
Lee Myung Bak, had pledged to restore
‘green infrastructure’ like can be delivered by natural assets like fitness, tackling climate change and
the Cheonggyecheon river and create trees and parks is more parks, rivers, woodlands, lakes and boosting economic growth.
a five-mile long, 800-yard-wide park canals. It puts a figure on the value of The report shows how advocates of
weaving through the city. Some urban than just an added extra the northwest’s environment, estimat- the natural environment have changed
development officials were horrified at ing it contributes £2.6bn to the region’s their approach. The very use of the
the implications of the scheme since economy each year, sustaining 109,000 term ‘green infrastructure’ reflects the
the congested motorway still carried jobs – 37,500 of which are in rural need to talk the language of policymak-
160,000 cars a day and was considered tourism. Views of natural landscapes ers and helps emphasise how the envi-
essential for the city’s growth. can increase property values by 18%, it ronment has its own valuable function.
But the bold project went ahead says, and green spaces near workplac- The research is also significant because
regardless. It led to economic growth, es reduce sickness absence, increasing it gathers much evidence on the eco-
attracted tourists and investors, and productivity in the process. nomic value of natural assets.
was hugely popular with residents One local authority chief executive But clarifying key issues like lead-
who had been starved of quality green growth, attract highly skilled workers representing the Association of Greater ership will be crucial if campaigners
space. The scheme didn’t do Lee Myung and make a city more pleasant to live Manchester Authorities (Agma) talked are to maintain the current momen-
Bak’s reputation any harm either: he is in. This tale was told once again at about how the city-region would fail tum and help ensure Britain isn’t left
now South Korea’s president. a seminar in Manchester last week to become a world class conurbation if behind in the drive to create world
The story of the Cheonggyecheon where communities minister Hazel it did not make the most of its natural class cities.
river has become an international Blears launched a ‘revolutionary’ report assets. The days of regarding advocates The economic value of green infrastruc-
example of how enhancing the natu- into the economic value of green infra- of the natural environment as ‘tree hug- ture, www.naturaleconomynorthwest.
ral environment can boost economic structure (New Start, 31 October). gers’, as one delegate put it, are over. The co.uk
Career ladder Alan Thompson
Alan Thompson is empowerment and the link between Vital attributes in my work are… how it is influenced by global factors.
head of strategic housing and regeneration. I believe the strong relationship management
development at new Homes and Communities Agency skills: they enable the effective A key area for the sector’s future
Exemplas, a not for will open up new opportunities for partnership working that is necessary is… getting devolution right. The
profit organisation regeneration professionals. to maximise the benefits from government has put in place the
providing advice on investment in regeneration. potential for extra governance at
skills and training, My best qualification is… my master’s regional, local and neighbourhood
and business development. because it provided me with a My best work experience has been… levels, and we now need to work in
valuable theoretical knowledge which in local government because it gave partnership with ministers to make
My key careers advice is… that can be applied to my work. It also gave me the opportunity to work with devolution work. There is a lot to
progressing in the area of regeneration me the credibility that is so important experts who really know their stuff. discover and unpick as we redefine
is a good move. New and exciting in establishing a good reputation with It was useful to explore the dynamics these responsibilities after years of
developments are taking place around clients and communities. of local economic development and central government control.
www.newstartmag.co.uk new start 7 november 2008 11contacts we say
Social mobility without
social capital is no route
to a more equal society
M
y grandfather, a bit like John government, of vast amounts of money
Prescott, was a pitbull terrier spent on regeneration programmes…’
of a man who dedicated much It’s certainly no time to rest on laurels.
of his life to the Labour Party in Hull. Like But before we use social mobility as a
Prescott, he always considered himself political football, let’s think a bit more
www.newstartmag.co.uk working class; unlike him, he never got to carefully about the game.
New Start Publishing Ltd drive even one Jag. Fairness is an admirable objective, but
The Workstation, My father, being a rebel, joined the we should pause before making mobility
Paternoster Row expanding middle classes, moving south in the first test of social policy. Big advances in
Sheffield S1 2BX the 1950s and qualifying as an architect. He social mobility are associated with economic
Tel: 0114 281 6130 never had much time for the Labour Party. expansion, and that – for now, anyway – is
info@newstartmag.co.uk My sister, the eldest of my generation, coming to an end. The option of getting ever-
was the first in our family to gain a better jobs by lapping up the cream of the
Editorial director Julian Dobson
university education, demonstrating the global economy is off the agenda.
editorial@newstartmag.co.uk 0114 229 5726
kind of intergenerational shift that’s at the The second difficulty is that while the
Editor Austin Macauley heart of the current academic and political government is right to emphasise standards
austin@newstartmag.co.uk 0114 281 6133
discussion of social mobility. of childcare, education and training as
Deputy editor Clare Goff The goal of spreading such opportunities the path to a better qualified workforce,
clare@newstartmag.co.uk 0114 281 6133
will dominate the forthcoming white paper it doesn’t follow that this workforce will
Production editor Tim Mawdsley on fairness, and underlies this week’s report grab a bigger share of global opportunities.
tim@newstartmag.co.uk 020 8870 2944
from the prime minister’s strategy unit. This Comparisons with educational standards
Reporters Barry McCarthy study suggests that after remaining broadly elsewhere show how fast we need to run just
barry@newstartmag.co.uk 0114 281 6133 static since the 1970s, social mobility is to stand still.
Emily Ford
emily@newstartmag.co.uk 020 7033 0419 increasing again. The pursuit of fairness through individual
That’s good, because the life chances competitiveness is doomed to failure. We
Managing director Jamie Veitch
jamie@newstartmag.co.uk 0114 281 6130
of poorer people are improving. And since need to emphasise qualities as well as
every mainstream party has signed up to the qualifications, social capital as well as social
Projects manager Ryan May
principle of equal opportunity, if not to the chances. The best future we can create is one
ryan@newstartmag.co.uk 07947 829600
means of achieving it, you’d expect whoops we work for together rather than one that
Advertising manager Chloe Gray of celebration all round. continues to pit us against each other.
chloe@newstartmag.co.uk 0114 281 6130
Not a bit of it. Shadow work and
Advertisement production Sarah Rowing-Parker pensions secretary Chris Grayling calls it ‘a Julian Dobson, editorial director
sarah@newstartpublishing.co.uk 0114 281 6130
damning indictment of 11 years of Labour editorial@newstartmag.co.uk
Financial controller Craig Williamson
craig@newstartpublishing.co.uk 0114 281 6130
Global perspectives A working knowledge of Swedish
Subscriptions Scrapping free last 40 years, Swedish for Immigrants (SFI), has been
subs@newstartmag.co.uk 0114 281 6130 language classes under attack in recent months. A third of participants
for newly arrived fail to gain a pass at any level and the scheme has been
Non-executive director Kath Acres immigrants might blamed in part for the high levels of social exclusion
sound like an among immigrants.
odd solution to ‘Being in an environment where you can meet
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incidentally to some other use of this publication) urging officials to do just that. politician Elisabeth Svantesson told Stockholm based
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owner except in accordance with the provisions Members of the Moderate Party want to see a new newspaper The Local.
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under terms of a licence issued by the Copyright approach which helps newcomers find work quicker. ‘It’s not that we are totally against school lessons in
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more formal tuition in classrooms as currently provided. can be very isolating and doesn’t allow for any direct
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