Pressure is building on local authorities to bring new jobs and opportunities to regions across the UK. The economy is still stuttering and unemployment levels remain high: a million young people are still out of work. Councils fear the bleak outlook will create a fertile environment for crime and lawlessness, particularly when cuts to police budgets and community programmes are added to the mix. For many years councils have been calling for more power and greater responsibility; they may live to regret their demands.
The previous Labour government, sceptical about the role councils could play in tackling unemployment and kick-starting regeneration, installed a number of Regional Development Agencies to enforce the government agenda. Desperate to embed the belief that New Labour was a champion of British business, it hoped that cutting crime and anti-social behaviour in our towns and cities would help this positive message take root.
The Home Office was given the budget and mandate to transform local areas – CCTV became the norm, Police Community Support Officers a regular high street fixture and "designing out crime" shifted from theory to practice with the establishment of well-planned high streets. Many would argue that this targeted investment paid off – crime fell, unemployment was low and many British towns received a much needed facelift.
But the good times did not last. The economic downturn of 2008 brought belt tightening across Whitehall and the impact was felt across the country. Last February the chancellor announced cuts of 27% to local authority budgets, met with panic by town hall chiefs who feared the decision would have a major impact on frontline services and communities.
Communities secretary Eric Pickles has stated his intention to devolve a whole range of powers back to local government in an attempt to prompt economic growth across the regions - plans are in place to offer councils the opportunity to keep business rates and we have seen a devolving of power to a local level, enabling councils to "go for growth".
Few would argue against scrapping the current burdensome planning legislation and helping local council to increase the amount of money they spend on services. Everyone wants to see vibrant communities where jobs are available and amenities are within easy reach. But councils should remain alert to the dangers of failing to consult on development projects.
There are too many areas across the UK that are still suffering from the poor choices taken by local authorities. Take the Meadows estate in Nottingham, developed in the 1970s with the intention of creating a community feel; in the end, the estate was based more on high minded theory than practical reality. A concrete jungle, with a mixture of cul-de-sacs, underpasses and warrens, the Meadows created a culture of fear and a cycle of anti-social behaviour.
Thankfully the Meadows estate is to receive a £200m PFI grant to redevelop the neighbourhood, but other areas won't be so fortunate. It is imperative that local councils take their new powers seriously, consulting widely and often with local people about the types of amenities they would like to see.
With central and local government tasked to bring economic growth, local businesses also have a responsibility to ensure that town centres are vibrant, pleasant and safe for people to shop and socialise in. The creation of town centre managers to keep areas clean and shopper friendly has been a welcome innovation embraced by retailers.
But most importantly, councils need to encourage local people to take care of their own communities, keeping them free of the vandalism and litter that depress and degrade the high street. It is time for the country to take pride in its own streets again.
Simon Tiernan is a senior account executive at Portland Communications
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