European Spatial Planning: Local Enterprise Partnerships of Liverpool City - Term Paper Example

 EUROPEAN SPATIAL PLANNING REPORT Introduction This report entails drawing some points or facts that can be used to advice of UK territorial authority. The report would be guided by the coverage of European issues and policy sectors in the module. The intent of this report is to identify and seeks to craft recommendations that handle the European issues that are relevant to development. The report concerns the new Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) which has emerged in England following the 2010 general election (Great Britain and Bailey 2010). The focus narrows down to analysis of a sub-regional or city regional scale such as Liverpool City Region LEP. Identified aspects of the European background for spatial planning and expansion that are definite will be utilized to analyze matters of the report. There is an intense global perspective to spatial planning (Dühr et al. 2010). European incorporation enhances interconnections, growth and administrative across countrywide and regional borders (Hahn 2014). EU strategies in aspects such as surroundings, agriculture, transport, or regional strategy have extensive effects on spatial growth patterns and planning measures. The report concludes with assessment and recommendations that can assist the selected UK territory authority execute roles adequately (O’brien and Sykes 2013; Sykes 2011b). Local Enterprise Partnerships (LED) LED is a creation that is geared to promote development in suitable regions. The policy of LEP is about supporting economic development through enterprise zones and local enterprise partnerships. By considering LEP of various regions it is possible to advise the UK territorial authority in matters that affect development of some regions. LEP has challenges of social, economical and environmental capacity. However, different regions have dealt with these challenges in different ways. Local enterprise partnerships are affiliations between businesses and local authorities (Great Britain and Bailey 2010). They make a decision what the priorities must be for investment in infrastructures, buildings and amenities in the area. They are a means regions can develop without overdependence on federal or central governments. LEPs were provided the opportunity to apply to have a venture or project (investment) zone and 24 were offered. These regions can take benefit of tax incentives and easy local planning policy (O’brien and Sykes 2013). They can have a key responsibility in this changeover or evolution both in terms of their responsibility in strategic economic planning, for example in investing in the essential infrastructure and knowledge, and also via their local management, assisting their local industry communities to acknowledge and seize the opportunities. In this report, a few of the 24 zones that were awarded the licences are analyzed to gauge the effectiveness of the project (Sykes 2011a). Liverpool City Region’s LEP is one of the regions. It is the primary economic enlargement corporation in the region, and the most pioneering of its kind in the kingdom, driving forward significantly accelerated economic development across major sectors with the possible to generate 100,000 fresh jobs in the coming decade (Great Britain 2011). Its specialties comprises of Strategic Economic Development, Key Growth Sectors such as, SuperPort, knowledge economy low carbon and visitor economy, business development and marketing. In 2011, AMION was established by Liverpool City Council to organize a strategic structure for the practices of the Liverpool City Region LEP. The structure or framework had a business-oriented approach, acknowledging that it is the private segment that would generate the development and jobs, and created on previous effort that identified the weaknesses and strengths of the LEP economy and sensible opportunities for the region. The framework outlined the context regarding economic performance in the region. This incorporated global and national economic conditions and LEP region performance; the predicaments faced by the LEP development. These incorporated raising productivity stages and augmenting enterprise levels; create opportunities within the LEP region – these incorporated the knowledge, visitor economies, low carbon economy and, and port expansion.  Strategic priorities - comprised creating fresh businesses and attracting business to the City Region; and the responsibilities of the LEP and its associates. Liverpool City Region LEP has extensive economic growth that is in line with EU development agendas. ERDF 2007-2014 (European Regional Development Fund 2007-2014) has business growth grant that promotes business development in sectors that support economic growth. Liverpool LEP is able to access ERDF support. The LEP has a twin responsibility to provides technical support, reinforcing project applications LEP accountable for setting the premeditated priorities for the City Region, consequently the allocation of resources at a strategic level. ERDF funding is allocated to high growth business support, sector development, low carbon knowledge economy, innovation and technology, these support assist Liverpool LEP to proceed with its agenda and priorities. Another EU priority concerns key sites, transport and visitor economy to sustain place marketing of the City Region. These priorities match the need of Liverpool LEP. EU Relevant Policy to LEPs Liverpool City Region LEP objectives are to empower and improve economic, social and environmental standard of their regions. This is a point that EU has in its agenda to ensure European regions are able to overcome global crisis due to environmental factors, international economies and social interactions (CEC 2010a). The Europe 2020 policy put frontward by the Commission sets out a revelation of Europe’s communal market economy for the twenty first century. It reveals how the EU can emerge stronger from the catastrophe and how it can be transformed to a smart, maintainable and comprehensive economy providing high phases of employment, efficiency and social consistency (CEC 2010b). To provide rapid and long-lasting results, stronger economic supremacy will be necessary (Dühr et al. 2010). The European Commission initiated a fresh ten year economic policy, named Europe 2020, to improve European economy and encourage a smart, sustainable and comprehensive development, based on a bigger coordination of countrywide and European monetary policy (CEC 2010b). The plan wants to surmount the flaws of the Lisbon policy and setting the way for the formation of fresh jobs and an improved quality of life. Europe 2020 strategise a vision of Europe’s communal market financial system for the 21st century and provided three jointly reinforcing agendas: Smart development(growth): initiating an economy oriented on knowledge and novelty; Sustainable development (growth): promoting an extra resource proficient, greener and more spirited economy; Inclusive development: fostering a high- labour source economy providing social and territorial solidity (CEC 2010b). The one obvious policy that is associated with the Liverpool City Region LEPs agendas is the European spatial planning. Spatial planning refers to the techniques employed by the public sector or international bodies to enhance the distribution of individuals and activities in environments of various scopes. Discrete expert disciplines which comprise spatial planning comprise urban, land use, regional, environmental and transport planning (Hahn 2014). Other associated areas are also significant, comprising economic and community planning. It takes place on regional, local, national and global levels and frequently results in the formation of a spatial plan. There is a sturdy international approach to spatial planning. European incorporation strengthens development, interconnections and decision-making within national and regional boundaries. EU policies in matters such as environment, agriculture, transport, or area policy have far-reaching impacts on spatial growth patterns and planning processes (Heseltine 2012). Planners in the EU are nowadays routinely involved in cooperation within national territories to share and plan effective approaches of intervening in the manner the towns, cities, and rural regions develop (Fischer et al. 2014). In brief, the EU has turn out to be an important structure for research, planning practice and training. Spatial scheduling in Europe is ‘Europeanized’, with equivalent changes for the responsibility of planners (O’brien and Sykes 2013). This is a supportive point that the EU spatial plan supportive to LEPs policies and plans that cities and local authorities are implementing to improve their economies. Spatial development matters in the European Union can, in expectations, only be determined through collaboration between diverse governmental and managerial levels. In the rouse of European incorporation, closer associations at all phases are developing (Hahn 2014): among the regions themselves and between the zones and the European and national authorities. Regions and cities are becoming more reliant, both on international trends and resolutions at the area level. European integration could advantage spatial growth by promoting the participation of regions and cities (Heseltine 2012). Successive agreements such as Amsterdam, Single European Act, and Maastricht Act Treaties, have prompted to the territorially important sectoral agendas of the EU having a stronger influence on the elaboration and performance of national and international spatial development strategies and thus on spatial growth in the EU (Heseltine 2012). Spatial impact or regionally important in this context that communal measures adapt the spatial arrangement and potentials in the financial system and society thereby changing land exercise patterns and landscapes. In totalling, these measures may pressure the aggressive position or spatial implication of a city or district within the European financial system and resolution pattern (Hahn 2014). The EU Treaty necessitates the community to promote the organisation and creation of TENs (Trans-European Net-works) in the industry of transport, telecommunications and energy provision infrastructure. This authorization should serve the regions objectives of smooth operations of the single market also the reinforcement of economic and social consistency. In order to accomplish this command, the incorporation of national networks and access to the networks must be enhanced, particularly by linking insular, landlocked and marginal areas to the central regions (Sykes 2011a). Liverpool City Region LEPs strategies facilitate implementation of such plans since development of local infrastructure permits ease of linkage with major platforms. They concentrate on a well operational and sustainable transportation system. The ideas for the expansion of the networks were initiated in Community strategy. It involves the various transport communications networks, traffic control systems and navigation and positioning system. By and large, the EU spatial planning policies are in line with Liverpool City Region LEPs processes and plan (Sykes 2011b). Integration of Liverpool City Region LEPs and EU policy In this section, there is need to directly associate new Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) with EU policies. One striking feature between the strategies is that the objectives are the same. Both strategies are geared to improve economic, social and environmental conditions of areas served (Sykes 2013). Competition policy is a major agent in the incorporation of individual state markets into an ordinary European market. A series of policies are set up at the Community stage (Sykes 2011b). They help to avoid cartels and cruelty by market-dominant businesses, to control acquisitions and mergers of firms, and give a structure for state aids. Competition assessments have effects on the environmental distribution of economic activities and on plans of trade during the EU. For instance, market liberalisation can augment the competition among cities and regions frequently in favour of areas with improved region conditions. LEPs are enterprises that require this to enhance their performance (Sykes and Lord 2011). The duties of community environment strategy contain necessities which put particular importance on associations with spatial growth and land use. For instance, the EU-wide description of protected areas is projected to give rise to a compound biotope system functioning under the name of “Natura 2000” (Heseltine 2012). This scheme consists of bird preservation habitats and species which must be safeguarded, while taking into description socio-economic and provincial requirements projected to conserve certain types of expected areas and precise varieties as well as regenerating stocks. To reinforce a balanced resolution structure, ways and actions must be found to allow cities and regions to balance each other and collaborate. The potentials for this are diverse and have to some degree been flourishing. The city networks at regional stage, the need for harmonizing co-operation also enforces to city networks at transnational, interregional, or even EU stage (Sykes 2013). Relying on the regional, local, or situation to start with both goals and solutions pursued differ. In general, the policies of EU in spatial development planning are meant to strengthen growth; this is same with regional Liverpool City Region LEPs (Heseltine 2012). Strengthening of numerous larger zones of international economic incorporation in the EU, outfitted with high-quality, international services and functions, including the tangential areas, through international spatial growth strategies. Strengthen a polycentric and more impartial system of city clusters, city regions and city networks via closer co-operation among structural rule and the strategy on the Trans-European Networks and enhancement of the connections between national/international and regional/local convey networks (Sykes 2011b). Promoting incorporated spatial development policies for city clusters in person Member States, within the structure of cross-border and transnational co-operation, comprising corresponding country areas and their little towns and cities. Strengthen integration on precise topics in the countryside of spatial growth through cross-border and international networks. Promoting assistance at regional, cross-border and intercontinental level; with towns and cities in the countries of Northern, the Mediterranean region and Central and Eastern Europe; enforcing North-South association in West-East links in Northern Europe and Central and Eastern Europe (Sykes 2011b). For the 2014 to 2020 financial support era, the ERDF (European Regional Development Fund), theESF (European Social Fund) and part of the EAFRD (European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development), integrate an EU Structural and Investment Funds development Programme (Fischer et al. 2014). The most agendas of this Programme are support for SMEs, innovation, skills, low carbon, employment and social enclosure (Diedrichs et al. 2011). The government has provided the plan of €6 billion of the development Programme Funds through Liverpool City Region LEP area. Every LEP has been requested to set out how it plans to utilize the development Programme resources in an EU Structural and Investment Funds approach. In creating its strategy, the LEP will operate with and imitate the interests of a wide range of social, economic and environmental associates, counting businesses, rural partners, civil society and further and higher training institutions. Conclusion In conclusion, it is evident that EU policies are in line with Liverpool City Region LEP development agendas. The report provides the development growth that has been seen and those forecasted for LEP regions. This provides a platform of advising the UK local authorities to embrace Liverpool City Region LEP as it is considered by EU strategic plan. While EU plans for regional, Liverpool City Region LEP provides for local areas and these make strategies of development to be easily effected. By considering LEP of various regions it is possible to advise the UK territorial authority in matters that affect development of some regions. Liverpool City Region LEP has challenges of social, economical and environmental capacity. However, different regions have dealt with these challenges in different ways. Local enterprise partnerships are affiliations between businesses and local authorities. They make a decision what the priorities must be for investment in infrastructures, buildings and amenities in the area. Liverpool City Region LEP’s objectives are to empower and improve economic, social and environmental standard of their regions. This is a point that EU has in its agenda to ensure European regions are able to overcome global crisis due to environmental factors, international economies and social interactions. The Europe 2020 policy put frontward by the Commission sets out a revelation of Europe’s communal market economy for the twenty first century. It reveals how the EU can emerge stronger from the catastrophe and how it can be transformed to a smart, maintainable and comprehensive economy providing high phases of employment, efficiency and social consistency (CEC 2010b). For the 2014 to 2020 financial support era, the ERDF (European Regional Development Fund), the ESF (European Social Fund) and part of the EAFRD (European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development), integrate an EU Structural and Investment Funds development Programme. The most agendas of this Programme are support for SMEs, innovation, skills, low carbon, employment and social enclosure. References list CEC (2010a), Investing in Europe’s Future – Fifth report on economic, social and territorial cohesion, Brussels, http://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/sources/docoffic/official/reports/cohesion5/index_en.cfm. CEC (2010b), Europe 2020 – a European strategy for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth, Brussels. DIEDRICHS, U., REINERS, W. O., & WESSELS, W. (2011). The dynamics of change in EU governance. Cheltenham, Edward Elgar. DÜHR, S., COLOMB, C., & NADIN, V. (2010). European spatial planning and territorial cooperation. London, Routledge. FISCHER, T.B., SYKES, O., GORE, T., MAROT, N., GOLOBIČ, M., PINHO, P., WATERHOUT, B., & PERDICOULIS, A. (2014). Territorial Impact Assessment of European Draft Directives—The Emergence of a New Policy Assessment Instrument, European Planning Studies, to link to this article: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/09654313.2013.868292 GREAT BRITAIN, & BAILEY, A. (2010). The new Local Enterprise Partnerships: an initial assessment: first report of session 2010-11. Volume 1, Volume 1. London, Stationery Office. GREAT BRITAIN. (2011). Budget 2011: return to an order of the House of Commons dated 23 March 2011 : copy of the budget report - March 2011 as laid before the House of Commons by the Chancellor of the Exchequer when opening the budget. London, Stationery Office. HAHN, J. (2014), Regions and Local Authorities are our Prime Partners, Speech at Meeting with representatives of regional offices based in Brussels, 16 January 2014, http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_SPEECH-14-22_en.htm HESELTINE, M. (2012), No Stone Unturned in Pursuit of Growth, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills. http://www.bis.gov.uk/assets/biscore/corporate/docs/n/12-1213-no-stone-unturned-in-pursuit-of-growth O’BRIEN, P. AND SYKES, O. (2013), A Tail of the Unexpected, Town and Country Planning, April 2013, pp. 200-203. SYKES, O. (2011A), ‘Investigating Sub-state Interpretations of European Territorial Cohesion: the Case of the United Kingdom’, International Planning Studies, Vol. 16, No. 4, pp. 377–396. SYKES, O. (2011B), ‘Sustaining a Territorial Agenda for the EU?’ Town and Country Planning, July/August 2011, pp.352-355.  SYKES, O. (2013), ‘Entering Unknown Territory?’ Town and Country Planning, June 2013, pp.302-306. SYKES, O. AND LORD A., (2011) ‘Whither a Europe of the (English) regions? Reflections on the prospects for the representation of English territorial interests in Europe’, Local Economy, Vol. 26(6–7) 486–499. Read More