‘growth coalitions’ and ‘smart local government’
new regimes for regeneration and public services in the context of the future of local government
profile
Adam is an leading policy and regeneration consultant, and an associate consultant with the Improvement and Development Agency. He has worked across the themes for neighbourhood renewal, on Single Regeneration Budget programmes and originally in economic development at Bethnal Green City Challenge.
He is currently pursuing a policy development project 'growth coalitions', with interest being shown and discussions continuing at the heart of Government and with an ever-wider range of ministries and others. 'Growth coalitions' continues to have a formative influence, on the Lyons Review, the Review of Sub-National Economic Development and Regeneration, the development of Local Area Agreements in the context of the future of local government and informed the Innovation Forum work as acknowledged in the Local Public Service Board prospectus. He advised Telford and Wrekin BC on what became a successful, "growth" focussed, "single-pot" pilot Local Area Agreement (“highly commended” for the Local Government Chronicle's “partnership” sustainable communities award). He has since, and continues to, work with successful and prospective Local Area Agreement authorities on the 'growth coalitions' agenda and delivery mechanisms to take this forward.
By presenting forward-thinking and through expert guidance, advice, facilitation and recommendations, Adam helps ensure that Local Strategic Partnerships and Community Strategies are fit-for-purpose ("sustainable" and "refreshed") in addressing new regimes for regeneration, in the context of the future of local government. His work on the ‘growth coalitions’ project has helped set the agenda in this respect. He has been invited by and run a workshop on ‘Growth Coalitions’ with Sir Michael Lyons team reviewing local government in England. The review team strongly encouraged Adam to make a submission along the lines of the principles of the ‘growth coalitions’ project. Adam has recently made a joint submission to future of local government, and LSPs, reviews. Sir Michael's Spring Paper draws on this workshop and evidence presented on growth coalitions themes. HM Treasury invited Adam to advise on the nature and scope of their newly initiated review into the effectiveness and efficiency of economic development and regeneration, and local public service regimes, which will feed into the Comprehensive Spending Review of 2007.
Adam has been working with the Improvement and Development Agency in Walsall developing “an excellent regeneration service”. This work was based upon the principles of the ‘growth coalitions’ project and supported the development of the corporate agenda in Walsall, as per the concept of ‘smart local government’. The commission took on a number of forms, including facilitated workshops with a range of staff at all levels, council members, and key partners. His most recent engagement with the council, (as an independent consultant) was to advise on the final development and presentation of Walsall MBC's LEGI submission. The aim of this input was to add value to the partners work, ensuring that it reconciled with HM Treasury's forward policy platform, specifically the LEGI assessment criteria and the application form question outline your local authority’s vision for the future of the local economy? With this, government is moving towards a focus on an over-arching strategic vision for local authorities, as per the notion of ‘smart local government’, working towards enhanced local strategic partnerships with a focus on economic development and regeneration, ("Our vision for the role of the LSP is that it takes the strategic lead in the locality by bringing together the views of the local partners" - drawing on 'growth coalitions' and 'smart local government' - 'local strategic partnerships: shaping their future – a consultation paper' 8 December 2005). Adam cites developments in Walsall as “improvement through regeneration”. Walsall Borough Council have recently been awarded a second round “single pot” Local Area Agreement. The council has also been short-listed for the Local Government Chronicle’s annual “Best Improved Council” award. Adam has recently been "refreshing" Slough BC's Community Strategy, facilitating a step-change, by looking forward towards a revised, and more responsive, needs focussed and evidence-based sustainable community strategy, with the introduction of a local area agreement as the tool or instrument for change.
Adam has on a number of occasions, been invited to present evidence to the Prime Minister’s Strategy Unit’s review of deprived areas. The review's final report, Improving The Prospects Of People Living In Areas Of Multiple Deprivation In England, is an authoritative document regarding the future for regeneration. It acknowledges Adam's contributions, detailing measures to be implemented by Government to strengthen local economies and improve public service delivery.
Adam has in recent years worked on a national DFES evaluation of Pilot Mainstreaming SureStart Programmes; an evaluation of Tower Hamlets’ Neighbourhood Renewal programme; advised on the development of a major London voluntary sector partnership ESF programme; and undertaken evaluations of Camden’s Neighbourhood Renewal programme and SureStart and Children’s Fund programmes nationally. He has acted as Neighbourhood Renewal Manager in Lambeth, ESF Programme Manager with the London Central Learning and Skills Council and as advising consultant to the London East Learning and Skills Council. Previously, he was a consultant with the Civic Trust Regeneration Unit, working on a range of community led and Centre Vision Town Centre Management projects, as well as developing and being Manager for the Unit's Market Towns regeneration programme.
Adam has also undertaken international commissions concerning regeneration at the national, regional and local levels for development and peace. He has a strong academic and research background, with a Masters degree in Planning for Local Economic Development. His thesis was entitled ‘The shift from public to private sector initiatives for local economic development’.
Adam is also a Parent Governor at a local nursery and a local infants school and is a Parent Governor representative on his local authorities education scrutiny committee.
Adam's studies and professional life has been dominated by an interest and practicing in the field of regeneration and deprivation.