A CLG study has been issued which explores the variations in the number and types of economic indicators adopted across different localities within the 2008 Local Area Agreement (LAA) process by identifying the factors that influenced National Indicator (NI) selection and the extent and nature of the relationship of the adopted indicators to processes of local economic development.
Select points of possible relevance include:
– A range of different types of indicators are currently operating at the local level…. [while] Analysis based only on the designated NIs is likely to lead to misleading conclusions.
– There was evidence of increasing interest in the relationship between local economic development and environmental sustainability and a desire for indicators appropriate to taking forward this agenda.
– ‘Stories of Place’ were prepared and played a significant role in driving the LAA process in all cases. In relation to economic development these set out a broad vision and were variably developed. The translation of the ‘story of place’ into the selection of economic indicators was a partial process that often did not fully communicate the wide range of local economic understanding and activity. No single story of place exists, rather there are multiple and overlapping narratives arising from different stakeholders.
– Critical to the effectiveness of LSPs and local authorities in engaging with the LAA process was the quality and extent of their relationships with other local stakeholders. Local economic development departments within local authorities often had limited influence reflecting their relatively small size. The Learning and Skills Council (LSC) role was of growing importance, reflecting the increasing importance of the skills agenda.
– There was limited consideration of issues beyond the local area even where sub-regional partnerships were in existence, although recognition did exist that some issues (e.g. higher level skills) are more appropriately dealt with at a sub-regional level.
– There were a number of issues related to the measurement and definition of specific indicators that created concerns within local partners about their accuracy and appropriateness
– The development of locally determined indicators provides insights into the limitations of the NI set and examples of more creative and locally sensitive indicators. Over 1,200 local indicators were adopted across all LAAs, of which around one-quarter related to the local economy. Nevertheless, ease of use encourages the adoption of ‘off the shelf’ national indicators whilst the development of locally determined indicators is limited by available resources.
– Limited local capacity to deliver outcomes and the short term scale of LAAs can significantly constrain the scope of indicators adopted.
– … local stakeholders did express concerns over the bureaucratic nature of the process and a strong element of central control. Where local partners experienced a dialogue between their local area needs and the wider objectives of government department they were positive about the process. However some local partners felt that certain government departments still saw their role principally in terms of imposing their priorities and targets upon the local level.
