Local growth campaign

Introduction from Councillor Peter Box CBE

The predominant debate in politics and around our kitchen tables is about the economy. The debate dominated party conference and our think-tanks are leading a quest for solutions to the global recession.

My view is that councils have a long and honourable tradition of driving economic growth in their localities. While the institutional landscape has changed recently with the emergence of local enterprise partnerships (LEPs) and the abolition of regional development agencies (RDAs), councils remain one of the key drivers of growth.

While our continued work on economic growth is vital, there is a need for a wide debate in the sector which demonstrates our renewed ambition and sets some new boundaries in our thinking.

As a result, the LGA is launching a Local Growth Campaign in November. We have organised a series of 'Town hall debates' to highlight what councils and their local partners are doing to support national economic recovery and to help identify any new barriers to local action to ensure that there is strong and sustainable economic growth in our local communities.

I am inviting all councillors and officers to get involved in this debate and give us your views.

The programme was kicked off at the Smith Square Debate in November, at which the LGA Chairman Sir Merrick Cockell and I spoke. Local government has always risen to the challenge of national economic recovery. Across the country, we are innovating and developing new ways of working to support our local communities.

I want to develop our own 'Green Paper on Growth' to be presented to the 2012 LGA Conference.

I welcome your contribution to these debates.

Visit our photo gallery to see photos of the Smith Square Debate on Flikr.

People, places and partnerships conference

There are a limited number of places left at the 'People, places and partnerships conference: the role of councils and local partners tackling unemployment' on the 24 January 2012. This conference will explore council's and local partner's role in the new landscape, and anticipate the challenges that lie ahead, for example on welfare reform and the introduction of universal credit. To book your space and for more information download the flyer below:

People places and partnerships flyer (PDF, 1 page, 59 KB)