The New Governance of the English Regions

English regions appeared to have been killed off by the massive 'no' vote in the referendum in the North East on 4 November 2004. By contrast, this book analyzes the many institutions and networks established at the English regional tier since 1997. It argues that a new form of governance is developing in the English regions, characterized by processes rather than specific policy concerns: strategic co-ordination, scrutiny, and civic engagement. Despite the 'no' vote in the North-East referendum of NOvember 2004, the New Labour government has presided over a step change in the quantity and quality of governancein the English regions. Regional Development Agencies and Regional Chambers have been established, and the regional offices of many government agencies have been strengthened. Networks of regional actors, from local government and a range of other backgrounds, have also been established. This book argues that these developments are crystallising into a new form of governance in the English regions, and analyses in detail how the processes of governance at the English regional level work in practice. It suggests that the new governance of the English regions results from embedded New Labour policy imperatives reacting with fundamental attributes of the British state. The English regional tier is defined by the nature of its advisory role, bringing information and expertise to bear on central policy Despite the 'no' vote in teh North-East referendum of NOvember 2004, the New Labour government has presided over a step change in the quantity and quality of governancein the English regions. Regional Development Agencies and Regional Chambers have been established, and the regional offices of many government agencies have been strengthened. Networks of regional actors, from local government and a range of other backgrounds, have also been established. This book argues that these developments are crystallising into a new form of governance in the English regions, and analyses in detail how the processes of governance at the English regional level work in practice. It suggests that the new governance of the English regions results from embedded New Labour policy imperatives reacting with fundamental attributes of the British state. The English regional tier is defined by the nature of its advisory role, bringing information and expertise to bear on central policy Front Matter....Pages i-vii The Death and Life of English Regions....Pages 1-12 The Roots of the English Regions....Pages 13-36 Institutional Developments in the English Regions....Pages 37-68 The Rise of Governance in the English Regions....Pages 69-93 New Labour and Regionalisation: Chalk and Cheese or Slow New Dawn?....Pages 94-120 Devolution is a Process Not a Policy: The Three Pillars of English Regional Governance....Pages 121-143 Strategic Co-ordination: Hidden Hand or Talking Shop?....Pages 144-163 Regional Scrutiny: Accountability in Network Governance....Pages 164-183 Civic Engagement in the English Regions....Pages 184-206 The Ninth, or First, English Region? New Governance and Democratic Politics in London....Pages 207-229 Conclusion: Network Governance and the Westminster State....Pages 230-239 Back Matter....Pages 240-281