Markets, large projects and sustainable development: traditional and new planning in the Thames Gateway

The transition from traditional hierarchical government to new forms of governance and planning can be overstated. The regionalisation of planning and new ambitions for spatial planning in the UK are commonly understood to have created an overcomplex system concerned with co-ordination and integration across jurisdictional spheres. However, this new governance of planning sits alongside traditional planning processes such as the public inquiry and ministerial decision. This case study of a large port development near London suggests that the emphasis upon the move to new, collaborative practices understimates the influence of traditional governmental structures. This provides cause for questioning the capacity of the current planning system to address the challenge of sustainable development, a central concern for the new planning

Harnessing Social Enterprise for Local Public Services

The government’s public service reform policy emphasises the collaboration of local authorities with a network of other agencies in the locality, either through contracts or through partnership arrangements. Strong encouragement is currently being given to the involvement of ‘third sector’ organizations (including social enterprises) in such partnering arrangements. This environment has opened up new opportunities for social enterprises. However, as the DTI has asserted in relation to social enterprise, ‘rhetoric rather than a robust evidence base continues to inform many arguments for its growth and support’ (DTI, 2003a: 49). This paper examines one of the most widespread examples of social enterprise in the provision of public services: ‘new leisure trusts’. It asks whether the combination of entrepreneurial skills and social purpose in social enterprises such as new leisure trusts provides a useful model upon which public service partnerships could be based. Findings show that these social enterprises can work to create synergy through improved input/output ratios, commitment to meeting social objectives and wider stakeholder involvement. However, there are issues of incentivisation and relative autonomy that must be resolved within such partnerships, and more work to be done in some cases to build genuine social inclusion

Purfleet West Thurrock community plan Draft proposals

SIGLELD:f84/0441 / BLDSC - British Library Document Supply CentreGBUnited Kingdo

Borough shopping policy Part 2: non-retail uses in shopping areas

SIGLELD:f82/1443. / BLDSC - British Library Document Supply CentreGBUnited Kingdo

Hertfordshire County Council Leicestershire County Council

Developing an organisational approach to the use of electronic cigarettes on your premises Action on Smoking and Health and the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health have been working with seven local authorities to support them to develop an evidence based approach for their organisation for the use of electronic cigarettes in the workplace. At the time of writing this process is ongoing but, in order to support other organisations which are currently thinking about the approach they will be taking, we have gathered together what we believe we have learnt so far. This document covers: 1. Suggested policy structure 2. Process considerations 3. Content considerations 4. Summary of the current evidence The councils taking part in this work so far have included county councils, district councils and unitary authorities. This is a summary of their policy intentions