New publication launched by Policy@Manchester
10 Oct 2023
Academics, local policymakers, and experts in place-based policy met for the launch of a new publication from Policy@Manchester last month
During the cost-of-living crisis, more and more people are facing unexpected financial hardships or being pushed further into poverty. As levelling up aims to address some of these challenges, Policy@Manchester’s latest publication, Power In Place, asks, what is the role of place-based policymaking in improving lives?
On Wednesday, 20 September 2023, Policy@Manchester and the GM Policy Hub hosted a panel event at Manchester Art Gallery. Our chair Tom Pope, Deputy Chief Economist at the Institute for Government, welcomed over 50 audience members to the launch of Power in Place, a publication that provides evidence-led solutions for thriving and sustainable communities. The panel was each asked to provide an answer to the question:
‘How can local approaches driven by communities and their leaders create and sustain thriving, inclusive places?’
The panel consisted of the following speakers and contributions:
Francesca Gains, Professor of Public Policy
Francesca described how there are major economic inequalities which constrain life chances and outcomes, these are then turbo-charged by other inequalities, such as sex, gender, race, class, ethnicity and age. She highlighted her work on the Women and Girls Equality Panel, and described how devolution allows mayoral combined authorities to make decisions that can reduce inequalities. Francesca also cited widening participation in local policymaking as a method to minimise place-based inequalities.
Luke Munford, Senior Lecturer in Health Economics
Luke introduced the concept of ‘Left-Behind Neighbourhoods’ (LBNs), pointing out the four-year life expectancy gap between these neighbourhoods and non-LBNs. He spoke on how health and economics intersect, with austerity exacerbating health inequalities and improved health outcomes leading to gains in productivity.
To remedy place-based inequalities, Luke suggested community, social and creative empowerment to improve health in LBNs, but emphasised that these must be backed by long-term and systemic funding and must be community-led.
Edna Robinson, Chair of the People’s Powerhouse
Edna stated that people in communities do have solutions to their problems but are not given the permission to grow these ideas. She emphasised the importance of allowing communities to support themselves, and the risk in assuming an external system can empower communities.
Councillor Arooj Shah, Leader of Oldham Council and Greater Manchester Combined Authority lead for equalities and communities
Arooj emphasised the importance of making change with residents, not implementing policy that happens to them. She also stated the importance of the local knowledge of ward councillors, who know the neighbourhoods they serve better than anyone else.
After successful opening remarks, audience members asked a wide range of questions to the panellists, facilitating a conversation on the different challenges and opportunities of place-based policy. Conversations are ongoing on how to make local approaches the most effective way to create and sustain thriving communities. Power In Place hopes to contribute and strengthen that conversation.