1. Subnational support for
sustainability
We set out to investigate:
• Are strategic organisations continuing work on CC /SD?
• What is the potential of localism’s partnerships to deliver for
these agendas?
• How can gaps in support best be filled?
Our approach:
• East of England case study
• Desk-top review
• Qualitative study – 24 in-depth interviews with senior
strategic stakeholders
Dr Chrissie Pepper
Executive Director
Sustainability East
15 May 2013

2. Our findings…
Depriotisation; narrowing of ambition; stalled progress
‘Short-termism’, ‘austerity’, ‘politics’, ‘lack of leadership’,
‘challenge of stakeholder engagement’, ‘lack of coordination’
“We are here to deliver services, not think ahead. Our focus is the here and now
and being cost effective. There is no time and money to invest in the future and for
the long term” (Government Agency)
“With 40% less money, what do you stop doing? You are not going to stop caring
for old people, or mending potholes, so other things have to give. Everything has
to have justification in a world of depleting resources… and the authority will only
do what it has to” (Local Authority)

3. Localism…
‘Pride’ ‘ambition’ ‘innovation’ ‘real action’ ‘bigger picture’
‘fragmentation’ ‘variable quality’ ‘scalability’ ‘efficiency’
Localism’s Partnerships
• Key areas of intervention; ‘blank sheet of opportunities’
• BUT - issues around engagement and transparency
“There is a desperate focus on economic development in the short–term, leading
to missed opportunities to create the right growth that is ultimately better for
society” (Environmental Charity)
“We find it difficult to understand why we should be involved with the LNP… we
already have such a huge agenda anyway, why do we need to take on nature?”
(Local Enterprise Partnership)

4. Rethinking the subnational
space…
• Majority of interviewees in favour of subnational
support to provide leadership, collaboration,
capacity building, sharing of resources
• Need to rethink the subnational space:
NOT decentralisation, devolution of power, regional
strategies and frameworks
BUT enabling and supportive space, meaningful
spatial scale, strengthening local action and facilitating
government outreach

5. Alliance – a vehicle for delivery
• Independent
• Co-productive
• Well governed
to…
– Build capacity
– Develop opportunities for interaction and partnership
– Support collaboration on investment opportunities
– Provide strategic challenge
– Communicate and engage
– Provide access to evidence