CLES - Centre for Local Economic Strategies

New on the blog, but from a few weeks ago - CLES's Julian Boys and Helen Power wrote for Labour List about what was up for discussion at the inaugural Council of Nations and Regions and what will be needed for Local Growth Plans to deliver for those who need it most. 🔗 https://ow.ly/Mgbp50TSrPz

CLES's Dr Tom Lloyd Goodwin talks through our new joint paper with The King's Fund on English devolution and the impact on health inequalities, with three clear CTAs for government: 1. Look beyond increasing aggregate growth as part of new frameworks for devo and Local Growth Plans. 2. Enable closer working between ICSs and MCAs 3. Reconsider funding arrangements for councils. Read the full report at cles.org.uk/healthdevo

📣 Out today A new report from CLES and The King's Fund, from work supported by The Health Foundation, looks at how English devolution is working to address health inequalities in our regions and what the govt needs to do to maximise impact. Investigators looked at what's holding back mayoral combined authorities in supporting the best outcomes for everyone at the moment and found the big 3️⃣: 🤔 the framing of devolution deals 🔎 accountability and governance 💷 funding Looking at the excellent practice happening in CAs, the research proposes three priority areas for the government to enable them to do more - thinking beyond growth, raising expectations of joint working and bringing forward fairer funding. Read the full report at: cles.org.uk/healthdevo

Were hosting 4️⃣ important conversations about the future of #communitywealthbuilding and the final one, on 26 November, will focus on health. Featuring: 👉Jennifer Connolly, Associate Director Population Health, West Yorkshire Combined Authority 👉Rachel Laurence, Deputy Chief Executive, Centre for Thriving Places 👉Ben Barr, Professor in Applied Public Health Research, University of Liverpool ...and chaired by CLES's Deputy Chief Executive, Tom Lloyd Goodwin. Book here: cles.org.uk/conversations

What can we learn from Celtic wealth building? Our third #communitywealthbuilding Conversation on 19 November will look at the work happening in Scotland, Wales, NI and Ireland to apply #CWB and discuss how the lessons learned can be applied elsewhere. A bumper line up of speakers, too: 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 Rhiannon Hardiman - Policy Lead: Climate, Nature, Economy & Food Future Generations Commissioner for Wales 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Miriam Brett - Co-Director, Future Economy Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Mary McManus - Regional Manager, Living Wage NI 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁮󠁩󠁲󠁿 Liam Quinn - Chief Executive, Waterford Area Partnership Ably chaired by CLES trustee, Huw Thomas, Director of Finance, Hywel Dda University Health Board Book now for this session or all four of our #CWBConversations: cles.org.uk/conversations

Two great positions here at the People's Powerhouse - and what an exciting time to be joining an organisation who put citizen voice at the forefront of change in the North. Find out more 👉 https://ow.ly/wl8650TIFHW

ICYMI, Sarah Longlands was on BBC Politics NW this weekend, talking bus franchises, rural networks, regional control of job centres and how we resolve the complexities of patchwork devolution.

Such a great afternoon yesterday with delegates from Australia and NZ on the Neighbourhood Economics immersion trip - a wide-ranging conversation that covered community wealth building, wellbeing economies, culture change for progressive economic strategy and lots more.

How does community wealth building work in a rural place? What are the different challenges faced by rural areas that CWB can tackle, and what do these places and approaches have in common with urban areas? Our second #CWBConvo in November will see Cumberland Council's Deputy Leader Lisa Brown, in discussion with Democracy Collaborative's Neil McInroy, chaired by CLES's Naomi Mason. Book now for this session, or all four conversations: https://ow.ly/3TZu50TFuOl

Delighted to announce the speakers for the first of our CWB Conversations series this November. New Economics Foundation 's Hannah Peaker and Islington Council's Santiago Bell-Bradford will debate whether the energy to use CWB to deliver Labour's mission for growth lies in Westminster or in our places. Book here: https://ow.ly/NHpu50TFucz