RR14: Local authority responses to economic downturn

This Rapid Research provides an insight into the effects of downturn on local authorities and local areas, and crucially, how authorities are responding to the problems that have arisen or worsened over the last year.

This has included both primary research with local authority practitioners by telephone interviews and a focus group, concentrating on the North West as a regional case study, and secondary research through reviewing the ideas and comments of the Local Government Association and CLES’ own work in this area. We have identified the key emerging issues for local government and concluded with our thoughts on what the economic downturn could and perhaps should mean for the way that economic development and regeneration is approached in the future, from local authorities right up to global institutions.