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Partnerships in place-keeping Is partnership working the solution for open space management?. Mel Burton University of Sheffield Green Growth: New Shoots International Conference 2012. Today’s presentation. Defining place-keeping Partnership in place-keeping Partnership Capacity
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Partnerships in place-keeping Is partnership working the solution for open space management? Mel Burton University of Sheffield Green Growth: New Shoots International Conference 2012
Today’s presentation Defining place-keeping Partnership in place-keeping Partnership Capacity Issues and benefits Recommendations Mel Burton University of Sheffield Green Growth: New Shoots International Conference 2012
Across Europe, there is too much emphasis on the ‘place-making’ and not ‘place-keeping’ (or long-term management) of open space.
Place-making • The creation of high-quality places that people want to visit, experience and enjoy • Implies a people-centred approach • health and wellbeing • sense of belonging and attachment • welcoming and inclusive places HafenCity, Hamburg; River Don, Sheffield; Hailes Quarry Park, Edinburgh.
Place-keeping • What happens ‘after’ high quality places have been created • maintaining and enhancing the qualities and benefits through LTM • Long-term management of places • to ensure that the social, environmental and economic quality and benefits can be enjoyed by future generations - landscapes develop and change over time. Woesten, West Flanders; Leuven, Flemish Brabant; Manor & Castle, Sheffield.
Why is place-keeping important? • Inappropriate design can lead to more maintenance in the long run • Poorly designed and managed spaces can make users feel unsafe • less used, less valued • leading to neglect, misuse: an ‘uncared-for’ space • may require costly changes in the future
Complex; Place Process Product
Place-keeping themes Partnerships Governance / engagement Maintenance Funding / finance Evaluation Policy
Partnerships • Agreed shared responsibility for place-keeping. • May be: - informal - mutual understanding of roles and responsibilities - formal, based on written agreement. • Roles and responsibilities delegated horizontally rather than traditional ‘top-down’ governance. Emmen, the Netherlands; Steilshoop, Hamburg; Woesten, Belgium.
Partnerships • Consensus in policy + theory that they effectively achieve place-keeping, especially: • - A combination of public-private-third sector • - Involvement + engagement of local community
Partnership Capacity Firth Park Sheaf Valley Park Porter Valley Millhouses Park Clissold Park Clapton Square Robin Hood Community garden In relation to place-keeping we definepartnership capacity as: the degree to which public-community partnerships are able to withstand and respond to changes in support, and remain actively involved and effective in developing and sustaining green space quality.
Partnership Capacity • The importance of networks • Internal and external networks are essential in communicative capacity. • Groups with large networks have a greater resourcing capacity.
Partnership Issues • Resource intensive – lack of resources • Unrepresentative – personal agendas • Continuity- what happens when people move on? • Motivation - ‘That’s the local authorities job.’ • Funding challenges – multiple partners, funding cycles, changing polices • Concerns over responsibilities - liability, quality
Partnership benefits • Solve complex problems • Improve relationships - resolve conflicts. • Access additional resources • Partner benefits – PR, professional / social contacts • Social interactions and sense of community • Environmental awareness, ownership – reduce site problems • Environmental improvements
Is partnership working the solution for open space management? • It’s complex– may not be the easiest option • Requires long-term commitment – time, resources • Develop a shared vision, aims and goals. • involve stakeholders early • treat as equals, • delegate responsibilities • build sense of ownership and consensus. • Trusted mediator as link between government and stakeholders. • Agree clear roles and responsibilities – written, formal agreements
Is partnership working the solution for open space management? Flexibility and continuity important - role for local government Partners (ship) lack capacity -need on-going support to build networks Transfer of responsibilities - concerns over liabilities and quality Space should match partnership capacity Good communication, internal and external, is essential