TOWN: S MSTs Policy Issues from the case studies

1. EUROPEAN UNION Part-financed by the European Regional Development Fund INVESTING IN YOUR FUTURE TOWN: SMSTs Policy Issues from the case studies Rob Atkinson(UWE) RTPI Conference: Planning for the Future of Small and Medium Sized Towns, Parc Eirias, Colwyn Bay 17th September 2014

2. Member State and sub-national level • No EU Member State has an explicit and/or consistent focus on SMSTS although different MSs are concerned with ‘types’ of towns and functions that relate to SMSTs- e.g. • Market towns • Coastal towns • Remote towns • Retail hierarchies • Service roles

3. Member State and sub-national level • But some regions with appropriate powers do recognise their role (e.g. Wales and Catalonia) • Here we see the identification of ‘hierarchies’ of towns in relation to their specific regional context. Such hierarchies can relate to: • Employment • Housing • Services of general interest • Transport/connectivity • Retail • Or a combination • Plus need for towns to ‘work together’ in complimentary ways

4. Case Studies – Issues • 10 Regions of varying types • 31 case studies of SMSTs of varying size, location and ‘type’, e.g. • Agglomerated • Networked • Isolated • Range of constitutional/governmental contexts • BUT NOT A REPRESENTATIVE SAMPLE • Regional context important - not totally determinant

5. Case Studies – Issues • Some ‘independent towns’ • Some part of larger local authorities or municipalities • But no clear pattern emerges in terms of SMSTs capacity to act in terms of their ‘independence’ • Generally the public sector is the ‘driving force’ • The private sector is generally ‘weak’ and fragmented

6. Case studies – Issues • But in some circumstances the private sector and civil society are the drivers – seems to relate to the presence of: • Strong sense of local identity (‘remote/isolated’ location), • Social cohesion and cooperation • Social capital (bonding and bridging) • A ‘local entrepreneurial culture’ – but difficult to be sure • Locally generated investment? • Good examples of this: Alba and Athienou – successful SMSTs – here many benefits remain locally

7. Case studies – Issues • Economy generally dominated by residential sector but manufacturing well represented and in some cases dominant • Small (local) business often dominate: can be both a strength and a weakness – diversity v stability or flexibility/resilience v over-reliance • Much depends on the local capacity of firms to respond to change, especially in current crisis • Regional location important – SMSTs in urban regions can benefit from ‘spill overs’ but also run risk of becoming ‘dormitory towns’ • Connectivity important • Land availability also significant for expansion

8. Case studies – Issues • Political relationships with upper tiers of government important regardless of whether they are ‘independent’ or part of wider local authority area – fit into wider regional/local strategies • Generally SMSTs lack the capacity to directly access EU funds – rely on other tiers • Cooperation with surrounding SMSTs and larger towns/cities • But often only on basic issues rather than more ambitious projects such as LED • Leadership often significant

9. Case Studies – Issues • Some of the SMSTs (especially the independent ‘larger ones’) had long-term strategy, but still needed support from other tiers • Those part of larger local authorities dependent on them for action

10. Case studies – Issues • Virtually all of our SMSTS had important service, administrative and retail functions • But this varied depending on their regional location and demographic structure, e.g.: • ‘Dormitory SMSTs’ in metropolitan regions had larger number of young families • Whereas ‘isolated SMSTs’ in rural regions had older population • Different demands on services and economy • In particular isolated rural SMSTs had service functions typical of much larger places – reflected serving wider rural hinterland

11. Case Studies – Issues • Not much evidence of sharing services with other proximate SMSTs • Reflects tendency for ‘local interests’ to dominate • Many small towns losing young people – ‘brain drain’ • Some had problems attracting ‘highly qualified’ residents despite good quality of life • ‘Creative sector’ significant in some SMSTs – but not a panacea - most cannot become ‘creative towns’ • Industrial sector still important – needs support

12. Summary • At all levels of governance there is a need to recognise the importance of small towns and for a clear focus on their role(s) • ‘Joined-up’/place-based approach needed • Need appropriate forms of multi-level governance in terms of vertical, horizontal and territorial governance - nested approach • Inter-municipal cooperation/coordination needs to be better developed • Spatial planning at regional level can play an important role here – ‘pulling things together’ and focusing action • Developing mobilisation capacity vital