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Local Government and the Research Community

Local Government and the Research Community. Steve Martin LOCAL GOVERNMENT KNOWLEDGE NAVIGATOR SEMINAR 23 rd June 2014. A broken bridge?. Analysis, Advocacy and Advice. Identify local government knowledge needs Test whether existing research is relevant to these

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Local Government and the Research Community

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  1. Local Government and the Research Community • Steve Martin • LOCAL GOVERNMENT KNOWLEDGE NAVIGATOR SEMINAR • 23rd June 2014

  2. A broken bridge?

  3. Analysis, Advocacy and Advice • Identify local government knowledge needs • Test whether existing research is relevant to these • Find and publicise exemplars of councils that are making the most of research • Pilot approaches to packaging knowledge - Need 2 Know reviews • Advise on ways to better connect local government and research/researchers

  4. Overview of the state of: • Local government capacity and knowledge/evidence needs • Relevance of existing research base • Links between research and local government • Actions to strengthen evidence use by local government

  5. Demand • Reviewed LGA Board papers, LGA/SOLACE policy priorities etc. • Interviewed key individuals and representatives of networks Supply • Reviewed ESRC funded research and other research centres • Interviewed • Research centres whose work is relevant to local government • Funders that commission or produce relevant work • Organisations that are active in considering evidence needs (SOLACE Foundation, ESRC, NESTA, Alliance for Useful Evidence) Evidence

  6. Research capacity in local government not strong • Variable and dwindling in-house capability • Diminishing resources to commission own research • Lack capability to scan for and make most of existing research knowledge and evidence • Exemplars – effective because of champions and in spite of existing structures, processes andincentives Demand - capacity

  7. Lack of a research isn’t the most significant issue facing local politicians or managers • Idea of building local government R&D unfamiliar and met with some scepticism • But recognition that austerity means we need knowledge and evidence to find new solutions • Interest in focusing publicly funded research on local government’s needs Demand - attitudes

  8. Accessible, reliable and timely (answer today’s questions) • Co-definition of problems and co-production of solutions • Navigation aids and segmentation – who needs what knowledge and bringing it to their attention • Translation and transferability - help in understanding replicability and application in local context • Focus on local government perspective – national policy needs not necessarily the same as local needs • Research methodologies which support innovation Demand - needs

  9. Current complex multi-faceted ‘problems’ • Cross local services - ‘place based’ issues • Not new, but with austerity twist • Local economic levers • People with learning disabilities • Public health • Local government in a digital age • Local government in an ageing society • Future models of local government • New models of finance • Troubled families Demand - topics

  10. ESRC instruments • Knowledge Exchange, KTPs, IAAs • PhD studentship schemes • Venture Partnerships Existing material and research centres • Over 100 ESRC funded projects in last four years • Institute for Local Governance, Durham University • Centre for Population Change, Southampton and St Andrews • Centre for Market and Public Organisation, Bristol • Centre for Microeconomic Analysis of Public Policy, IFS   • Spatial Economics Research Unit, LSE • What Works Centres Plus cross UK Research Council potential Supply: Research councils

  11. Kings Fund – health and social care, telehealth and telecare • Nuffield Trust - finance and deliver of quality social care  • Centre of Urban and Regional Development Studies, Newcastle University • INLOGOV at Birmingham, Centre for Local & Regional Government Research at Cardiff University and LGRU at DMU • Centre for Low Carbon Futures, Leeds University • Joseph Rowntree Foundation - poverty, place and the ageing society (programmes with Leeds, York and Bradford councils) • National Foundation for Educational Research • Public Policy Institutes – Bath, Bristol, Cambridge, Cardiff, Liverpool, LSE, Manchester, Southampton, Strathclyde Supply: non RCUK

  12. Actions • Change cultures in both communities • Improve connectivity between and among the communities • Embed research in local government • Seize some strategic opportunities to harness research

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