A new ResPublica report

The latest report from ResPublica, Responsible Recovery: A social contract for local growth, calls for a more joined-up approach to government policy on welfare, poverty and employment.

Arguing that we need localism that creates work and opportunity, rooting recovery in the communities that are most crying out for it, the report calls for a ‘social contract’ between residents, local business, service providers and the wider community, which would account for the needs of local labour markets, community networks and social assets.

Market failure, inequality and deprivation are real and must be tackled, and government has a vital role to play in order to maximise the productive potential of our poorest neighbourhoods. But regeneration is not just a matter of reviving housing markets, providing transport infrastructure or devolving financial responsibilities. The starting point should be to understand and engage with the people who are most affected by poverty in the places where they live, working with them to create solutions that work in the context of their lives and strengthening the links and assets that are already important to them.

Written by ResPublica Associate Julian Dobson, the publication argues that we need to see people as the solution, not as the problem.

The report makes a raft of recommendations which would engender ‘a more robust economic localism’ whereby policies are tailored to local business needs, welfare, housing and other forms of social support and security within communities:
The report is supported by Trafford Housing Trust, Rochdale Boroughwide Housing, Cross Keys Homes, and the Placeshapers Group.