Just good friends. Can localism succeed through partnership?

Multi Agency partnership as a delivery mechanism for localism in the UK during the early 2000s was in the vanguard of local public service delivery under New Labour (Ellison, S. and Ellison N. 2006. P.338). Local Strategic Partnerships (LSPs), (HMSO, 2000) were part of the approach but when the UK Coalition Government came to power in 2010, the statutory reasons for their existence disappeared with the abolition of Local Area Agreements (HMSO, 2011). Yet some appear to survive alongside other multi-agency groups and seem to be taking a role in supporting the delivery of local services. Some of the LSPs and local groups have ostensibly taken a role in the devolution of some powers from the centre to the city regions, which began with the “Northern Powerhouse” concept (RSA, 2014; Civica 2015). This paper focuses on LSPs apparent survival, asking if and how these groups could have become involved in supporting localism, in spite of the lack of a statutory imperative and lack of support from some local actors (Bound, et.al. 2005 p.14).

In terms of research methods, this article uses a mixed qualitative methods approach; semi-structured interviews and Participant Observation (PO). PO provides the opportunity for immersion in the activities of the partnerships in the study, enabling the research to be undertaken in the most natural settings: the groups and communities involved. Both PO and semi-structured interviews are used to determine what, if any, role the partnerships in the study area may have in supporting localism and the perception of this role among local communities and partnership members. This will help to determine any perceived value in their existing and potential contribution to localism, and their possible contribution to the resolution of so-called “wicked” (Rittel and Webber, 1973) or complex societal problems.