CROSS CUTTING REVIEW ON IMPROVING THE PUBLIC SPACE

As part of Spending Review 2002, seven ‘cross-cutting’ reviews were conducted, analyzing areas of policy which are the responsibility of more than one Government department. One of these reviews was on ‘Improving the Public Space’. This review looked at how Government policies, funding and targets could produce improvements in the safety and attractiveness of the public space – the local environment where people lead their lives.

The review process involved all relevant government departments and drew on the views of practitioners and others involved in delivery of local environmental services and maintenance of the local environment.

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The review found that issues such as anti-social behaviour, street crime, litter, and condition of parks and play areas all impact greatly on people’s quality of life. These issues also link strongly to other policy priorities such as health, crime, community cohesion and children’s development, and this agenda is also very much connected to social exclusion as local environmental outcomes are often worst in areas already suffering other forms of deprivation.

The review identified a number of principles for delivering better public space outcomes:

• mainstream funding should be the key to delivery, while additional programmes should be rationalised to reduce bureaucracy and allow maximum local flexibility for choices on spending;
• the involvement of local people, organisations and businesses in identifying problems and delivering improvements - partnership working - is crucial to getting the right solutions and ensuring their sustainability;
• there should be clear leadership and accountability at both local and national level;
• a robust system of measures and targets is needed to help drive performance, inform day-to-day management and increase transparency for local people; and
• there should be more clarity on the powers and freedoms of, and greater incentives and rewards for, those in the front line.

Further details on the cross-cutting review, its findings and new approaches the Government is taking to improving public space are set out in Chapter 31 of the Spending Review 2002 White Paper

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Living Places

Following the formal conclusion of the review, cross departmental work has continued to publish a report on progress. Living Places: Cleaner, Safer, Greener builds on the findings of the cross-cutting review and was launched at the Urban Summit in October 2002, setting out the work Government is now taking forward to deliver a better local environment. The press notice announcing the report, including a link to the full report itself is available on the ODPM website

Alongside the main paper, a consultation document – Living Places: Powers, Rights and Responsibilities – was released. This invites views on 27 proposed legislative changes as part of the Government’s strategy for clarifying and improving the statutory framework associated with achieving cleaner, safer local environments. The closing date for responses in February 14, 2003. The press notice launching the consultation paper, including a link to the document is available on the DEFRA website.

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Cross Cutting Review index page