Despite the current economic uncertainties, Edinburgh continues to attract talented people and high-value, knowledge-driven, economic activity. The range and choice of housing, including affordable options, means that many workers choose to settle within the wider city region and commute into the capital. “The power of the regional economy can be seen in commuting patterns and the way the dynamic city economy has really given direct benefits of prosperity and growth throughout the city region network,” says David Hume, Chief Executive of Scottish Borders Council. “However, we can’t rely on that happening by default, or continuing on its own volition forever, particularly as there’s more competition from Europe and the rest of the world.”
David emphasises the need to look afresh at what makes city regions successful and to make sure the City Region’s public authorities respond effectively to the principal issues, including higher education, land use, transport and the management of waste.
“Collaboration is vital. We must share resources to identify major projects capable of producing collective benefits that spread throughout the whole region,” advocates David. “This is NOT regional government – rather a hard-headed collaboration on strategic issues to make life better for all of us.”
Mechanisms are already in place to encourage just such collaboration. Recent work on the creation of a regional economic development framework has seen input from, and discussions between, stakeholders from across the city region. This ambition to create a collaborative framework features high on the agenda of the forthcoming Capital City Region Conference. As David indicates, the challenge now is to build on these strong foundations.
“The reality is that a huge number of Borders residents work in Edinburgh and see themselves as part of that collaboration already,” points out David. “What’s more, increasing numbers of people are making lifestyle choices which see them working in Edinburgh and living in the beautiful surroundings of the Borders.
“We need to be tackling connectivity with regards to roads, IT, broadband and digital communications so that we make this economy work as a network. “It shouldn’t matter if you’re sitting in the centre of Edinburgh or in the central Borders or indeed anywhere else across the city region, workers should have access to the wider national and international economy.”
This need for improved connectivity is one which will feature strongly in David’s pre-conference dinner speech on 4 November. “I’ll be discussing the concept of considering city regions in the same manner as electronic networks or a central nervous system, with information and energy flowing in both directions.”
As David points out, research conducted by Cambridge Econometrics demonstrates
that the economic performance of small towns is much higher when contained within larger city regions. “I am absolutely clear that prosperity and performance improves when we are seen as part of the city region networking system,” he says. “Standards of living and prosperity across the Scottish Borders have benefited from our involvement in the city region.
“When you view an aerial photograph of south east Scotland, the one thing you cannot see are any administrative boundaries. It’s a real, live system in front of your eyes. Our job is to ensure the system functions to the mutual benefit of us all.”
While collaboration between local authorities will help the region to leverage existing assets and ride out the current economic storm, the need for collaboration extends well beyond the confines of the public sector and can help us tackle not just short-term economic shocks, but also longer term challenges such as climate change.
Sustainable collaboration
Increasingly, the challenge of addressing climate change is one that is being taken up by the private sector. This is encouraging since the private sector is where much of the expertise, innovative thinking and financial resources required to deal with this issue are to be found. The commitment of the private sector also brings with it a pragmatic focus on commercial opportunity and realistic solutions which is now helping to move the debate into the realms of practical delivery.
URS Corporation, one of the primary sponsors of the Capital City Region Conference on 5 November, is just one such company. Boasting first rate global expertise and experience in all aspects of economic development, URS are now using their expertise to help clients around the world reduce consumption, improve waste management and enhance performance of infrastructure.
When Paul Appleby, Director of the Building Sustainability Unit at URS Corporation addresses delegates at the Capital City Region Conference, his key message will focus on practical proposals for achieving sustainable economic development at the regional level in the future.
“The argument for sustainable development is underpinned by the created by globalisation and climate change,” explains Jean Curran, Associate Director for Environment and Development Services with URS. “Cities account for approximately 80 per cent of all the world’s greenhouse gas emissions, so you can see the opportunity for Edinburgh to work closely alongside its neighbours in mitigating climate change effects.”
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