Local Government and the Research Community
Steve Martin
LOCAL GOVERNMENT KNOWLEDGE NAVIGATOR SEMINAR
23rd June 2014
A broken bridge?
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
Analysis, Advocacy and Advice
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
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
Demand - capacity
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
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
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
Demand - topics
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
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
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
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