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Local government minister, Rosie Winterton, has launched a robust defence of regional development agencies (RDAs), after coming under fire for not devolving more powers over employment programmes to town halls. While speaking at a National Worklessness Forum conference in London on 4 February, Ms Winterton told The MJ it was ‘absolutely right' that RDAs provided regional oversight of sub-national employment strategies because they could encourage job-creation plans for cities, or travel-to-work areas, which extended across existing local authority boundaries. Senior Conservatives have outlined plans to scrap the RDAs and devolve many of their powers to localities as part of the party's cost-cutting plan. Cross-party local government groups have also heaped pressure on the Labour Government to devolve oversight of unemployment strategies to localities, following the success of local government-led initiatives such as the Future Jobs Fund and the Working Neighbourhoods Fund. Critics claim that a middle layer of bureaucracy – the RDAs – between Whitehall and local government could hinder the ability of local leaders to find solutions to specific, local unemployment problems. Challenged by The MJ to explain her preferred approach to employment strategies, Ms Winterton praised councils' ‘focused' approach. But, she added: ‘At the same time we do need a regional approach towards travel-to-work areas, for example, and a method of co-ordinating work with regional employers. They need to be reassured there's a long-term skills strategy which asks what the overall [regional] economy will need in 10 or 15 years time. That's the role of RDAs – and it's not just me saying they should stay.' Adam Sharples, director general at the Department for Work and Pensions, said he had ‘some sympathy' for proponents of devolution, because of the success of projects such as the FJF. But he played down political rows over responsibility for employment programmes. ‘It's about understanding there's a role for both [central and local government] in tackling the sticking points,' he said. ‘There are some things that local government does well which central government is not very good at, such as joining up work between organisations including the Offender Management Service and the police.'

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WHITEHALL

Minister's stout defence of 'job-creating RDAs'

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