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Socio-economic Master plan for regional development

Problems and challenges

  • Lack of power

Solutions

  • A strategic socio economic plan for the region based on the CAA approach

Barriers

  • Money, ownership

Tools

  • A structure and process design for a regional economic master plan

Problems and challenges

A socio-economic Masterplan (SEMP) for the region might be a solution if

  • The vitality of the region is under pressure due to migration of young (potential) higher educated people to more urban regions
  • An imbalanced labour market
  • Economic transitions (old pillars of economy decrease)
  • Your region is looking for new approaches and new alliances …

In the North East of Fryslân six municipalities together with the province of Fryslân have set up a socio-economic Masterplan, that has been made operational into an Agenda for the North East, an agenda called ANNO.

The ANNO-team, a coordinator, a financial and grant specialist, a communications coordinator and a secretarial coordinator

 

 

 

 

 

Solutions

A socio-economic plan including an agenda for the next twenty years for the region, involving stakeholders for a common approach and joint forces. With the socio-economic Masterplan the region expects to maintain the quality of the region for inhabitants, companies and visitors and improving the quality of life by smart choices and well chosen investments. In the region there are lots of challenges, but with SEMP a structure is created for alignment, prioritizing and focus.

Six municipalities and the province of Fryslân are cooperating. They all have their own strong local sense of identity by the separate municipalities and companies, but also have to cooperate in the regional cooperation, build a regional cooperation structure. But Cooperation also means political focus and prioritize. In 2010, the cooperation at the regional scale is further given form as Network Northeast. Network Northeast includes, in addition to the six governmental authorities, the entrepreneurs and society in the region. All governmental bodies are represented in a steering group. http://www.dwaande.nl/uploads/bestanden/Werken%20en%20ondernemen/Sociaal-economisch-Masterplan-Netwerk-Noordoost.pdf

Barriers

The most important barriers have been of course the financing of the masterplan. But also a constant focus on the choices and principles of the masterplan is needed.

Tools

A structure and process design for a regional economic master plan The municipalities in the region have organized a process to set up a regional socio economic masterplan. In brainstorm session strategic partners, entrepreneurs and local and provincial governments have defined the themes with priority for the region. For this sessions a carrousel form was used. Mixed groups (with representatives with a different background) designed features of necessary interventions in the region. After an hour the groups switched an worked out the plans of another group. After another hour a third group completed these plans. This was the base for a vision text, the socio economic masterplan. In divers forums of the involved partners the plan is determined by the administration boards of involved partners. After determination the plan has been worked out in an agenda for the coming with distinction of thematical projects (the so called ambition projects; projects in which a regional vision on a certain theme will be worked out) and prioritized projects (concrete projects to be carried out). An organizational structure and a process structure has been set up to control the activities of the Agenda for the region

masterplan1 Entrepeneurs and officers discussing the future of the region