https://theses.gla.ac.uk/ Theses Digitisation: https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/research/enlighten/theses/digitisation/ This is a digitised version of the original print thesis. Copyright and moral rights for this work are retained by the author A copy can be downloaded for personal non-commercial research or study, without prior permission or charge This work cannot be reproduced or quoted extensively from without first obtaining permission in writing from the author The content must not be changed in any way or sold commercially in any format or medium without the formal permission of the author When referring to this work, full bibliographic details including the author, title, awarding institution and date of the thesis must be given Enlighten: Theses https://theses.gla.ac.uk/ [email protected] AN ANALYSIS OF THE CONTEMPORARY GOVERNANCE OF GLASGOW, 1975-2000 ProQuest Number: 10646241 All rights reserved INFORMATION TO ALL USERS The quality of this reproduction is dependent upon the quality of the copy submitted. In the unlikely event that the author did not send a com plete manuscript and there are missing pages, these will be noted. Also, if material had to be removed, a note will indicate the deletion. uesL ProQuest 10646241 Published by ProQuest LLO (2017). Copyright of the Dissertation is held by the Author. All rights reserved. This work is protected against unauthorized copying under Title 17, United States C ode Microform Edition © ProQuest LLO. ProQuest LLO. 789 East Eisenhower Parkway P.Q. Box 1346 Ann Arbor, Ml 48106- 1346 GLASGOW UNIVERSITY LIBRARY: , / Z ^ 6 ? <^opy • Z- CONTENTS Synopsis Acknowledgements List of Appendices List of Maps List of Tables CHAPTER ONE Introduction and Background to Research 1 The Rise and Decline of Heavy Industries in Glasgow 4 Industrial Restructuring 7 From Local Government to Local Governance 1 5 Explaining the Changes in Urban Governance 2 0 Urban Policy Responses 2 3 In Summary 2 8 CHAPTER TWO Urban Theory and Practice 3 0 Introduction 3 0 Theories of Urban Politics: An Introduction 3 1 Explaining the ‘New Urban Governance’ 3 3 Changing Urban Discourse and Urban Policy 5 1 Urban Policy Before and After 1979 5 7 Redefining the Urban ‘Problem’ 6 5 From Dependency Culture to Social Inclusion 7 0 Conclusions 7 9 CHAPTER THREE Methodology 8 2 Introduction 8 2 Politics, Theory and Research 8 3 Qualitative Interviewing 8 9 Observational Research 9 2 Focus Group Research 9 9 Focus Group Research Recruitment and Access 10 3 Making Contact with Focus Group Participants 10 6 Recording Focus Group Discussions 10 7 The Politics of Focus Groups 10 9 Analysing Qualitative Data 112 Conclusions 117 CHAPTER FOUR The Contemporary Governance of Glasgow 119 Introduction 119 Changing Urban Government 119 The Reorganisation of Scottish Local Government 1 2 3 Transitions in the Governance of Glasgow 1 3 2 The Rise of the Urban Partnership Model in Glasgow 1 4 1 Local Governance and the Private Sector 14 6 Governing the ‘New Glasgow’ - The Emergence of the Glasgow Allaince 15 2 Conclusions 16 9 CHAPTER FIVE Glasgow: A City in Transition 17 4 Introduction 1 7 4 Urban Policy Developments in 1980s and 1990s 1 7 4 Civic Boosterim and the Marketing of the ‘New Glasgow’ 17 7 Retargeting of Urban Policy, Towards New Life 18 9 From New Life to Social Inclusion 2 0 3 Conclusions 2 12 CHAPTER SIX Governing the Periphery: The Case of ‘Greater PoIIok’ 2 15 Introduction 215 The Emergence of Glasgow’s ‘Peripheral Estate Problem’ 2 16 The Origins and Development of ‘Greater Pollok’ 2 2 1 The Neglect and Decline of ‘Greater Pollok’ 2 2 7 Local Politics in ‘Greater Pollok’ 2 3 7 Conclusions 2 5 1 CHAPTER SEVEN Social Exclusion and Life in ‘Greater Pollok’ 2 5 3 Introduction 2 5 3 Including ‘Greater Pollok’; Getting on the Social Inclusion Train2 5 4 Designation of ‘Greater Pollok’ as a Social Inclusion Partnership 2 6 5 Vision and Reality: Focus Group Discussions on Social Inclusion and Life in ‘Greater Pollok’ 2 6 9 Local Views on Governing Issues 2 8 4 Conclusions 28 9 CHAPTER EIGHT Conclusions 293 Local Policy Makers and the New Urban Governance - The Case of Glasgow 2 9 4 Regime or Regulation Theory - What Best Explains the Emergence of the New Urban Governance? 3 0 4 In Pursuit of Urban Entrepreneurial and Social Inclusion Policies: Complimentary or Contradictory? 3 11 The Impact of Social Inclusion Policies on Disadavantaged Areas 3 2 0 Thoughts for an Epilogue 3 2 9 References 334 Appendices 379 Maps 3 9 2 Tables 395 SYNOPSIS This research sought to investigate the effectiveness of the ‘new urban governance’ in addressing the problems experienced by disadvantaged communities in a deindustrialised city. This was achieved by examining the changing structure and process of contemporary urban governance in Glasgow and how this has impacted upon urban policy developments. Central to the ‘new urban governance’ is the pursuit of urban entrepreneurial policies, which it is claimed are in the best interest of all the city’s residents. However, in the case of Glasgow, the above is debatable. This research demonstrated how Glasgow policy makers developed a strategy that favoured business in the city centre over other areas of the city. This in turn, resulted in the emergence of a ‘dual urban policy’. Within this context, urban policies pursued and adopted by city decision makers still fundamentally matter to the quality of life of all citizens. In striving to provide the fullest explanation with regards to the nature of contemporary urban governance in Glasgow this study adopted a political-economy approach. While previous research attempts have investigated the emergence of a ‘new urban politics’, analysis to date has been far from complete or comprehensive. The exact lineaments and nature of the ‘new urban governance’ are open to dispute and can differ from place to place. A further key finding of this research has shown how Glasgow does not fit neatly into any ideal type of local governance. This research has shown that while regime and regulation theory can assist in improving our understanding of the ‘new urban governance’ they are limited in their analysis. This research argues that a fusion of both theories enables a deeper understanding of contemporary urban governance. In the case of Glasgow, while there is no shortage of research into urban regeneration, there is a lack of any comprehensive analysis regarding the governance of the city. This research has significantly contributed to the aforementioned debate in that for the first time the nature of contemporary governance in Glasgow has been contextualised. The effectiveness of social inclusion policies designed to address the problems of disadvantaged neighbourhoods has also been examined in this work. Specifically this study draws upon detailed research material obtained from a case-study of the ‘Greater Pollok’ social inclusion partnership. The difficulties of including the local community in urban decision making was identfied and that recent top-down partnership structures only serve to legitimate and help implement policy decisions taken by powerful non locally-accountable regeneration agencies. Acknowledgements The completion of this thesis would not have been possible without the help and assistance of a number of individuals. First, thanks and appreciation go to my supervisor Professor Bill Lever, who provided both invaluable support and wise guidance throughout the duration of my research. I would also like to acknowledge the contribution of Annette Hastings who most ably guided me through the final stages of my thesis. I am extremely grateful to Dr Gerry Mooney, whose comments on draft chapters were most helpful and insightful. Much appreciation must also go to Dr James McCormick who helped me with ideas and discussion. My gratitude also extends to all of those individuals whom I interviewed in the course of my research, who gave up their valuable and pressing time. Finally, on a more personal level this thesis is dedicated with love to my parents Eileen and Michael McWilliams, my wife Dr Ann McDowell (who also helped to edit this work) and son Mark, all of whom have all been constant sources of support and inspiration to me throughout my life. List of Appendices Appendix 1 Focus Group Questionnaire 380-381 Appendix 2 Questions asked During Semi-Structured Interview 382 Appendix 3 Name and Affiliation of those Interviewed During Research 383 Appendix 4 Letter To Focus Group Participants 384 Appendix 5 Location of Focus Group Meeting 385 Appendix 6 Extract from Housing Association Focus Group 386 Appendix 7 Issues Raised During Focus Group Meetings 387 Appendix 8 Letter from Scottish Executive - Problems of Accessing Data 388 Appendix 9 Photograph of Dereliction in Greater Pollok 389 Appendix 10 Photograph of Boarded-up Housing in Greater Pollok 390 Appendix 11 Photograph of Physical Decline 391 List of Maps Map 1 Glasgow’s Peripheral Estates 393 Map 2 Areas which make up Greater Pollok 394 List of Tables Table 1 Organisations with Responsibilities for Urban Policy in Glasgow 396 Table 2 Membership of the Glasgow Alliance Board as of April 1999 397 Table 3 Socio-economic Indicators of Deprivation in Greater Pollok 398 Table 4 Urban Programme Funding levels in Glasgow’s Peripheral Estates 399 CHAPTER ONE INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND TO RESEARCH ‘'....they're closing down the textile mills across the railroad tracks, foreman said these jobs are going boy, and they ain't coming back to your home town...... (Bruce Springsteen, My Hometown, 1984). This study aims to investigate the effectiveness of the ‘new urban governance’ in addressing the problems experienced by disadvantaged communities living in a deindustrialised city. This will be achieved through an analysis and examination of the nature of urban policy decision making in the city of Glasgow between 1975-2000.