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City of Ghent Peer-review workshop Integrated Sustainable Urban Development Strategies The Urban Development Network CITY OF GHENT Ghent 1-2 December 2016 The city at a glance Ghent is a “pocket sized metropolis”, combining the intimacy of a small city with the openness of a metropolis (Charles Landry, 2011) Facts & figures .500,000 inhabitants in metropolitan area .257,709 inhabitants in Ghent .156 different nationalities .74,000 students .15,643 ha surface .170,249 jobs .Job ratio 104.8% .Unemployment: 12.8% .25 neighbourhoods Ghent, city with a diversifying population • The population is on the rise since 1999 (12% increase, after decreasing for 19 years). • Ghent has a relatively young population compared to the rest of Flanders, though almost 1 out of 3 inhabitants Ghent is ethnically and is 55 or older. culturally becoming more and more • The city is a melting pot of diversified with 19% 156 different nationalities. belonging to an ethno- cultural minority Ghent, city of innovation and creativity • Largest student city of Flanders (70.000 students) • The ‘Academic Ranking of World Universities’ puts Ghent University as Belgium’s top-institution • 13 research centers of world Ghent BC (Big in class (e.g. the Flemish Creativity) is a network Institute for Biotechnology). of researchers, entrepreneurs and • The creative economy counts government stimulating more than 500 creative and the knowledge innovative enterprises and economy. more than 6,000 workplaces. Ghent, city of culture and tourism • Ghent is host of the International Film Fest • Ghent is a UNESCO City of Music and has a wild range of musical events. • The ten-day Ghent Festivities is the largest Ghent is a big cocktail European city festival. of styles in art, design, rd architecture and music. • Ghent is 3 in the National History is gracefully Geographic Traveler connected to modern Magazine ranking of design and art. authentic destinations. Ghent, city of future-oriented businesses • 170,249 jobs The economic structure is determined by the • Industry plays an important Port of Ghent, wich is role in local employment and providing almost knowledge networks: OCAS, 30,000 direct and CRM, SIM, … 40,000 indirect jobs. • An innovative economy (bio- energy, biotechnology, ICT) with strong patent position • Room for new projects: more than 1,000 acres assigned to Logistics, Knowledge Economy and Services Your expectations from the Peer-Review Workshop •That the European Commission recognizes cities as a true level of governance. •External constructive feedback on the ISUD Ghent •Discussing several topics •Best practices •Networking Three questions you would like peers to discuss 3 • How to deal with ‘keys’ that are closely guarded by regional or national authorities? • How to improve the quality of citizen participation? • How to cope with stakeholders with different expectations? 6 Experience in ISUDS • ERDF 2000 – 2006: • Management: city of Ghent, budget 10 milion euro • Focus on urban renewal projects in the 19th century belt: Pre-port, Oxygen for the Brugse Poort, Bridges to Rabot • ERDF 2007 – 2013 & 2014 - 2020 • Management Flemish Region, 4 priorities V. The• OutwardPRIORY AXE 4: Urban renewal • Flemish Urban Renewal Fund (2002 – 2016 – successful in 10 calls) • Flemish Cities Fund: long-range plans (1997 – 2016) • Federal Urban Policy (2000 – 2014) Building the evidence base for the strategy • 2003: New departemental structure. • Introduction department of general services • New offices: urban policy, data & monitoring,… • 2011 – 2012: Route towards a new legislature: • Participation: the opinion of citizens and neighbourhood programmes • Transversal city analysis: state of the art, image, diversity, public space, green spaces, housing, health, culture, sports, … • Evaluation of the city policy 2006 – 2012 • Calculation of the financial equilibrium and possibilities 7 Building the evidence base for the strategy • 2013: • New board of Mayor and Deputy Mayors > new mission 2030 and strategy • Translate strategy into operational objectives • Linking activities & projects to operational objectives • Indicators are formulated at every level of the strategic cascade for evaluation purposes, • Multi-annual plan 2014 – 2019 & budget 2014 approved • 2014: • Integration in city managers office • Start integrated strategy & strategic coördination • . 8 Vision and objectives GHENT: CITY WITH A MISSION Ghent is an open, inclusive, smart and child-friendly city. It connects all forces to develop the city into a lasting and livable whole and in doing so shapes the future. Ghent wants to be a creative forerunner in the transition towards a climate-neutral city. We are building an eco-friendly and diversified economy that brings welfare for all. By doing so, we develop a community of responsible citizens who can develop themselves freely and who can count on the necessary support. A medieval metropolis (11th – 14th century An industrialized city (18th - 19th century) 8 Vision and objectives Strategic Cascade • 9 main strategic goals • 40 strategic goals • Operational goals en project operational goals • Activities • Projects • Actions International policy Ghent puts emphasis on international cooperation and the exchange of experience and know-how. Smart cities – smart citizens “No smart city without smart citizens” “Smart city ecosystem: connect citizens” 10 Policy tools • Assessment framework • Neighbourhood managers • Programme directors • Sogent: Urban development company • Public Private Partnership: • Enhance services • Strategic funding • Use of temporary empty public space • Crowd funding • Sustainable assessment tool Grants Ambition Ambition EFRO Erasmus + DoelstellingPROJECT 2 PROJECT Strategic Multi- annual plan AmbitionPROJECT 2014-2019 Ambition EFRO Interreg Horizon 2020 Needs & ideas ERDF 2000 – 2006 Ghent, Urban zone in difficulty • 14% of the Ghent area - part of the 19th century belt • Budget: ERDF 10 mio euro –Total 50 mio euro • Priorities: Economical recorvery, liveability • Focus Urban Renewal • Management: Flemish Regio • Ghent: Project selection, steering Committee (chairman Mayor) • Lack of experience, too detailed OP, small area, division of powers (Flemish Regio – Ghent) not always clear ERDF 2007 - 2013 • Managementauthority: Flemish Region • Antenna: – provincial : 5 – urban 2: Antwerp & Ghent (Strategic Funding) • Budget: 200 mio euro • Innovation & knowledge, • SMI • spatial-economic factors, • urban development ERDF 2007 - 2013 • P1 – P3: Prov of EF: 1% of 150 mio € • Ghent: P1 – P3: Ghent 3D, Business patrks (The Loop, UCO Maïsstraat, Xiedauwkaai): 13 mio € • P4: – 13 cities – Budget: 50 mio € - Ghent: 11 mio € • Old Docks (Quay renovation) • KOBRA • Neighborhood railway station ERDF 2014 - 2020 • MA: Flemish Region • Antenna: 5 provincial & 2urban • Budget: 173,5 mio euro 1. Innovation : 69,5 mio € 2. SMI: 35 mio € 3. Carbon low economy 45 € 4. Urban development: 17 euro € (Antwerp 2/3 – Ghent 1/3) • P1 – P3: – 3 ITI’s: – 70 mio euro -40% of the budget ERDF 2014 - 2020 • Gent in P1 – P3: – (Capture, Bio Base, Gentrepreneur, Ministrey of Makers, Bycicle highways) – Succesrate: 10 mio € • Sustainable urban development – SD 1: Climate change – green- blue network – SD 2: Re use industrial sites/building – SD 3: Neighborhoods in transition EFRDF 2014 2020 • Screening multi-annual plan: • longlist • matrix • Shortlist • Focus P4: – SD1: The Old Docks: – SD 2: Wintercircus, En route (transformation of an old poluted industrial laundrysite) – SD 3: reallocation churches in 3 neighborhoods Criteria for a shortlist 1. Focus on themes & priorities of grant programmes & upcoming calls 2. Innovative on a (EU) level 3. Possible to submit & realise within the call’s time frame 4. Enough belief in the added value of (transnational) cooperation and enough commitment in the departments concerned to prepare the proposal and to implement it when approved 5. If relevant -> interest shown by external partners or (foreign) cities • The most important building block of a Smart City: the Smart Citizen Smart Citizen • Smart Cities need Smart Citizens to be truly inclusive, innovative and sustainable. Question for round table 1 Question 1: How to deal with ‘keys’ that are closely guarded by regional or national authorities? Why: Top down approach Flemish Region. Urban policy less important (ERDF 2014 - 2020: 8% ERDF 2007-2013: 25%), Gold plating: MS introduce rules which are more prescriptive than what is mentioned in EU rules & regulations, Extra administrative burden What has been done: Strategic Funding acts as a competence centre for ‘Group Ghent’: looking for opportunities, matching, tailor made support What worked: Realistic & audit proof projects (goals, timing, budget,…) What did not work: Success rate in Horizon 2020 & Interreg is uncertain. Competition between (regional/European) cities Question for round table 2 Question 2: How to improve the quality of citizen participation? Why: The most important building block of a smart city: the smart citizen, Smart cities need smart citizens to be truly inclusive, innovative & sustainable What has been done: A special service ‘Policy participation’ & ‘Integrated Urban Development’ sets up co-operation with citizens What worked: Temporary use of vacant places & buildings, crowdfunding, Bicycle streets, Living streets, concept study for the neighbourhood Muide – Meulestede What did not work: Organisational shift is necessary, there are often barriers within the government (suspicion, no rules or regulations,…) Question for round table 3 Question 3: How to cope with professional stakeholders with different expectations? Why: Urban development projects are complex, have a long-term horizon, expectations & interests are often incompatible,… What has been done: The city of Ghent acts as a director What worked: Public private partnership, capacity building public services & introducing new instruments (e.g. Urban development company, Program directors, Policy participation, quality board, …), What did not work: Priorities are changing, to maintain long-term engagement is a hard job. Trial & error, regulations PPS don’t fit with reality, discussions with the Flemish region are often tough. Thank you for your attention. .
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