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Local Government Strategies for Transitioning Communities

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Local Government Strategies for Transitioning Communities Local Government Strategies for Transitioning Communities Churchill Fellowship Report – February 2013 Julia Agostino 2012 Churchill Fellow THE WINSTON CHURCHILL MEMORIAL TRUST OF AUSTRALIA Report by - JULIA AGOSTINO - 2012 Churchill Fellow To Study Local Government Strategies for Transitioning Communities I understand that the Churchill Trust may publish this Report, either in hard copy or on the internet or both, and consent to such publication. I indemnify the Churchill Trust against any loss, costs or damages it may suffer arising out of any claim or proceedings made against the Trust in respect of or arising out of the publication of any Report submitted to the Trust and which the Trust places on a website for access over the internet. I also warrant that my Final Report is original and does not infringe the copyright of any person, or contain anything which is, or the incorporation of which into the Final Report is, actionable for defamation, a breach of any privacy law or obligation, breach of confidence, contempt of court, passing-off or contravention of any other private right or of any law. Signed Dated 2 Table of Contents Acknowledgements 4 Executive Summary 5 Program of Engagement 6 Albany, New York, USA 7 Columbus, Ohio, USA 11 Chattanooga, Tennessee, USA 14 Transition Town Totnes, England 17 Wales, United Kingdom 19 Sheffield, England 22 Denmark 25 Aarhus, Denmark 26 Copenhagen, Denmark 28 Strategies and Key Learnings 30 Conclusions 34 Recommendations 35 Resources 36 3 Local Government Strategies for Transitioning Communities February 2013 Acknowledgements First, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the Winston Churchill Memorial Trust for giving me this truly once-in-a-lifetime experience to immerse myself in a subject I am passionate about. The Trust’s support and encouragement has been invaluable. I would like to thank Latrobe City Council for its support throughout my fellowship journey and for making it easy for me to love my job. I give special thanks to Allison Jones and Carol Jeffs for their advice and support. I also thank Professor Mark Sandeman of Monash University Gippsland for his help. I cannot say enough to thank everyone overseas who generously gave me their time, knowledge and insights, either by participating in interviews or providing me with information and contacts. I enjoyed meeting every one of you, and am so humbled by your efforts to help me with this project. Finally, I would like to thank my husband Tim Grainger without whom I could not have travelled. Tim helped me navigate the globe by plane, train and automobile, got me to places on time and waited patiently for me to finish interviews; he made sure I ate and slept, and carried the bags of documents I insisted on carting home – and all with a generous spirit and good humour. I dedicate this report to Giovanna Faenza. Julia Agostino February 2013 4 Local Government Strategies for Transitioning Communities February 2013 Executive summary Overview — In Denmark, I learned about how local governments are meeting the challenges of During a six-week period in late 2012, I visited the Danish Government’s ambitious carbon a number of international communities that have emissions reductions goals, through a range of experienced issues associated with economic innovative and practical strategies. downturn, including decline in local industries, job loss and urban decay. In this report, I have provided an overview of the transition communities I visited, touching on These communities are taking innovative steps to relevant issues, activities and strategies that were transition to a sustainable future. discussed. Under the three headings of ‘Strategies’, My ambition was to gain new insight into how we ‘Relationships’ and ‘Challenges’ I have discussed might tackle transition in Australia. common transition themes and identified learnings. Highlights Finally, I have set out the conclusions I have drawn, followed by a number of recommendations that — From New York State to Tennessee, and across may be useful for Australian local governments England, Wales and Denmark, I was warmly and other organisations in considering transition welcomed by people willing to generously activities and openly share with me their transition Through the extensive networks I have established knowledge and experiences with me. in my role at Latrobe City Council (which include — I found that local government was often at the stakeholders at all levels of government, community centre of activities to transition and transform groups, media, specialist bodies and universities) communities and I was able to learn not just I will share the knowledge I have gained on this what they did, but what made them successful. trip, and encourage its practical application in local — Many non-government organisations are transition activities. essential to transition, including Chambers of A program of my travel and stakeholder engagement Commerce, universities, specialist advice bodies is included on the following page. and community groups, and these often fill the gaps in government resourcing. Contact and Further Information — I found that partnerships and innovation are Julia Agostino essential, that early community consultation Manager Regional Partnerships is more likely to attract support for a project, Latrobe City Council and that local context and culture affects how 141 Commercial Road transition is planned and implemented. Morwell Victoria 3840 — I learned include that transition is an inclusive Telephone 03 5122 5759 process, not an exclusive one. — Successful transition involves innovation, negotiation and respect for the view of others; it involves genuine stakeholder consultation, strong partnerships, the ability to bring people along for the journey, and to share credit for success. 5 Local Government Strategies for Transitioning Communities February 2013 Program of Engagement NEW YORK CITY, USA TOTNES, UK October 1–3 2012 October 22 2012 Department of Small Business Services Totnes Transition Network Robert W Walsh, Commisisoner Ben Brangwyn, Transition Network Co-Founder Rachel C Van Tosh, Senior Policy Advisor Jo Coish, Office & Finance Manager ACP Visioning and Planning WALES, UK Gianni Longo, Architect & Founding Principal October 23–26 2012 HR&A Cardiff University (Cardiff Business School) Carl Weisbrod, Partner Dr Gillian Bristow ALBANY, USA Cardiff University (School of Planning and Geography) October 4–5 2012 Kevin Morgan, Professor of Governance and Development Capital District Regional Planning Commission Cardiff University (Sustainable Places Research Centre) Rocco Ferraro, AICP, Executive Director Stephen Williams, Honorary Research Fellow University of Albany Welsh Local Government Association Miriam Trementozzi, Associate Vice-President for Community Tim Peppin, Director, Engagement Centre for Alternative Technology Albany-Colonie Regional Chamber of Commerce Facility visit Mark N.Eagan, CCE, President and CEO MANCHESTER, UK City of Albany October 28–30 2012 Gerard Jennings, Mayor Core Cities Group University at Albany (Department of Geography & Planning) Chris Murray, Director Corianne P.Scalley PhD, Assistant Professor New Economy COLUMBUS, USA Paul Evans, Head of European Policy October 8–9 2012 City of Manchester (Economic Development Unit) Greater Ohio Policy Centre Karin Connell Allison Goebel, Associate Director SHEFFIELD, UK Lavea Brachman, Executive Director & Non Resident Senior October 30 2012 Fellow, Brookings Institution City of Sheffield City of Columbus (Economic Development Department) Diana Buckley, Economic Policy Officer Bill Webster Laurie Brennan, Policy Officer, Policy, Partnerships and Research CHATTANOOGA, USA BIRMINGHAM, UK October 11–12 2012 October 31 2012 Lyndhurst Foundation Birmingham University (Department of Management) Bruz Clarke, President and Treasurer Dr Caroline Chapain City of Chattanooga Birmingham University (Institute of Local Government Ron Littlefield, Mayor Studies) Chattanooga Venture Andrew Coulson Rick Montague, former President COPENHAGEN, DENMARK Eleanor Cooper, fomer Taskforce Leader (by email) November 5–6 2012 LONDON, UK City of Copenhagen October 14–19 2012 Eske Kock Pedersen, Executive Climate Officer London School of Economics Thoeger Lund-Sorensen, Climate Project Director Professor Anne Power AARHUS, DENMARK Cutting the Carbon November 7 2012 Alexis Rowell City of Aarhus Mette Behrmann, Senior Project Manager, Climate, Nature 6 and Environment Local Government Strategies for Transitioning Communities February 2013 Albany, New York Background Issues and initiatives Albany is one of the oldest cities in America, being The picture I gained during my brief stay in officially chartered as a city in 1686. Throughout its Albany is complex. On the one hand, it is a city long history, Albany has undergone many physical, whose leaders are committed to securing its future political, social and economic changes. through economic and community development. My interest in Albany stemmed from the parallels There exists a local pride in Albany, and a firm belief that can be drawn between it and Australia’s capital that it will be even stronger in the future. It is clear city, Canberra. Both have been largely dependent that many people are working tirelessly to achieve on government, education and health care for a the same outcome – a secure economic and social stable economy and population, and they potentially future for the community as a whole. face similar issues when a large public service
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