Local Government Policy

Question 1

How can local governments create sympathetic business environments? What is done for the people?

Answer 1

• Developing enterprise zones
• they are large geographical areas which provide tax breaks and low start up tax attracting FDI
• the local government can provide specialist infrastructure and equipment attracting a niche market leading to clustering and agglomeration
• local housing is built for the employees
• Enterprise zones have a larger spatial extent with a more heavy reliance on the central government
• enterprise zones have a more diverse range of industries whereas industrial and science parks are more specialised e.g. Newquay Aerohub or Cambridge Science Park

Question 2

Explain the aims and benefits of Cambridge Science Park

Answer 2

-established in 1970 by trinity college making it Europe’s largest and longest serving centre for commercial research and development

AIMS

• provides specialist facilities for R+D companies across a range of sectors
• supports R+D companies from start ups to floatation (where stocks are placed on the open market)
• encourages the clustering of high tech R+D

PROS

• Cambridge unis reputation for scientific development, engineering and medical research has made the area a hotspot for investment e.g. Huawei, Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC)
• many companies developed at Cambridge uni are moved into the science park
• large office spaces as well as 300sq feet of chem labs

Question 3

What is a quango?

Answer 3

Quasi-autonomous non governmental organisation

Question 4

What is a chamber of commerce?

Answer 4

-group of industries who meet regularly to discuss economic changes caused by the local authorities decision for redevelopment

Question 5

What is a preservation society?

Answer 5

• local interest group concerned for the local environment e.g. in horsell the group advocated for no redevelopment to happen on Horsell common to preserve the environment

Question 6

What is a residents group?

Answer 6

• local interest group who are concerned with protecting the local populations interests, it is often to do with the prevention of gentrification forcing low income families out of an area
• e.g. sheerwater garden estate rejected the regeneration scheme until it was made less invasive and required the forced relocation of less residents in the area

Question 7

What are trade unions?

Answer 7

• local interest groups that protect the rights of workers in an area, teachers often have a large stake in these unions. They are often involved in voicing the opposition to redevelopment schemes, especially if many jobs are at risk
• e.g. South Western Railways staff went on strike

Question 8

What are local interest groups?

Answer 8

Any association of individuals in an organised group with a shared concern and are trying to influence public policy in their favour targeting the local government e.g. Woking Against Skyscrapers