Stojanovic & Barker 2008

Question 1

What does this paper discuss?

Answer 1

This paper considers the unique role, achievements and challenges facing local Coastal Partnerships in the UK

Question 2

What does this paper examine?

Answer 2

Empirical evidence of how Coastal Partnerships are contributing to sustainable coastal management. Considers:

1. shortfalls
2. their achievements
3. potential role in the context of the evolving policy framework.

Question 3

What do the authors contribute to research?

Answer 3

Blue print for the future of Coastal Partnerships

contribute to the ongoing debate in geographical literature on how the scale and structure of governance can be best organised to deliver local sustainability.

Question 4

What are coastal partnerships?

Answer 4

Coastal Partnerships are formed from different government agencies, local authorities, private sector organisations and interested bodies working together across the land–sea interface.

The approach recognises that more integrated management of the coast is required to produce coordinated actions and equitable solutions.

Most Coastal Partnerships in the UK are run on a voluntary basis with finan- cial support from partners (primarily local authorities and government agencies).

Coastal Partnerships are engaged in supporting statutory decision-making processes as well as facilitating voluntary action.

Many work closely with local coastal communities to foster a sense of ownership and stewardship over the coastal environment and its resources.

Question 5

What do coastal partnerships work with?

Answer 5

they operate concurrently with a variety of coastal initiatives that are more sectoral in focus. These include Coastal Groups, which support flood and coastal erosion risk management (Potts et al. 2005), and Schemes of Management for European Marine Sites, which set out nature conservation objectives for marine protected areas.

Question 6

How many CP are in the UK?

Answer 6

Over 60 voluntary Coastal Partnerships have developed around the UK coast since the early 1990s

Question 7

What are key aspects of CP?

Answer 7

1. Led by a management group - small number of representatives from key stakeholder organisations. They commonly employ a coordinating officer and in some cases a small team (of up to five staff) delivering core services
2. regular forum or conference bringing together decision-makers with sectoral interest groups to debate current issues
3. the use of topic/focus groups to carry out specific tasks such as problem solving, report writing or policy development
4. develop- ment of communication mechanisms such as workshops, websites, newsletters, and consultations to generate wide involvement from government, private and voluntary sectors.

Question 8

Name some failures of CP

Answer 8

debate on the effectiveness of Coastal Partnerships. Internal failures include mixed performance in achieving goals; failures in communication and engagement, particularly of private sector stake- holders; and the difficulties and limitations involved in taking a resource-intensive, consensus approach

Question 9

What is the reasoning for the shortfalls / performance failure in terms of CP?

Answer 9

a range of external constraints =k lack of a statutory basis or ongoing national programme has prevented Coastal Partnerships from becoming sustainable institutions

Question 10

Conclusions?

Answer 10

complexity of the bureaucracy in the coastal zone, which itself is evolving towards greater integration.

increasing pressures on coasts from resource use, development and environmental change

The question remains whether stakeholders will accept that Coastal Partnerships are an appro- priate arrangement to move beyond the maximisation of individual interests, and contribute to more effective delivery of sustainability at the local level by establishing a process for collaborative learning and governance.