ABSTRACT
The Review of Sub-National Economic Development and Regeneration (SNR) recommended that new powers and incentives be given to local authorities to enable them to pursue local prosperity, economic growth and regeneration. There had also been a movement towards the formation of voluntary partnerships between local authorities, known as Multi-Area Agreements (MAAs), to cooperate on issues and services crossing local boundaries such as transport, housing and the environment. The Conservative and Liberal Democrat parties also wanted major changes to regional policies and structures, but they were far more anti- the regional level of governance than was Labour. Indeed, the Conservative Party policy appeared to be that only the Government Offices would remain at regional level, and these would be driving national policies. A Coalition Agreement (2010) was established between the two ruling parties. They also announced that the Regional Parliamentary Select Committees created by the Labour Government would not be re-established in the new Parliament.
