Regional development in Scotland and Ontario: A comparative analysis of the pursuit of regional development in multi-tiered administrative structures

Tindal, Charles Richard (1972) Regional development in Scotland and Ontario: A comparative analysis of the pursuit of regional development in multi-tiered administrative structures. PhD thesis, University of Glasgow.

Abstract

While regional economic development increasingly has become a goal of public policy in many nations, the administrative implications of adopting a regional development programme have received very little attention. Because the responsibilities relating to regional development normally are divided among several departments and among tiers of government, the pursuit of a regional development programme imposes heavy demands on both intra-governmental and inter-governmental relations. This study focuses on the nature of and responses to these demands through an examination of the experiences of Scotland and Ontario, both of which are considered intermediate tiers in multitiered administrative structures. A major specific objective of the study is to discern guidelines for Ontario from the relatively greater Scottish experience in pursuing regional development. Scotland. The Scottish research examines the Scottish Office, especially the roles of the Scottish Development Department and the Regional Development Division, the Scottish Economic Planning Board and Council and the Scottish Office-local authority joint working parties. The adequacy of these and other administrative arrangements is assessed through an analysis of efforts to implement the 1963 growth area programme, the Plan for the Central Borders and the out- county estate programme of Glasgow overspill. The general conclusion is that Scotland's administrative machinery worked well during the period under study. The Scottish Office's efforts to implement regional development programmes have been hampered not so much toy the action or inaction of Whitehall departments as toy the difficulty of obtaining coordination among local authorities and between local authorities and the Scottish Office. Some improvement in this situation is expected with the impending reform of local government in Scotland. The benefits of an increased devolution of powers from Whitehall are much less certain, with Ontario comparisons indicating that even in a federal state the national government activities significantly affect the intermediate tier's regional development efforts. Ontario. The Ontario research begins with an examination of the main administrative machinery established by the Province as part of its regional development programme, the Cabinet Committee on Economic and Regional Development (end its predecessors), the Advisory Committee on Regional Development, the Regional Development Councils and the Regional Advisory Boards, With the elaboration of regional plans in Ontario, notably the Toronto-Centred Region Plan, the adequacy of existing administrative arrangements is becoming questionable. The extent to which relevant responsibilities in Ontario are divided among numerous departments and agencies has meant increasing reliance on inter-departmental committees and task forces. Moreover, the implementation stage which the Province has yet to experience is expected to impose increased demands, especially in terms of municipal involvement and cooperation. The possible lessons for Ontario of the Scottish experience relate to both administrative machinery and policy. Scotland's use of the Scottish Special Housing Association to reinforce desired development patterns through its house-building activities could be emulated by the Ontario Government not only with the Ontario Housing Corporation's housing programmes, but also with the provision of water and sewerage facilities by the Ontario Water Resources Commission and the provision of financial incentives for industry by the Ontario Development Corporation. Joint working parties of provincial and local officials could also be utilized by the Ontario Government, especially as a means of more effectively involving municipalities in the elaboration and implementation of regional plans. On the policy front, Ontario should bear in mind that Britain's steering of industry efforts have involved both the positive attraction of industry through industrial Incentives and the negative limitation of expansion in congested areas of the country. It is suggested that the negative control factor may be necessary to achieve the Provincial Government's goals in the Toronto-Centred Region.

• Item Type: Thesis (PhD)
• Qualification Level: Doctoral
• Additional Information: Adviser: Lewis A Gunn
• Keywords: Area planning & development, Urban planning, Public administration
• Date of Award: 1972
• Depositing User: Enlighten Team
• Unique ID: glathesis:1972-73898
• Copyright: Copyright of this thesis is held by the author.
• Date Deposited: 14 Jun 2019 08:56
• Last Modified: 14 Jun 2019 08:56
• URI: https://theses.gla.ac.uk/id/eprint/73898