Partnerships in place-keeping Is partnership working the solution for open space management?

1. Partnerships in place-keeping Is partnership working the solution for open space management? Mel Burton University of Sheffield Green Growth: New Shoots International Conference 2012

2. Today’s presentation Defining place-keeping Partnership in place-keeping Partnership Capacity Issues and benefits Recommendations Mel Burton University of Sheffield Green Growth: New Shoots International Conference 2012

3. Across Europe, there is too much emphasis on the ‘place-making’ and not ‘place-keeping’ (or long-term management) of open space.

4. Place-making • The creation of high-quality places that people want to visit, experience and enjoy • Implies a people-centred approach • health and wellbeing • sense of belonging and attachment • welcoming and inclusive places HafenCity, Hamburg; River Don, Sheffield; Hailes Quarry Park, Edinburgh.

5. Place-keeping • What happens ‘after’ high quality places have been created • maintaining and enhancing the qualities and benefits through LTM • Long-term management of places • to ensure that the social, environmental and economic quality and benefits can be enjoyed by future generations - landscapes develop and change over time. Woesten, West Flanders; Leuven, Flemish Brabant; Manor & Castle, Sheffield.

6. Why is place-keeping important? • Inappropriate design can lead to more maintenance in the long run • Poorly designed and managed spaces can make users feel unsafe • less used, less valued • leading to neglect, misuse: an ‘uncared-for’ space • may require costly changes in the future

7. Complex; Place Process Product

8. Place-keeping themes Partnerships Governance / engagement Maintenance Funding / finance Evaluation Policy

9. Partnerships • Agreed shared responsibility for place-keeping. • May be: - informal - mutual understanding of roles and responsibilities - formal, based on written agreement. • Roles and responsibilities delegated horizontally rather than traditional ‘top-down’ governance. Emmen, the Netherlands; Steilshoop, Hamburg; Woesten, Belgium.

10. Partnerships • Consensus in policy + theory that they effectively achieve place-keeping, especially: • - A combination of public-private-third sector • - Involvement + engagement of local community

11. Partnership Capacity Firth Park Sheaf Valley Park Porter Valley Millhouses Park Clissold Park Clapton Square Robin Hood Community garden In relation to place-keeping we definepartnership capacity as: the degree to which public-community partnerships are able to withstand and respond to changes in support, and remain actively involved and effective in developing and sustaining green space quality.

12. Partnership Capacity

13. Involvement models

14. Partnership Capacity • The importance of networks • Internal and external networks are essential in communicative capacity. • Groups with large networks have a greater resourcing capacity.

15. Partnership Issues • Resource intensive – lack of resources • Unrepresentative – personal agendas • Continuity- what happens when people move on? • Motivation - ‘That’s the local authorities job.’ • Funding challenges – multiple partners, funding cycles, changing polices • Concerns over responsibilities - liability, quality

16. Partnership benefits • Solve complex problems • Improve relationships - resolve conflicts. • Access additional resources • Partner benefits – PR, professional / social contacts • Social interactions and sense of community • Environmental awareness, ownership – reduce site problems • Environmental improvements

17. Is partnership working the solution for open space management? • It’s complex– may not be the easiest option • Requires long-term commitment – time, resources • Develop a shared vision, aims and goals. • involve stakeholders early • treat as equals, • delegate responsibilities • build sense of ownership and consensus. • Trusted mediator as link between government and stakeholders. • Agree clear roles and responsibilities – written, formal agreements  

18. Is partnership working the solution for open space management? Flexibility and continuity important - role for local government Partners (ship) lack capacity -need on-going support to build networks Transfer of responsibilities - concerns over liabilities and quality Space should match partnership capacity Good communication, internal and external, is essential

19. The future of your local park?