|
This
question – more than any other – caused a debate between the cities. And
the debate was not simply about definition, but whether a definition was
necessary – one commentator replied ‘paying too much attention on a
formal legal/economic definition is distracting from the substantial
issues. It is not so much to do with the structures of institutions but
of their functions. When we, in a vague and imprecise way, talk of
involving the private sector then we have fairly specific activities or
functions in mind: business start-ups in the neighbourhood (generating
employment and local purchasing power), retailing (stopping the closure
of shops and out-migration of retail facilities), private sector
services (massage parlours as opposed to swimming pools), investment
(speculative house building ...)[1].
|
