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In most cases the programmes are implemented by special purpose
agencies. Such institutions are ambivalent. At the one hand they are
efficient and show a high level of commitment and expertise, at the
other hand they are kept off the routine of public service delivery –
they are not mainstream but exceptional by design.
The integration of these institutions into the wider political and
administrative system is in all cases brought about by steering boards.
However, as we have seen above, in most of the cases neighbourhood
regeneration is based on special legislation, and the governance
approach in this field –as promoted in the respective laws and
guidelines – differs from other policy areas. So, although the
integration of various departments is – formally - guaranteed by
representatives sitting at the boards, especially when it comes to
setting priorities and putting the money where the mouth is, some
departments have difficulties to follow. We can see a particular line of
division between Ministries who are traditionally used to invest in
“hardware” and projects, like planning, environment and construction
departments, and Ministries who have a “software”-based spending
culture, like departments for education and culture.
In Vilnius , for instance, it was planned that OTRA was financed as a
joint effort by the Municipality and the Ministry of Culture, but: “from
the day of its establishment it has only been financed by the municipal
budget” (OTRA 2003, 15).
A second crucial point is that the integrative approach is so far
only applied for some areas in which there is a specific need, but it is
not regarded (yet) as a mainstream approach to public administrative
work, again with the exception of Glasgow, where, for example, based on
the successful LDC model, partnerships have evolved in general as a need
to ensure the integration of a fragmented local state system.
What we have not looked at in more detail is the integration of the
approaches at national level. As basically all programmes are based on
national legislation, this seems to be given. However, we can see
contradictory policies at national level. For Portugal , for instance,
the establishment and growth of the local economy (little and medium
local anchored enterprises etc.) will be hindered by planned national
tax policies: National policy emphasis is laid specially on new social
housing that has normally be settled in the outskirts of cities. At this
time nearly no city in Portugal could get into debt and lend any money
to invest in urban renewal. Similar contradictions are known from
Germany , which is still running a substantial subsidy for the
construction of new single homes (hopefully to be dropped in 2004).
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