In March 2009 Angus Kennedy delivered a presentation at the Regeneration and Renewal National Regeneration Summit, and also chaired one of the sessions.  The Summit took place at the NEC in Birmingham.  Other speakers at the event included Department for Work and Pensions Minister Rosie Winterton, Homes and Communities Agency Chief Executive Sir Bob Kerslake and Clive Dutton from Birmingham City Council. 

Angus’ comments were quoted in an article about the national conference written by Allister Hayman (Regen.net, 31 March 2009).  The article, entitled ‘Renewal Sector Welcomes Regeneration Framework’, analysed the regeneration sector’s reaction to the 2008 document ‘Transforming Places; Changing Lives – A Framework for Regeneration Consultation’ which had sought to outline the principles of the Government’s new approach to regeneration.  The full text of the article is given below:
‘Renewal sector welcomes regeneration framework
Allister Hayman, Regen.net, 31 March 2009
The regeneration sector has broadly backed the Government’s decision to make economic goals a key driver for regeneration, according to a document published by the Department for Communities and Local Government.
The document outlines a summary of the responses to last year’s Transforming Places; Changing Lives – A Framework for Regeneration Consultation, which sought to outline the principles of the Government’s new approach to regeneration.

Speaking at the Regeneration and Renewal national conference in Birmingham today, Roger Wilshaw, DCLG deputy director of regeneration strategy, said the consultation had received a largely positive response from the regeneration sector, with particular support for the Government’s focus on economic outcomes as the key driver for regeneration.

He said there was also agreement that investment should remain targeted, to ensure that resources are not spread too thinly, but at the same time there was a recognition that this should not come at the detriment of rural communities.

The respondents also welcomed the strengthening of the role of local authorities and sub-regional partnerships, but called for more clarity on the relationships and roles of different partners and agencies within the regeneration sector, Wilshaw said.

He said there were also concerns that the new regeneration framework, with its focus on economic outcomes, could lessen the focus on broader neighbourhood renewal.

Speaking at the same event, Dr Angus Kennedy, chief executive of consultancy Community Regeneration Partnership, said that in principle the Government’s approach towards strengthening the economic renewal role of town halls was good. But he warned that, with councils shedding staff and facing a much straitened future, it would be difficult for them to take on their new responsibilities and powers. 

Councils are feeling beleaguered right now and will continue to do so over the next spending review period.  But at the same time we are asking them to provide greater civil leadership, he said.

Kennedy added that the number one priority for regeneration should not be rearranging the furniture through changes to governance structures, but just focusing on keeping thing going. 

He said: We need to be realistic and focus on core business. If people say be innovative, be imaginative, take risks, we need to say that’s not going to happen. Things will be about risk analysis and risk mitigation.  That is realistic.’