- Email: [email protected]
Infrastructure provision and the negotiating process
ARTICLE IN PRESS
Habitat International 29 (2005) 603–611
Book reviews Infrastructure provision and the negotiating process Frank Ennis (Ed.); Urban and Regional Planning and Development Series, Aldershot, Ashgate, UK, 2003, 246pp., HBd49.95 This book takes a new look at an issue that is not new, but one where the special focus on negotiations is quite special. The controversy concerning to what extent private developers can and should contribute to development or financing of infrastructure is ongoing, with advocates stressing the economic benefits while critics feel that planning ethics and control of public authorities or the community may suffer. The book compiles experiences of housing projects in the Netherlands, cost recovery for infrastructure development in Ireland through development permits, the dimensions of negotiation in urban planning in Britain, infrastructure provision by private property developers in France, marginal cost pricing of development charges in Canada, privatization of infrastructure provision in Australia, public–private partnerships for infrastructure provision in the Ruhr Region, the contribution of infrastructure finance to urban sprawl in Illinois, the role of environmental assessment in Portugal, the use of rights of way for new telecom infrastructure, and the competition of various networks for urban space. The book provides in an overview of the various infrastructure types—physical, economic, housing, community, health, educational, environmental. However, it is only able to deal with some of these. Nevertheless, it is able to show two different approaches of developments where charges are being levied on developers for the developments, or how developers can be brought into developing directly the required infrastructure. The book illustrates that there are no common lessons yet available on the format and obligations, as these seem to vary from case to case, and as a result, the system for securing developer contributions has developed in a piecemeal fashion. Many conflicts seem to continue to exist on obligations of both sides. The incremental approach to define policies and instruments is a reflection of the slow evolution of practices. While in Canada and Australia the local government agencies seem to enjoy a very high degree of independence, in Europe local agencies have less authority and are more subject to public scrutiny. The principal key to success is that both parties recognize the win–win concept and that the negotiating process is seen as an important factor to determine the results of consensus. If modern city development is strongly influenced by a range of infrastructures that enables human and economic activities, the subject of negotiation is not only important from the perspective of increasing investment capacities but also as an interactive dialogue between the city, its inhabitants and stakeholders. Despite the many interesting notions of specialist’s contributions, it is regrettable that the book is too much a compilation of insiders’ papers and more work could have been done on systematizing the relevance of the pieces and their contributions to urban management
ARTICLE IN PRESS 604
Book reviews / Habitat International 29 (2005) 603–611
instruments. Additionally, it would have been desirable to edit the book a bit more carefully (poor orthography prevails). The book appears like a hasty product of simple academic publishing, at a price far too high for a wide circulation. Florian Steinberg Jl. Kemang I D, No. 16, Jakarta 12730, Indonesia E-mail address: [email protected] doi:10.1016/j.habitatint.2003.11.003
Social challenges and organizing capacity in cities, experiences in eight European cities Leo van den Berg, Jan van der Meer and Peter M. J. Pol; European Institute for Comparative Urban Research Series, Ashgate, Aldershot, UK, 2003, 302pp., HB d49.95 This book from the European Institute for Comparative Urban Research (Euricur), Erasmus University Rotterdam (EUR) presents a new dimension of urban management responsibilities, the capacity to deal with issues of social revitalization, such as integration of migrants, the unemployed, addicted, poor and marginalized groups in Europe. Organizing capacities take into account the development and implementation of comprehensive strategies in response to fundamental changes in society and the need for conditions to make metropolitan development sustainable. The city of Eindhoven in the Netherlands has taken a lead in bringing together . Stockholm, Helsinki and Utrecht. experiences from Rotterdam, Strasbourg, Antwerp, Malmo, Organizing capacity is seen as the ability of those responsible to convene all public and private partners and jointly generate new ideas, and develop and implement policies that are responsive for sustainable economic and social development. The book recognizes that local practices point the way towards innovation but that they cannot survive in the long run without supportive national policies. The general picture that emerges is that those approaches are more successful which succeed in target groups becoming selfsupporting. While many city administrations are ill-equipped for comprehensive approaches, the degree of inter-departmental and stakeholder cooperation that can be brought into these processes is decisive for success. One of the biggest challenges is obviously not only to join hands among the bodies in the public sector but with the private sector as well. Cooperation is achieved faster at the micro or neighborhood levels. Leadership is a key to success and should be anchored at several levels, with different operational, tactical and strategic skills required. Societal support can be increased if trust is created and real results can be demonstrated. The process, as such, demands adjustments of policies and instruments, and this requires new skills for opportunityoriented social policies. Further to the implementation of social development activities is the establishment and close monitoring of performance through indicators, and the communication of these results through a public information system. As experiences mature, the cases show that there is an evolution from direct action to institutionalization and the capacity for further replication. The conclusions of this well-edited book are that vision is crucial for the identification of social development opportunities, and that national policies and political commitment can have a catalyst impact. To overcome social arrears, housing and living environment turns out to be one of the most important factors which warrant a new interest in neighborhood identity, image and
Habitat International 29 (2005) 603–611
Book reviews Infrastructure provision and the negotiating process Frank Ennis (Ed.); Urban and Regional Planning and Development Series, Aldershot, Ashgate, UK, 2003, 246pp., HBd49.95 This book takes a new look at an issue that is not new, but one where the special focus on negotiations is quite special. The controversy concerning to what extent private developers can and should contribute to development or financing of infrastructure is ongoing, with advocates stressing the economic benefits while critics feel that planning ethics and control of public authorities or the community may suffer. The book compiles experiences of housing projects in the Netherlands, cost recovery for infrastructure development in Ireland through development permits, the dimensions of negotiation in urban planning in Britain, infrastructure provision by private property developers in France, marginal cost pricing of development charges in Canada, privatization of infrastructure provision in Australia, public–private partnerships for infrastructure provision in the Ruhr Region, the contribution of infrastructure finance to urban sprawl in Illinois, the role of environmental assessment in Portugal, the use of rights of way for new telecom infrastructure, and the competition of various networks for urban space. The book provides in an overview of the various infrastructure types—physical, economic, housing, community, health, educational, environmental. However, it is only able to deal with some of these. Nevertheless, it is able to show two different approaches of developments where charges are being levied on developers for the developments, or how developers can be brought into developing directly the required infrastructure. The book illustrates that there are no common lessons yet available on the format and obligations, as these seem to vary from case to case, and as a result, the system for securing developer contributions has developed in a piecemeal fashion. Many conflicts seem to continue to exist on obligations of both sides. The incremental approach to define policies and instruments is a reflection of the slow evolution of practices. While in Canada and Australia the local government agencies seem to enjoy a very high degree of independence, in Europe local agencies have less authority and are more subject to public scrutiny. The principal key to success is that both parties recognize the win–win concept and that the negotiating process is seen as an important factor to determine the results of consensus. If modern city development is strongly influenced by a range of infrastructures that enables human and economic activities, the subject of negotiation is not only important from the perspective of increasing investment capacities but also as an interactive dialogue between the city, its inhabitants and stakeholders. Despite the many interesting notions of specialist’s contributions, it is regrettable that the book is too much a compilation of insiders’ papers and more work could have been done on systematizing the relevance of the pieces and their contributions to urban management
ARTICLE IN PRESS 604
Book reviews / Habitat International 29 (2005) 603–611
instruments. Additionally, it would have been desirable to edit the book a bit more carefully (poor orthography prevails). The book appears like a hasty product of simple academic publishing, at a price far too high for a wide circulation. Florian Steinberg Jl. Kemang I D, No. 16, Jakarta 12730, Indonesia E-mail address: [email protected] doi:10.1016/j.habitatint.2003.11.003
Social challenges and organizing capacity in cities, experiences in eight European cities Leo van den Berg, Jan van der Meer and Peter M. J. Pol; European Institute for Comparative Urban Research Series, Ashgate, Aldershot, UK, 2003, 302pp., HB d49.95 This book from the European Institute for Comparative Urban Research (Euricur), Erasmus University Rotterdam (EUR) presents a new dimension of urban management responsibilities, the capacity to deal with issues of social revitalization, such as integration of migrants, the unemployed, addicted, poor and marginalized groups in Europe. Organizing capacities take into account the development and implementation of comprehensive strategies in response to fundamental changes in society and the need for conditions to make metropolitan development sustainable. The city of Eindhoven in the Netherlands has taken a lead in bringing together . Stockholm, Helsinki and Utrecht. experiences from Rotterdam, Strasbourg, Antwerp, Malmo, Organizing capacity is seen as the ability of those responsible to convene all public and private partners and jointly generate new ideas, and develop and implement policies that are responsive for sustainable economic and social development. The book recognizes that local practices point the way towards innovation but that they cannot survive in the long run without supportive national policies. The general picture that emerges is that those approaches are more successful which succeed in target groups becoming selfsupporting. While many city administrations are ill-equipped for comprehensive approaches, the degree of inter-departmental and stakeholder cooperation that can be brought into these processes is decisive for success. One of the biggest challenges is obviously not only to join hands among the bodies in the public sector but with the private sector as well. Cooperation is achieved faster at the micro or neighborhood levels. Leadership is a key to success and should be anchored at several levels, with different operational, tactical and strategic skills required. Societal support can be increased if trust is created and real results can be demonstrated. The process, as such, demands adjustments of policies and instruments, and this requires new skills for opportunityoriented social policies. Further to the implementation of social development activities is the establishment and close monitoring of performance through indicators, and the communication of these results through a public information system. As experiences mature, the cases show that there is an evolution from direct action to institutionalization and the capacity for further replication. The conclusions of this well-edited book are that vision is crucial for the identification of social development opportunities, and that national policies and political commitment can have a catalyst impact. To overcome social arrears, housing and living environment turns out to be one of the most important factors which warrant a new interest in neighborhood identity, image and