A 1969 Act of Parliament empowered the Secretary of State to fund local authorities 'who in his opinion are required in the exercise of any of their functions to incur expenditure by reason of the existence in any urban area of special social need'. Unfortunately this 'special social need' has not been eradicated as we approach the millennium and it is now clear that it is not restricted to inner-city areas. Local people were seen largely as worthy beneficiaries of regeneration activities undertaken by others. The more enlightened 'doers' did consult the beneficiaries but this was by no means universal practice. Time has moved on.
Communities are now increasingly keen to do it for themselves.
The changing needs and aspirations of local communities are reflected in recent Government policy initiatives. More emphasis is being given to the pursuit of social progress, to complement the more established aims of environmental and economic improvements. A good example of this is the Opportunities for Change consultation paper on a revised UK strategy for sustainable development. Ultimately if regeneration is not owned by the community, its benefits will not endure. The Regeneration Comprehensive Spending Review and Regeneration - The Way Forward paper are helping to inform DETR Ministers about the nature of the successor programme to the SRB Challenge Fund, amongst other things.