Governing a region: Structures and processes of governance in North East England

Public services in the North East of England are managed and provided by the traditional institutions of government and, now, by a large number of unelected bodies. The growth of these unelected bodies has led to increasingly fragmented governance, a lack of local accountability and lack of transparency. Almost all the institutions of governance in the region, both elected and unelected, are run by, predominantly, middle-aged (or older) middle-class men. Accountability needs to be restored and developed, building on a reinvigorated local government. In addition, to help ensure public services are sensitive and responsive to local needs, they should be run by people who are representative of the diversity of the community.