Community enterprises as boundary organisations aiding small-town revival: exploring the potential. Issue 6 (November 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Powe, Neil
• Is Part Of: Town planning review. Volume 90:Issue 6(2019)
• Page Start: 625
• Page End: 651
• Publication Date: 2019-11
• Subjects: small towns -- revival -- regeneration -- community enterprise -- rural governance -- community leadership -- social enterprise; City planning -- Periodicals; 307.1216
• DOI: 10.3828/tpr.2019.40
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0041-0020

Abstract

Abstract : Revival of small towns has often been slow. To counteract previous ineffective responses, improved governance is often required at the small-town level. This paper explores the potential for community enterprises (CEs) to support such efforts. Whilst the efforts of CEs can be salient to small-town revival, drawing on the boundary-organisation literature, a 'dual accountability' is also required for local legitimacy and external credibility. By uniquely providing a combination of professional skills, enterprise underpinnings and a focus on 'community of place', the case study findings suggest CEs can undertake the necessary long-term boundary-spanning work to achieve 'dual accountability'. However, success in deprived contexts will require public subsidy and an acceptance that CE success, if it occurs, is likely to take many years. Through exploring the efficacy of CEs within small-town revival, this paper adds to wider international debates on the role of community leadership within place-based revival.