Local Capacity in Bristol — Tentative Steps towards Institutional Thickness

The first part of this chapter discusses the concept of local institutional capacity. Local institutional capacity generally refers to the ability or power of localities to shape or create a successful future for themselves, and to adapt to the increasing rate of change in markets and in government policy regimes. It therefore relates closely to discussions of the relative competitiveness of localities in an increasingly internationalized economy, where competitiveness is seen to be related to the economic, environmental and locational attributes of places and to their political and administrative capacity to compete. In the second part of the chapter we chart the evolution of local capacity in Bristol, looking particularly at recent attempts to create/enhance institutional capacity through the development of partnership, collaboration and consensus building, efforts made necessary by the diminution of old powers and competencies in local government, the uncertain future of some key local economic sectors and policy innovation by central government.