Reflections on the Task Force Model in Economic Development

The task force has re-emerged as a mechanism for co-ordinating economic development activity in the con text of the current New Labour administration's emphasis upon including ‘stakeholders’ in ‘joined-up’ approaches to ‘crosscutting’ issues. Recent experience in the North East region of England reveals both prospects an d problems in the way task forces have been utilised at employer, sectoral an d territorial levels to organize economic development. Improvements are suggested to the task force model that involve integrating it more closely within a strategic and proactive region al economic development framework and ensuring its accountability within the multi-level governance structures for economic development emerging in the UK.