The first Urban Policy period (1995 - 1999) started with a project approach based around five themes: work and the economy, health and social care, quality of the social and physical environment and education. From 1999 onwards this was expanded into a broader programme: Urban Policy II (1999 - 2003). This period was then extended to include 2004. For Urban Policy III central government and the cities agreed for the Policy to be result-oriented and measurable. The partners are held accountable. So now there are agreements about concrete measures to ‘restructure’ neighbourhoods for which parties can be held accountable, meaning that the agreements are no longer about ‘improving the physical and social environment’, although that social effect remains as an ultimate objective.

The main building blocks for Urban Policy III are three broad special purpose grants (BSPGs). With these broad special purpose grants, central government offers the cities financial security for a five-year period. The broad special purpose grants relate to ‘physical aspects’, ‘economy’ and the trio of ‘social aspects, integration and safety’. A city can spend the money at their own discretion within the context of a BSPG.

Dutch Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations (BZK)
Michel Visser

02/11/2005

02/11/2005

policy

Urban Policy