City Region Seeking Economic Development Powers from Government
The City Region is one of 7 partnerships that have submitted proposals to Government supporting the devolution of economic development powers. The Chancellor of the Exchequer is due to announce at least two so-called forerunner pilot city-regions in the Budget Statement on 22nd April. This follows the Chancellor’s commitment in the Pre Budget Report on 24th November that
“The Government will support city-regions by agreeing, on a voluntary and tailored basis, a set of devolutionary proposals with local authorities in city-regions, to further increase their ability to drive economic growth”
The City Region’s submission highlights the potential for an Accelerated Development Zone which could create up to 44,000 new jobs (see Issue Two February 2009 E-Newsletter), and the Multi Area Agreement for Employment and Skills. The submission also seeks a “duty to cooperate” with the City Region from Government departments and agencies.
City Region Board Chair Councillor Mike Whitby has written to all local authority Leaders in the West Midlands to inform them of the submission, in particular its three guiding principles
1. Policies and interventions will only be those best decided and delivered at the City Region level
2. Balanced growth across the City Region
3. Policies and interventions that accelerate the delivery of existing and forthcoming regional and sub-regional strategies will be pursued
The other 6 partnerships to have made submissions are understood to be Leeds, Luton and Beds, Manchester, Sheffield, Tees Valley and West of England (Bristol).
The City Region submission, along with Councillor Whitby’s letter can be can be accessed in the Key Publications section (Board Papers)