Hazel Blears and Core Cities Leaders discuss urban economic recovery
Building on the Government’s Budget commitment to creating formal city regions and devolving responsibilities to them, and examining proposals for the innovative financing of infrastructure, the Leaders of the Core Cities group met with the Rt Hon Hazel Blears MP in Leeds to discuss how to place more control in the hands of these cities which have championed collaboration across administrative boundaries to encourage sustainable economic growth for more than a decade.
Meeting at the Royal Armouries, the Leaders and the Secretary of State discussed the recent Core Cities publication ‘A Pledge for Cities’. Setting out potential actions for Government and the Cities, the Pledge outlines what cities need to do now to deal with immediate economic challenges, but also how they can work in partnership with government to create a more sustainable economic future.
Discussion focused on the need to: act together now to safeguard employment and drive up skills levels; look at initiatives to promote investment: and ensure that plans will ensure sustainable recovery and growth in the longer term.
The Leaders and the Secretary of State agreed that joint work would now take place between officials to explore each of the proposals in more detail.
Cllr Brett, Leader of Leeds City Council who chaired the meeting said;
"Building on the outcomes from the Budget, the Core Cities Leaders met with the Secretary of State to continue the dialogue with Central Government and outline how the eight most economically important cities outside of London can help lead England’s economic revival and be best placed to take advantage of the upturn when it comes. Although only two city region forerunners were announced, this is still an historic announcement that will open the door to greater prosperity and empowerment for local communities, authorities and businesses, allowing cities to compete on a more even footing internationally"
A group of young people, all delegates at the Core Cities Youth Summit held in Nottingham earlier this year, also attended the meeting. Their task, which they accomplished eloquently, was to present the winning ‘Future City’ idea from the Youth Summit to the Secretary of State and the Leaders. The ‘Citycard’ concept, which they had designed during a two-day visioning exercise in association with the British Council (the Future City Game), is a proposal for a reduced-fare travel scheme for young people across all the Core Cities public transport networks. Leaders agreed to discuss the idea further at the main Core Cities Summit this year, taking place in November in Liverpool. Core Cities’ officials will also be discussing the idea with the Department for Transport.