State of the Cities Report: Core Cities Statement - 7 March 2006
Leaders of England's eight core cities have welcomed a new report confirming the cities' growing economic and social success.
Speaking from a meeting of the Leaders in Bristol yesterday, Cllr Barbara Janke, Leader of Bristol Council said:
"The Core Cities Group welcomes the publication of the State of the Cities Report. The report highlights the key role of cities and city regions in driving up the economic performance of the English regions and in improving the competitiveness of the UK as a whole."
State of the Cities - an independent report to the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM) by a group of city experts led by Professor Michael Parkinson is the most comprehensive study ever undertaken of England's cities and towns, looking at their performance, the challenges they face, and their potential. It confirms that England's core cities are recovering after years of decline in the 1970s and 80s and are once again becoming successful places to live, work and enjoy; thanks to a combination of sustained economic growth, rising public investment, and strong local leadership.
At the meeting, the Core Cities Group endorsed the findings of the report and its recommendations for the future. The Group particularly welcomes the report's emphasis on the need to support the major Core City regions ("The Big Nine") and to trust local government more. The report demonstrates clearly that the key to unlocking the greatest benefits for the wider regional economies of the UK lies with the major conurbations.
It is here where the human assets and physical infrastructure that can drive sustainable growth are to be found. It is also here where the greatest opportunities exist to exploit that growth in order to provide real benefits for some of our most deprived communities. Above all it is by enabling the core cities to fulfil their potential that we can create the greatest number of jobs and the highest levels of opportunity across the wider regions whose economies are inextricably linked with those of the core cities.
Councillor Jan Wilson, the Leader of Sheffield City Council said: "Sheffield exemplifies the story set out in the report of a city that has undergone a tremendous revival in recent years but is ambitious to go still further. We firmly believe that successful core cities such as Sheffield have a major contribution to make to increasing prosperity and tackling deprivation. I look forward to working with the Government to deliver the recommendations in this excellent report"
Councillor Warren Bradley, the Leader of Liverpool City Council said: "I welcome the focus on cities and urban places and their potential in national prosperity, it is long overdue. If we are to compete in the world economy, England's largest cities need the right freedoms and flexibilities. We will continue to build our case for more powers and freedom as our economy continues to improve. Liverpool looks forward to playing an active role in the debate over cities and financial devolution."
All the core cities are working with neighbouring local authorities and other partners to develop proposals to exploit the potential of their city regions. The cities are all at different stages of development and therefore strongly support the report's call for flexibility in taking the city agenda forward. The cities want to work with Government to make rapid progress in those areas where there is the opportunity to exploit strong existing partnerships, such as in the Manchester city region and in the West Midlands city region based on Birmingham. To do this effectively, Government will need to ensure the "cities are important" message is accepted outside of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister in key departments such as Transport and Trade and Industry.
Both Manchester and the West Midlands have set out compelling cases for the devolution of significant powers to the city region in order to co-ordinate public services and drive a dynamic strategy for both economic growth and social cohesion. The two city regions' proposals, whilst not the same, set out clear arguments for financial devolution, give citizens and local business a greater say in priorities for investment, and argue for Government to create a clear agreement with all public sector partners at national, regional and local level to deliver the agreed priorities for the city region.
The Core Cities are not arguing for exclusivity. Many smaller cities would also benefit from greater powers to determine their own future. However the opportunities for radical change at the greatest scale, at the fastest pace and with the biggest impact exist in the Core Cities.
Notes to editors
The Core Cities Group comprises the eight cities of Birmingham, Bristol, Leeds, Liverpool, Newcastle, Nottingham, Manchester, and Sheffield. Our mission statement is "to work in partnership with Government and other key stakeholders to promote and strengthen core cities as drivers of regional and national competitiveness and prosperity with the aim of creating internationally competitive regions."
Media Enquires: Helena Davison 0161 234 3729