The most radical announcement on fiscal devolution in decades

Cllr James Lewis, Chair of Core Cities UK and Leader of Leeds City Council, said: “This was the most radical announcement on fiscal devolution any chancellor has made for decades. We look forward to working together with Treasury colleagues on the detail of a plan which we believe will radically incentivise growth in our cities. It was also brilliant to see  Government embracing ideas that Core Cities UK has long argued for including city investment funds, improved transport infrastructure and the role of cities as drivers of growth to wider regions. We look forward to working with our Mayors and others across the country to turn these intentions into reality, and would encourage the Government to continue to think radically to ensure all major cities, right across the whole of the UK, can access these new tools and funding opportunities. It was also welcome to hear the chancellor tackle what she called the ‘dangerous misconception’ that investment in places is a zero sum game and involves a choice between towns and cities.”

Kate Josephs CB, Chair of Core Cities UK’s Chief Executives Group and Chief Executive of Sheffield City Council, said: “The Chancellor’s speech underlines that this Government fully understands Core Cities UK’s arguments about the potential of urban centres as places where growth happens and what she called the ‘realities of economic geography’. We look forward to working with civil servants, private sector and our mayoral colleagues on delivering the investment we need and working through the detail of plans for fiscal devolution. Making our city centres denser and better connected will realise the agglomeration benefits that can drive growth and will have huge dividends over years to come. We also need to make sure our citizens have as much access to these opportunities as possible, which is why we see the public service reform agenda as integral to achieving the full potential of all UK major cities.”