City-regions need to reflect grassroots realities not top down design says think tank

August 29, 2006

The New Local Government Network (NLGN) today launches a collection of essays on the future of city-regions, bringing together key figures from local government to deliver their verdict on the policy.



The essays – including contributions from David Blunkett MP, Sir Robert Kerslake, Chief Executive, Sheffield City Council and Ged Fitzgerald, Chief Executive, Sunderland City Council – are underpinned by the view that there is a difference between the Whitehall view of city-regions and the local government view of where the policy should go next.



In Views of the City: can city-regions find their place?



David Blunkett MP argues that city-regions must be seen in the context of wider decentralisation and change to the way in which local government is financed. In calling for the forthcoming local government White Paper to answer “real questions rather than simply reiterating the blindingly obvious”, he argues for greater freedoms for local authorities to raise local revenue and urges the need to resource urban growth and development more comprehensively.



Sir Robert Kerslake highlights the importance of choosing the right spatial metric for strategic decision-making and that cities are often best placed to plan strategically for economic planning, strategic planning, skills provision and destination management.



Ged Fitzgerald highlights the absence of an enduring regional and sub-regional urban strategy that can fit the character of cities other than London. He also argues that finding ways to give a positive advantage to those parts of the country outside the metropolis remains a crucial challenge.



Cllr John Merry, Leader, Salford City Council highlights the importance of an evolutionary rather than top-down or imposed form of governance reform. He argues that any reforms need to be rooted in the values, identity and character of a community.



Tom Riordan, Chief Executive of the Regional Development Agency, Yorkshire Forward considers the important role that RDAs and cities can play in delivering Regional Economic Strategies.



Lindsay Kirkley, Special Advisor to the Chief Executive of Gateshead Council discusses the way in which Gateshead utilised the arts to breathe new life into the region and reflects upon the importance of building a self-confident sense of pride among residents.



Oona Muirhead, Director of Strategy and Communications, Local Government Association stresses the need for the benefits of city-regions to spread to surrounding towns and rural areas, not only as an enabler of growth but as a combatant of social and economic inequalities.



Chris Leslie, Director, NLGN has welcomed Views of the City as an important addition to the city-regions debate in the run up to the publication of the local government White Paper. He said:



    “Leadership of our large conurbations and city-regions is crucial, not only to improve the voice for their residents in relation to the dominant position held by the capital, but also to fight for inward investment and public facilities so desperately needed if prosperity and growth is to be generated in every corner of England.



    While everyone recognises the realities of city-regions as economic entities – with nobody questioning the need for sensible collaboration – where some people do differ is the degree of institutional political rigidity necessary to get results”.



Media enquiries James Hulme on 020 7357 0116



Notes for Editors:



The New Local Government Network (NLGN) is an independent think tank, seeking to transform public services, revitalise local political leadership and empower local communities.


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