City regions mulling how to make the case for "big devolution deals" over August have been advised to be ambitious and go for fiscal powers by think-tank Centre for Cities.
The Government has given cities until 4th September to submit their proposals and the Centre for Cities says this provides an opportunity to fulfill the desire cities have for fiscal powers. Ben Harrison of the Centre for Cities says that city-region devolution is part of the 'Osborne brand' as he seeks to position himself as the next Prime Minister. "Failure to deliver meaningful change would therefore be damaging to the Conservatives and to Osborne himself.
"Yet the truth is that in many respects, Osborne has already secured his prize in the shape of the Greater Manchester deal... In agreeing that, Osborne has ensured the Government is the one dictating the devolution agenda. And by deliberately avoiding setting benchmarks for success such as a target for the number of big devolution deals or the kind of growth desired, it is entirely conceivable that the Government will choose to reject all other devolution propositions... After all, if negotiations for a city-region fail, they stand to be the biggest losers, not the Chancellor.
Harrison therefore advises local leaders to not tackle Osborne on their terms - challenging him on the geographic boundaries or mayor caveat - and instead challenge him on his terms. "That means embracing the city-region mayoral model, enshrining combined authorities, and then putting pressure on the Government to go much further and insisting that the powers currently on offer be supplemented with fiscal powers."
TransportXtra is part of Landor LINKS
© 2024 TransportXtra | Landor LINKS Ltd | All Rights Reserved
Subscriptions, Magazines & Online Access Enquires
[Frequently Asked Questions]
Email: subs.ltt@landor.co.uk | Tel: +44 (0) 20 7091 7959
Shop & Accounts Enquires
Email: accounts@landor.co.uk | Tel: +44 (0) 20 7091 7855
Advertising Sales & Recruitment Enquires
Email: daniel@landor.co.uk | Tel: +44 (0) 20 7091 7861
Events & Conference Enquires
Email: conferences@landor.co.uk | Tel: +44 (0) 20 7091 7865
Press Releases & Editorial Enquires
Email: info@transportxtra.com | Tel: +44 (0) 20 7091 7875
Privacy Policy | Terms and Conditions | Advertise
Web design london by Brainiac Media 2020