Governance and citizenship

England's biggest 'city-regions" must have more powers and directly elected mayors. These are the conclusions of the report City Leadership: Giving City Regions the power to grow, published by the British Institute for Public Policy Research's Centre for Cities.

 

The report argues that Greater Birmingham and Greater Manchester are already big enough to control their own economic development, and that other cities such as Leeds and Liverpool could follow soon. It adds that this is the best way for them to increase jobs, improve transport and drive economic growth. Also, directly elected mayors... provide clear leadership and a visible line of accountability.

 

The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister welcomed the report as a contribution to the debate around elected mayors: the government is convinced that strong leadership for our cities is essential if they are to achieve their potential economically and socially.

 

The publication of the report coincides with the conclusion of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's consultation on widening the powers of the Mayor of London. In most English local assemblies, the office of Mayor is an honorific position. London is one of the few exceptions, with a mayor elected by direct universal suffrage.

 

The Institute for Public Policy Research's Centre for Cities is a British think tank set up to stimulate debate around city regions as an alternative to the regional assemblies in England.

 

In the light of these issues, the Local Goverment Association (LGA) has issued a publication on city-regions.

 

Link to the publication 'City regions and beyond'.

 

Source: City Mayors website