Leeds City Region

[rhinomatt]

Originally Posted by Leeds No.1

By 2031, Leeds could have a population of around 1m if current growth continues.

This can not be a bad thing, as long as we continue to grow the infrastructure to deal with it.

[Frodz]

Just a bit of heads-up

http://blogs.manchestereveningnews.c.../post_643.html

Budget to include city-regional devolution

I'm reliably informed that the Budget will include plans to make Greater Manchester – along with Leeds – a pioneering ‘city-region’.

Whether it's true or not about Leeds we'll have to wait til wednesday. Must be honest, i'm a bit surprised.

[rhinomatt]

Originally Posted by Frodz

Just a bit of heads-up

http://blogs.manchestereveningnews.c.../post_643.html



Whether it's true or not we'll have to wait til wednesday. Must be honest, i'm a bit surprised.

Thanks .

[Leeds No.1]

There have been suggestions that some power could be devolved to some city regions- the most powerful/largest ie Leeds/Greater Manchester. I'm glad that it has cropped up again though.

The author says Manchester will never rival London but complement it. While that is true, if Leeds/Manchester have enough devolved powers, they will be able to work together to form strong transport links creating one economic region. In the long term, one strong economic region among the most economically powerful cities in the north can counteract London.

[di Livio]

It seems the government favour Manchester for every innovative 'regional' proposal, but then throw in 'oh yeah, and Leeds' because they don't want to alienate the Chamber of Commerce. The above quote actually makes Leeds sound like a suburb of Manchester, which I'm sure is how most London MPs see the city.

[M€tr0l1nk]

Originally Posted by di Livio

It seems to me the government favours Manchester for every innovative 'regional' proposal, but throw in 'oh yeah, and Leeds' because they don't want to alienate the Chamber of Commerce. The above quote actually does make Leeds sound like a suburb of Manchester, which is I'm sure how most London MPs see the city.

Fucking grow up.

AGMA went to the government and were the main party pushing for this devolution.

www.agma.gov.uk - have a read.

Now, show me the same for any of these other cities.

No doubt it is because the Manchester councils work hard to develop what they want with Whitehall the Leeds airport expansion was blocked? Maybe in the early 1990' the Manchester - Whitehall relationship forced Leeds City Council to scrap plans for a light rail system in the city.

Take that enormous chip off your shoulder, and realise one of the regions the Manchester is always at the forefront of such schemes is because they are always at the front pushing the boundaries in a way that will help them develop into the future.

[BannockBurnt]

Originally Posted by di Livio

It seems the government favour Manchester for every innovative 'regional' proposal, but then throw in 'oh yeah, and Leeds' because they don't want to alienate the Chamber of Commerce. The above quote actually makes Leeds sound like a suburb of Manchester, which I'm sure is how most London MPs see the city.

Not sure that the Chamber of Commerce would carry that much weight.

[Frodz]

Originally Posted by di Livio

It seems the government favour Manchester for every innovative 'regional' proposal,

Because the Greater Manchester councils have the longest history of formally working together..........

Originally Posted by di Livio

The above quote actually makes Leeds sound like a suburb of Manchester, which I'm sure is how most London MPs see the city.

The "above quote" comes from the Manchester Evening News, concerned primarily about Manchester.

Of course it isn't going to say much about Leeds.

[M€tr0l1nk]

oh, and before people wibble on about me coming over here, I was intending to post the link that Frodz had posted as I tought you may be interested.

Now, there were some in the airport thread saying they want Whitehall to overrule the council decision on the expansion, so, what do people REALLY want, he decisions to be made locally, or made in Whitehall?

[TonyYeboah]

The YEP's take

Chancellor to give Leeds more control over its economy

ALISTAIR Darling will pledge to "unleash and unlock" the potential of Leeds and hand the city new powers to boost economic growth.
The Chancellor will use his budget on Wednesday to announce that Leeds and Manchester will pilot a new 'city region' initiative, which will see Whitehall hand over more economic decision-making powers to both cities.

Treasury sources have told the YEP that Leeds will be designated an 'innovation hub' by the Government, with economic growth built around the city's two universities.

The drive to boost hi-tech industry will be seen by some as an acknowledgement that the city region has become dangerously over-reliant on the financial services sector, which has been battered by the recession.

Government officials and the leaders of the Leeds City Region – which includes all of West Yorkshire – will in coming months thrash out a list of "economic priorities".

Ministers will then agree to hand over more control to the local authorities and businesses.

One option being considered is for a board of local employers to be formed and tasked with setting an "adult skills strategy" for the city region.

Another board of local city leaders could in the future be formed to decide how transport, regeneration and other infrastructure funding is spent.

Research showed that in London £667 was being spent on public transport per person each year.

In Yorkshire, that figure was just £224.

[M€tr0l1nk]

Huge step forward in the right direction for Leeds in my opinion, the start of decisions being made locally, not by some unelected civil servant sat down in Whitehall.

[M€tr0l1nk]

oh, and well done to the West Yorks authorities for working together to get this far.

[cmj]

Originally Posted by M€tr0l1nk

oh, and before people wibble on about me coming over here, I was intending to post the link that Frodz had posted as I tought you may be interested.

Now, there were some in the airport thread saying they want Whitehall to overrule the council decision on the expansion, so, what do people REALLY want, he decisions to be made locally, or made in Whitehall?

I want all the decisions to be made by ... ME

[Bradley Hardacre]

Another board of local city leaders could in the future be formed to decide how transport, regeneration and other infrastructure funding is spent.

Research showed that in London £667 was being spent on public transport per person each year.

In Yorkshire, that figure was just £224.

Hmmm..

Fine if this results in them deciding how to spend £667 p.p. (or something much nearer to it), but if they're deciding how to spend the same old £224 then it probably won't make much difference.

[Frodz]

Originally Posted by Bradley Hardacre

Hmmm..

Fine if this results in them deciding how to spend £667 p.p. (or something much nearer to it), but if they're deciding how to spend the same old £224 then it probably won't make much difference.

True that the biggest change would be the access to new funding streams and raising capital themselves.

But still the problem at the moment is that the london-centric DfT currently has huge control over local schemes (IIRC currently any plan over £5million requires DfT approval), and combined with the fact Whitehall sees local schemes outside London as a burden on fuel tax revenues means that a lot of the time it refuses permission on well costed and planned schemes.

So it would still be a start.

Though i am more interested in if the BERR and Mandelson have relented on their opposition which frankly is the most important part which concerns city-region funding.

[M€tr0l1nk]

It will definately be the later.

Currently the PTE needs to justify just about every penny it spends, (this can cost a fair bit in itself), it looks like in the future the MAA will be able to spend the money as it choses.

When looking at that figure remind yourself that WY has by far the lowest transport levy (less than 33% of Merseyside who are the highest) in the council tax.

Will your councils bite the bullet when they have the powers, raise council tax (or whatever taxes) to fund light rail schemes?

[M€tr0l1nk]

Originally Posted by Frodz

Though i am more interested in if the BERR and Mandelson have relented on their opposition which frankly is the most important part which concerns city-region funding.

Indeed, and we will only find out when the relevant papers are released tomorrow afternoon.

[di Livio]

Metrolink, you really are a sad cunt. Do you think anyone really wants to read the shit you type. You're a boring middle aged paper pusher with no power or prospects who posts on an internet forum for teenagers to make yourself feel like your life isn't a complete screw up, but I'm afraid it is.

Now, out of interest, fuck off.

[Cherguevara]

Originally Posted by di Livio

Metrolink, you really are a sad cunt. Do you think anyone really wants to read the shit you type. You're a boring middle aged paper pusher with no power or prospects who posts on an internet forum for teenagers to make yourself feel like your life isn't a complete screw up, but I'm afraid it is.

Now, out of interest, fuck off.

And you're better how exactly?

[Suburban Knight]

Interesting blog article on Regen.net this morning - bit of a hot tip for Leeds CR to get funding, and coming from a Manc too!

http://blogs.manchestereveningnews.c.../post_643.html

Tuesday, 21 April 2009
Leeds tipped as surprise statutory city-region
There's plenty more budget rumours around today – one of the most interesting being one from David Ottewell that Leeds is in line for winning official city region status tomorrow.

Ottewell, a senior journalist on the Manchester Evening News, takes a keen interest in urban policy issues, is well connected and deserves to be listened to.

Ottewell's tip-off that his home town of Manchester is due for city region status will surprise no-one, but the news that its arch-rival, neighbouring city region of Leeds is to be included is more newsworthy, but seems intuitively correct. Not only will having the two Pennine giants in the package give the announcement weight, the inclusion of Leeds seems to support Regeneration & Renewal magazine's research and subsequent contention that big cities are ahead in the race for new powers.

The rumours keep on coming. The Guardian splashes on the fact that the Chancellor is planning a new fund to build council houses and restart work on stalled projects. Regeneration and housing could better than expected out of this one, but we shall see. I'll be live blogging on the budget tomorrow, and publishing comments from our team of experts as they come in. See you then.
Posted by Ben Walker at 09:52
Labels: city regions, democracy, devolution, economic development