The debate on devolution, not only between parliaments, but for cities and other places across the whole of the UK, has never been more important to the future of our country. In the runup to the 2015 General Election all major parties have committed to devolution in some form and it will be a key issue in manifestos.

Downloads: Full Report | Executive Summary

This report sets out the shared ambition of ResPublica and the Core Cities Group – Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, Glasgow, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester, Newcastle, Nottingham and Sheffield – for the fullest possible devolution of public spending and tax raising powers to the UK’s largest cities and city regions. It argues for a rebalancing of the relationship between central government and cities, as the only real solution for addressing the interconnected challenges of local economic growth, public service reform and better governance.

Devolving powers to new and emerging city regions and combined authorities will have the capacity to change and transform their social and economic environment, and will be essential if cities are to deliver on the twin objectives of growth and reform. The report argues that cities will need far greater control over public resources to shape local economies and design integrated place-based services that meet local needs and achieve local outcomes, and that  UK cities must enjoy equivalent levels of self-governance to other international cities and municipalities if they are to compete and prosper.

The report offers a roadmap for city based devolution, and eight recommendations to ensure that the current momentum in the devolution debate is not lost, demanding action which starts before the 2015 General Election.

Roadmap:

• Pre-election: there must be legislative reform to give authorities greater flexibility in working across functional economic areas.
• Post-election: in the first 100 days of the next parliament a Devolution Agency needs to be established to oversee the changes.
• 1st year: devolved funds for transport, housing and employment.
• By 2016: a devolution pilot in one city region where income and corporation tax variation would be devolved and implemented.
• By 2020: pilot extended to all city regions.

Press Coverage:

• Financial Times: UK city council leaders call for Scottish-style tax powers
• Independent: Big cities call for devolved powers to tax and spend
• Sunday Express: Leaders of UK’s largest cities launch ‘Magna Carta’ grab for spending power
• The Times: Cities need to have more power, insists think-tank
• The report was covered in several other national, local and specialised press, including Mail Online, the Belfast Telegraph, the Shropshire Star, the Yorkshire Post, the Yorkshire Evening Post, the Glasgow Evening Times, Herald Scotland, The Scotsman, LocalGov and the Local Government Chronicle.
• The report also received broadcast coverage; our Director Phillip Blond was interviewed on BBC Radio Scotland, BBC News Channel, BBC Leeds, BBC One’s Reporting Scotland and STV.