Business uneasy about Manchester city region
Author: Local Government Chronicle - May 28, 2009
Plans to create a Greater Manchester city region have come under attack from a north-west business group.
Len Collinson, leader of Private Sector Partners which represents 100,000 firms in the region, said the government’s decision to put the partnership between 10 Greater Manchester authorities on a statutory footing, “risked undermining 10 years’ hard work on the north-west region’s economy”.
Mr Collinson said he was “instinctively uneasy” about breaking up the region into “aggressively protected and promoted fiefdoms”. The creation of a statutory Greater Manchester could undermine the benefits of Liverpool’s legacy from the 2008 Capital of Culture, he added.
Greater Manchester and Leeds were given the go-ahead to become statutory city regions in last month’s Budget and are expected to have new strategy-setting powers over adult skills funding within six months.
New joint investment boards with the regional development agency and the Homes & Communities Agency are also on the cards.
Private Sector Partners was formed in 2002 after the local Federation of Small Businesses, Institute of Directors and CBI bodies resigned from the now-defunct north-west regional assembly.
Related Pages
New wave of city deals expected within weeks
Westminster launches consultation on new parishes
Breathing new life into regeneration
by Alex Thomson, The MJ
Let the local authority clamour for more devolved power begin
by Steven Howell (in the Guardian, Public Leaders Network)
Local regeneration is about economic and social wellbeing
by Alex Thomson (in the Guardian, Local Government Network)
England's new mayors prove a force for good
by Alex Thomson (in The MJ)
Crossing the border
Posted in Structures, Collaborations and Working Across Borders
What can elected mayors do for our cities?
Posted in Local Government Management and Organisation
Credit Where Credit's Due
Posted in Local Government Finance
A New Era for Council Housing?
Posted in Planning, Housing and Economic Development
Pensions: Infrastructure Investment Conference
[Jun 26, 2012]
Report Launch: Grow Your Own Way
[May 23, 2012]
Report Launch: Credit Where Credit's Due
[Mar 5, 2012]
Blue Labour and the Politics of Place
[Feb 9, 2012]
- "Localis is fast gaining a reputation for pre-empting the localist agenda, producing thought provoking research and practical policy ideas"Anthony Seldon, author and political commentator
- "Localis’ commitment to decentralisation crosses party boundaries, and their research illuminates policy problems with new practical thinking"Prof George Jones, LSE
- "Localis offers a great blend of a passion for innovation, grounded practical ideas and unswerving belief in the possibilities of local governance"Derek Myers, Chief Executive, Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea
