What tools do local areas need to boost regional growth?
This event explored what powers should be devolved for local areas to play their part in boosting regional growth.
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The UK is one of the most centralised advanced economies, and there is widespread agreement that further devolution is necessary if the economic performance of regions outside of London and the south east is to be improved. The Levelling Up the United Kingdom white paper contained ambitious devolution proposals, including the commitment that by 2030 “every part of England that wants one will have a devolution deal with powers at or approaching the highest level of devolution and a simplified long-term funding settlement”. It also contains a devolution framework which clarifies the powers available to local areas depending on the governance model adopted.
However, devolution invariably brings trade-offs; it takes a certain capacity to deliver interventions correctly, these might increase costs by adding another layer of administration, and undermine efforts to produce a nationally consistent approach. This event discussed what powers should be devolved for local areas to play their part in boosting regional growth to deliver on the government’s levelling up agenda.
The event considered the following key questions:
- What should be the priority policy areas and powers to devolve? In which areas will the benefits be greater?
- What is the right level of geography to devolve powers to within England? Are combined authorities the right level? Should the powers devolved vary across the country or be ‘one size fits all’?
- How can the government ensure it is empowering rather than hindering subnational governments in its approach to boosting regional growth?
Following opening remarks delivered by Robert Breedon, partner at Gowling WLG, our panel included:
- Cllr. Brigid Jones, Deputy Leader of Birmingham City Council
- Prof. Neil Lee, Professor of Economic Geography at the London School of Economics
- John Wrathmell, Director of Strategy, Research & Economy at Greater Manchester Combined Authority
The event was chaired by Thomas Pope, Deputy Chief Economist at the Institute for Government.
We would like to thank Gowling WLG for kindly supporting this event.
