Devolve now for industrial growth
In response to the Local Government Association’s concerns over stalled devolution today, Localis chief executive Liam Booth-Smith said: “The wait has simply been far too long the two-thirds of England which lacks the capacity and robust governance structure to deliver the Government’s national industrial strategy.
“Given the economic urgency of Brexit, all parts of England, from major cities to small towns, deserve new powers to revive moribund local economies and with it the opportunity to help themselves.
“Our recent report on the Industrial Strategy recommended the establishment of 47 strategic authorities – based around existing county and combined authority boundaries – to control devolved powers over areas such planning to help towns and cities expand, local transport, tax-setting policy, business incentives and labour market freedoms to help attract the right talent for major local employers.”