Remember the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister stocktake? David Miliband kicked off this review, aimed at sharpening the ODPM's focus on its top priorities six months ago and it seemed to disappear. But this week, a copy landed on my desk. So what's in it?

From now on, the department programmes will be underpinned by three core values - empowerment, equity and value for money. ODPM now has a clearer vision of 'sustainable communities', including high quality public services, a strong economic base and strong leadership.

Ministers have agreed a list of key priorities. Affordable housing, mixed and inclusive communities, and more power for neighbourhoods. Improving regional arrangements for planning and investment, a stronger role for councils and tackling social exclusion.

No one would disagree with any of this. But how will it all be delivered?

The ODPM can't do all this on its own. As Mr Miliband has said, 'all departments should be regeneration departments'. Quite right. Delivery depends on much better cross-departmental working, especially from Department for Work & Pensions, Department for Education & Skills and Department for Transport, on projects like the Thames Gateway and housing market renewal.

But Whitehall cannot deliver all this either. Mr Miliband needs to accelerate and expand the empowerment of councils. Key functions such as transport, skills and economic development should be devolved down to the city-regional level. And councils need incentives to work closely within city-regions.

But the ODPM's stocktake does not mention city-regions, even though they are the most suitable level for delivering a lot of this new vision.

Although directly elected regional assemblies have run aground since the north-east's 'No' vote a year ago, RDAs and regional assemblies have been left largely untouched. Mr Miliband needs to give a clear signal that city-regions are the way forward.

The big city-region economies of Leeds, Manchester and Liverpool are the building blocks of the Northern Way. If it is to attract more investment and jobs, the Northern Way must harness the potential of these big city-regions. But two years on, the Northern Way has slipped off Ministers' radar. It needs another push between now and the 2007 comprehensive spending review.

City-regions would also be the right level for a fresh round of elected mayors. Ministers are very keen on more of them. But existing city leaders hate the idea, which is why Greater Manchester and others have gone for a compromise executive board model.

These might be an improvement on the current set-up, but would lack the clear accountability and decision-making capacity of an elected mayor. Elected mayors would merit greater powers than executive boards, and help city regions deliver. Anyone interested?

Dermot Finch is Director of Centre for Cities.