Statement from Alexandra Jones, Chief Executive of Centre for Cities, on the release of the City Growth Commission's "Unleashing Metro Growth" report.
The Centre for Cities welcomes the release of the City Growth Commission’s final report, Unleashing Metro Growth.
Over the past year, the Commission has played an important role in raising awareness of the important and undervalued role the UK’s cities can and should play in national economic growth. This report further advances the case we have long argued, for affording greater levels of funding, autonomy and flexibility to enable all cities to respond to their unique challenges and realise their true potential.
We have been delighted, through our advisory role, to contribute to this important piece of research. Now, just as the report argues, the challenge is to ensure that cities are able to make the most of their capacity to drive economic growth. Over the months ahead, the Centre will be setting out a route-map for change, as well as further advancing the argument for a radical overhaul of the relationship between national and local governments. All parties, ahead of the 2015 Election, must be encouraged to prioritise long-term strategic investment to improve the performance of our cities.