Leeds obtains 'City Region' powers to aid economic recovery

Leeds has become the second city region in the country to be granted extensive powers from central government to help take control of its economic recovery, Local Government Minister Rosie Winterton has announced.

According to a statement released by the Department of Communities and Local Government on 27 November 2009, the pioneering agreement has devolved new powers to the Leeds City Region for delivering housing, regeneration and transport commitments and granted new freedoms to promote on skills and innovation.

With the new powers in place, the city-region pilot will test how the Government can deliver improved economic outcomes by allowing partnerships of local authorities greater policy levers across our major cities.

"The recession may have been global in its origins but the effects have been felt locally, in communities across Yorkshire and beyond,” Winterton said. “The City Region pilot will play a crucial role in tackling the fallout from the downturn and making sure that the city region is ready to seize the opportunities opening up as the recovery begins.”

One of the key commitments include a new Housing and Regeneration Board, which will have more control over how funding is spent in the City Region. Building a new generation of sustainable housebuilding and community building to support jobs growth is also high on the list of priorities.

The Government has further shown support to accelerate retrofit activity in existing property, with an ambition of improving 300,000 homes by 2015 and lifting 50,000 households out of fuel poverty. The need to build on skills and employment programmes will also be supported by an Employment and Skills Board, which will be driven by local employers for the benefit of local businesses.

According to Chair of the Leeds City Region Leaders Board Councillor Andrew Carter, by taking up the new powers, local authorities will be better equipped to work with local businesses and partners to drive forward economic recovery.

Chief Secretary to the Treasury Liam Byrne added cities like Leeds will play a key role in driving future national growth and helping to halve the deficit in four years. The Leeds City Region generates five per cent of the UK economy (national Gross Value Added).

For further details please see http://www.communities.gov.uk/speeches/corporate/leedscityregion