Member Article

Leeds and Sheffield among UK Core Cities demanding greater tax controls in new Charter

The leaders of Leeds and Sheffield joined more of the UK’s most economically successful cities in demanding greater tax powers for their cities in a ‘Modern Charter for Local Freedom’.

The charter, launched in the 800th anniversary year of the Magna Carta, sets out how powers can be devolved from national parliaments.

It also calls for more control over taxes. Not to raise taxation levels, they emphasise, but to improve efficiency and make sure that money raised locally is spent locally by people who know their area.

It adds that cities who want this, and meet set criteria, should be able to retain some property taxes and a percentage of income tax, to redesign everything from creating jobs to improving housing.

Core Cities already contribute almost a quarter of the combined economic output of England, Wales and Scotland, but with further devolution they could do a lot more.

The charter was launched this morning (Monday) at the Core Cities UK Devolution Summit taking place in Glasgow.

The summit attracted high-profile speakers including Chief Secretary to the Treasury Danny Alexander MP, Scottish Labour Leader Jim Murphy MP and Keith Brown MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Infrastructure, Investment and Cities. Core Cities chairman and Leader of Manchester City Council Sir Richard Leese said: “We believe it is only by devolving powers to cities and their regions that the UK can succeed on a global stage.

“What is good enough for the UK’s nations should be good enough for our cities. We are proposing a revolutionary shift in power from our remote parliaments to local people who know their places best.

“This is a low-risk, high impact strategy to secure a bolder, better national future that will create jobs, improve lives and renew our democracy.”

Leader of Leeds City Council Councillor Keith Wakefield said: “The case is now overwhelming for cities and city regions to be given significantly more responsibilities and control of resources to develop and manage their own futures.

“The centralised Whitehall model is no longer fit for purpose in 21st century Britain, local people know best what their specific needs are and have shown they can make funding and resources work much more effectively and efficiently.

“Devolution would allow a much more targeted and localised approach to bring about growth through job creation, regeneration and skills improvements along with better transport, housing and infrastructure all integrated together to offer opportunities and the chance of improved lives for all. “With cities and regions free to develop in their own way, the benefits would be immense as areas begin to realise their potential, bringing about a gradual rebalancing and strengthening of the national economy and helping Britain become even more influential on the international stage. The Freedom Charter sets us on a clear path to achieve that goal.”

The Summit also saw the launch of a new report from leading think tank ResPublica which sets out a timetable for any incoming Government to commit to devolution.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Clare Burnett .