Comment: David Parkin on the city region plan

I’VE only got one question about the Budget announcement of a Leeds City Region – what is it?

Forgive my ignorance – many have for some considerable time – but I really don’t get it.

And it sounds like others don’t either. I’ve yet to speak to a member of the region’s business community who can really put their finger on what a city region is and does.

Chancellor Alistair Darling named Leeds and Manchester as the two pilot city regions in this week’s Budget.

I heard one senior figure at a public sector body greeted Mr Darling’s announcement with the words: “We don’t know what it is yet, but we’re going to back it.”

Apparently it means the Leeds and Manchester region’s will be given new controls on sectors including housing, regeneration, transport and economic development.

It seems even Yorkshire Forward chief executive Tom Riordan, a man who is renowned for his clarity, common sense and ability to bridge the communciation gap between the public and private sectors, is struggling to make sense of this one.

He greeted the news this week by saying: “Yorkshire Forward will now look to work with Leeds city region partnership to understand how their investment priorities can be enhanced by the priorities already laid out in our own investment plans, which have been developed in partnership with the local authorities.”

But it won’t surprise you to know that the Goverment has yet to agree the full details of these pilot schemes, despite its announcement.

Mr Darling said the London-style city region pilot schemes would be complemented by the establishment of a £750m investment fund providing financial support focusing on emerging technologies such as digital and biotechnology.

The Government said its decision was based on “the vital role that the Leeds city-region plays in contributing to the national and regional economy”.

That’s the same Government that kicked Supertram into touch and has continually stymied improvements to the gridlocked transport network.

Communities and Local Government Secretary Hazel Blears will oversee the pilot.

That’s the Hazel Blears who this week was photographed openly carrying confidential Cabinet documents out of Downing Street just a week or two after the furore over a senior policeman doing the same.

If you hang around in first class on a National Express train to Leeds from King’s Cross, then perhaps Hazel will give you an eyeful of the blueprint for city regions.

When it’s written.

Do you know what a city region is? What do you make of the idea? Add your comments below. A TheBusinessDesk.com brolly for the best contribution.