Hull invited to make City Deal bid

HULL and the wider Humber area have been given the opportunity to bid for new powers to boost local growth, the Government announced today.

The second wave of City Deals invite 20 cities and their wider areas to compete for deals that would see Government devolve powers in exchange for responsibility for delivering growth locally.

The powers include the ability to ‘earn back’ tax from the Treasury, devolved transport budgets and control of the skills budget for their city.

Leeds and Sheffield were awarded City Deals under the first wave of the initiative earlier this year.

Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said: “In the best English tradition we have witnessed a quiet revolution across the nation’s eight largest cities.

“From control over buses and trains and the freedom to plug skills gaps, to powers to ‘earn back’ tax and set up local investment funds to spend on local projects – the deals are unlocking the huge potential of our cities so they can go for growth.

“Now its time to free even more places from Whitehall control. I want these 20 cities and their wider areas to come up with ambitious and innovative proposals to help them make changes that will be felt by everyone across their region.”

City Deals are a key part of the Government’s objectives of rebalancing the economy and boosting private sector growth.

Leaders in the second wave of cities will be asked to work together across their regions and to put forward proposals designed to unlock the full growth potential of the area.

Greg Clark, financial secretary to the treasury and Minister for Cities, Greg Clark, said: “City Deals put each city in the driving seat. Each city can seize the initiative and show what it needs to prosper and grow, even if it’s new and different. If it’s in the city’s interest and the national interest, we’ll strike a deal and make it happen.”