Hull calls on fellow Yorkshire cities to ensure region is not left behind

THE leader of Hull City Council, councillor Stephen Brady, has called for Hull to be recognised as a key driver of economic growth in the north.

His call follows yesterday’s publication of the City Growth Commission’s final report, which sets out the critical role of cities in delivering sustainable economic growth, calling for them to be given greater powers over crucial areas such as transport along with more devolved control of spending.

Whilst Hull is not one of the 15 growth areas mentioned, coun Brady welcomed the commission’s findings, saying that Hull and the whole of the Humber region needed to do more to ensure they were not left behind as the devolution for English cities and regions accelerates following the Scottish referendum.

“Another report that fails to mention Hull and Humber. This should come as no surprise to our local authority colleagues. We have been stressing the need for a combined authority, to be at the forefront of these issues, for over two years, with no progress. The author of the report, Jim O’Neill, has assured us that we can be an integral part of the targeted growth areas but we need to get our act together.

“From our perspective, the north cannot afford to leave Hull out as the area has so much to bring to the table and we are busy spreading this message far and wide.

“Before that can happen, we have to demonstrate as a city and as a region that we are ready to take on more power by operating at the right scale and showing that we are joined up.

“It’s absolutely critical that councils across the Hull and Humber region work together so that we are able to benefit from the powers that will come to the key northern cities to help them thrive and compliment London and the south-east.

“With the recent investments such as Siemens and Reckitts, along with securing UK City of Culture status in 2017, the city’s major contribution to the wider regional economy is clear.  At regional and national level we are working hard to ensure Hull’s voice is heard but greater collaboration with our neighbours will be needed take it to the next level, unlocking the potential not just of Hull, but of the whole of the Humber.

“If we can make this happen, the prize is greater powers, flexibility and devolved funding which can be used to bring more investment and jobs to our region but time is running out. The three main political parties are united on the need for greater devolution to cities and we have only the next few months to ensure we don’t miss out on this opportunity.”

The potential benefits of devolved city funding and assessing the best structures for local governance, such as establishing a combined authority, are within the scope of research being undertaken by the Independent Commission of Inquiry into effective local Government in Hull and the East Riding.
 
Led by Tom Martin, life president of Arco, the commission is expected to report early next year on the potential structures and collaborative relationships that should be developed between local authorities to ensure Hull and East Riding is well placed to take advantage of future national policy changes and opportunities to maximise investment, jobs and growth across the area.

Hull forms the eastern end of the belt of metro cities (Liverpool, Manchester, Leeds and Sheffield) which cross northern England – and is thus part of the continuous belt of cities which the chancellor has said need to be properly “hooked up” to each other.