That this Council:
(a) notes that English cities have a proud tradition of independence, ambition and innovation, but that the ability of cities to act on their ambition is undermined by the high levels of central Government control over public finances, which is out of step with international comparisons and constrains their ability to drive economic growth or meet local need;
(b) believes that major cities worldwide outperform their national economies, but that in England only the capital city is consistently able to achieve this;
(c) confirms that there is robust international evidence to show that cities with more local control over funding and policy achieve better economic results;
(d) regrets that English cities have control over a very small share of their funding when compared to their international counterparts, with direct control over as little as 5% of the taxes raised within them and restrictions on how funding can be spent;
(e) believes that in order to drive national economic growth and to remain competitive on a global stage, cities require the freedom to invest in the levers of growth;
(f) further believes that the current situation for cities leads to inefficient use of public money and missed opportunities for local reforms of the public sector and for national economic growth;
(g) notes that together the Core Cities and London represent more than half of the national economy and almost half of the population;
(h) believes that the devolution of financial freedoms would enable cities to be more competitive and would incentivise cities to drive growth, increase job creation, reduce dependency and improve lives;
(i) welcomes that the Core Cities Group, London Councils and Mayor of London have jointly launched a City Centred campaign to call for decentralised fiscal reform, beginning with the devolution of property taxes, in order to enable cities to drive economic growth; and
(j) resolves to endorse and support the City Centred Campaign and to continue to call for the devolution of increased fiscal controls to the Core Cities and London, starting with the implementation of the London Finance Commission recommendations.
Minutes:
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City Centred Campaign for Decentralised Fiscal Reform |
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RESOLVED: On the Motion of Councillor Julie Dore, seconded by Councillor Jackie Drayton, that this Council:- |
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(a) notes that English cities have a proud tradition of independence, ambition and innovation, but that the ability of cities to act on their ambition is undermined by the high levels of central Government control over public finances, which is out of step with international comparisons and constrains their ability to drive economic growth or meet local need;
(b) believes that major cities worldwide outperform their national economies, but that in England only the capital city is consistently able to achieve this;
(c) confirms that there is robust international evidence to show that cities with more local control over funding and policy achieve better economic results;
(d) regrets that English cities have control over a very small share of their funding when compared to their international counterparts, with direct control over as little as 5% of the taxes raised within them and restrictions on how funding can be spent;
(e) believes that in order to drive national economic growth and to remain competitive on a global stage, cities require the freedom to invest in the levers of growth;
(f) further believes that the current situation for cities leads to inefficient use of public money and missed opportunities for local reforms of the public sector and for national economic growth;
(g) notes that together the Core Cities and London represent more than half of the national economy and almost half of the population;
(h) believes that the devolution of financial freedoms would enable cities to be more competitive and would incentivise cities to drive growth, increase job creation, reduce dependency and improve lives;
(i) welcomes that the Core Cities Group, London Councils and Mayor of London have jointly launched a City Centred campaign to call for decentralised fiscal reform, beginning with the devolution of property taxes, in order to enable cities to drive economic growth; and
(j) resolves to endorse and support the City Centred Campaign and to continue to call for the devolution of increased fiscal controls to the Core Cities and London, starting with the implementation of the London Finance Commission recommendations. |
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(Note: Councillors Jillian Creasy and Robert Murphy voted for Paragraphs (a) to (h) and abstained on Paragraphs (i) and (j) of the Motion and asked for this to be recorded.) |