Give city mayors more economic powers, say think-tanks

In a report published today, Centre for Cities and the Institute for Government say the mayoral model has the capability to support economic growth. They want more decisions over transport, planning and skills to be devolved to the mayors in the Localism Bill, currently making its way through the House of Lords.

Centre for Cities chief executive Alexandra Jones said: ‘Mayors have the potential to improve how cities are governed but to realise their full promise they need additional powers and influence to those currently proposed.’

She pointed to research showing the biggest barriers to growth were skills, transport and planning. ‘Mayors will need to be able to tackle these through formal and informal powers,’ she said.  

Andrew Adonis, director of the IfG, said: ‘Evidence from the UK and abroad shows that elected mayors can have a transformative effect on city economies. But if they are going to succeed, government first has to give them the powers to make a difference.’

Some cities would also benefit from a ‘metro mayor’, according to the report, Big shot or long shot? How elected mayors can help drive economic growth in England’s cities. This role would govern a wider geographical area, covering the ‘natural’ economic boundary, and should also have more say than currently proposed over transport, planning and skills. 

Jones added: ‘Where there is a political appetite for metro mayors, they would operate across functioning economic areas and so have the most potential to support business growth and job creation.’