By Richard Johnstone | 27 May 2014
The Local Government Association has formed a commission to examine how the rural areas of England can boost their contribution to economic growth and improve public services.
The independent commission on economic growth and the future of public services in non-metropolitan England will examine how the half of the country that is not a city will prosper in the future.
Established today, the commission will have eight members, and will be chaired by Sir John Peace, chair of Standard Chartered bank.
According to the LGA, non-metropolitan areas account for roughly half of England’s economy and population, and their growth potential is as significant as big cities – non-urban areas contribute more to gross domestic product per head of population than cities outside London.
Peace said the commission would examine how this performance can be enhanced. ‘The review will examine many of the economic, social and demographic trends facing these areas with the aim of stimulating economic growth regionally, creating new jobs and helping people to live their lives better.’
A call for evidence has been issued today, seeking contributions from business leaders, voluntary groups and community and public service leaders about the barriers to growth. After examining the steps taken by businesses and the public sector to tackle these, the commission will recommend the most effective further steps for reform in the autumn.
Local Government Association chair Sir Merrick Cockell said: ‘I am delighted that such a distinguished and highly qualified team has agreed to assist with this important initiative.
‘Councils are committed to driving economic growth and improving residents’ lives in every part of the country. The policy debate has largely ignored the half of the economy outside the big cities and I am confident this commission will start to put that right.’
The full list of commissioners is:
Sir John Peace (Chair), Standard Chartered chair
Lady Cobham, VisitEngland chair
Sir Tony Hawkhead, Action for Children chief executive
Grainia Long, Chartered Institute of Housing chief executive
Professor Henry Overman, London School of Economics professor of economic geography
Jane Ramsey, Cambridge University Hospital chair
Lord Teverson, Liberal Democrat energy and climate change spokesman in the House of Lords
Stephen Gifford, former CBI chief economist
