Council leaders have published a fully-costed alternative to the government’s Cities Devolution Bill, saying ‘radical’ reforms could boost the economy by £80bn.
The white paper, published by the Local Government Association (LGA), argues that devolution should reach ‘all corners of England’ and warns that cuts without reform would stifle growth and economic development.
The proposals show how devolution to all of England’s non-metropolitan areas could save up to £20.6bn public sector savings, generate £80bn in economic growth and create 700,000 new jobs.
‘Local councils recognise the need for change and are proposing a new partnership with government to strengthen our country from the ground up and establish an equitable settlement for England,’ said Cllr David Sparks, chair of the LGA.
‘Now is the time for bold solutions to help revive local democracy, strengthen our nation and deliver better and more efficient services over the course of this next parliament and for the parliaments to come.
‘If we are to rebalance our economy ultimately all places, from our great cities to the powerful engines of our economy in non-metropolitan areas, need greater freedom from Whitehall.’
The report also proposes:
• Building 500,000 more homes by incentivising and reforming house building programmes
• Replacing the £620m Work Programme with two devolved schemes dealing with the long-term unemployed and the 2.5 million disadvantaged claimants separately.
• Supporting the elderly to live independently and addressing the £1.9bn adult social care funding-gap