It is well established that place must be central to any industrial strategy. It is a theme that has reverberated throughout local government and beyond since prime minister Theresa May announced her landmark plan to ‘drive growth across the country’ last month. Business secretary Greg Clark says it himself in his foreword to Localis’ latest report, The making of an industrial strategy: taking back control locally.
The report, which The MJ understands has had close support from Mr Clark’s Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, demands radical action, setting out the blueprints for ‘the biggest single domestic transfer of power since the establishment of the Scottish Parliament’.
It calls for an end to the deal-making process of devolution that has all but brought the agenda to its knees since the new Government assumed power in the wake of the EU referendum. Instead, areas should be given 18 months to devise ‘strategic authorities’ or risk having them imposed by ministers – who are likely to opt for the form of contentious mayoral combined authorities.
