Preston City Council was one of the founding members of the Key Cities network when it originated in 2013, alongside councils from Coventry, Derby, Sunderland and Wakefield.
· The Key Cities are currently worth £116bn to the economy per year
· Three of the Key Cities already have higher productivity and exports than the national average
· If Government policy supports the Key Cities to achieve the same outcomes as the national average, it will boost UK economic health and achieve growth across all parts of the country
The UK economy could be boosted by up to £214bn over the next ten years if all of the nation’s Key Cities raised their productivity in line with the England average, a report published on 27 June has found.
The report, published by the Key Cities Group, found that some Key Cities are already ramping up their productivity and innovation. If government policy in key areas such as skills, transport and infrastructure was more integrated and tailored to their diverse needs, the Key Cities could make a more significant contribution by unblocking barriers to business growth and generating employment opportunities. The report cites growing evidence that mid-sized cities have a significant role as drivers of national economic growth.
Growth and prosperity in mid-sized cities is vital to generating inclusivity and in reaching out to those feeling politically and economically left behind, given the current lower levels of social mobility in many of the Key Cities. This disconnect was demonstrated by their higher than average vote to leave the EU, with 60% of residents in Key Cities voting to leave, compared to 44% in the Core Cities. Working with the Key Cities offers a route to re-engaging with communities who feel left behind.
This paper calls on the government to work closely with the Key Cities, who are a cross-party group, with members drawn from all parts of the country, including coastal and industrial areas. This makes the group ideally placed to address the big social, political and economic challenges currently facing the country.
Councillor Peter Box, Chair of the Key Cities group, said: “The Key Cities are the authentic voice of urban Britain. The UK faces a series of big economic and social challenges. We need to raise productivity, ensure future growth benefits everyone and re-engage those people who feel left behind.
“We have set out an offer to Government to work with Key Cities to ensure fragmented policy and delivery becomes more integrated and decision-making is devolved to meet diverse local needs.
“This report is the start of a conversation with Government to identify areas where we can work together, and ensure that Britain after Brexit is a country that works for everyone. Our mid-sized cities have a vital role to play in achieving that”.
Councillor Matthew Brown, Leader of Preston City Council said: “Preston was a founding key city network member in 2013. We promote growth, business development and social justice to all our residents. We, as a city, are continuously striving forward and building from within to ensure we are drivers of national economic development.”
