Key Cities
Let’s restart the housing debate
Key Cities’ manifesto details nine policy recommendations to help councils address the housing shortage – and the next Government must begin introducing targets on day one, says Lorna Fielker.
We need fairer funding of local government, and we need it now
Cllr John Merry says that while the chancellor stressed the need for more efficiency in this week's Budget, he would highlight the importance of fixing what is, in Key Cities’ view, councils' broken funding model’.
Cities find their future
Cllr John Merry looks back at Key Cities’ successes and considers what he would like the network and local government to achieve during the next decade.
Skills devolution call
Control of UK skills funding should be devolved to councils to ensure it is tailored to local jobs and economies, a national network of 27 cities has urged.
Culture could transform our towns and cities and truly level up the country
A report from Key Cities calls for culture to be placed at the heart of a new drive towards local devolution and to empower city leaders and councils, says Cllr Alan Waters.
Levelling up, scaling down?
Key measures on planning expected to be moved from flagship levelling up Bill.
Tools for a long-lasting recovery
Cities need to be empowered to deliver a proper, long-lasting recovery, says Cllr John Merry – but he adds there is a growing concern about whether the cash to fund the necessary change will be available
Show us the money
The Government’s levelling up ambitions are welcome but will need substantial long-term funding if they truly are to succeed, says chair of Key Cities Cllr John Merry.
Goodbye city dreams
Sometimes, civil service bureaucrats are just no fun.
Instagram leads to investment in our cities
Urban leaders need to better understand their online brand, as cities with fewer mentions across social media and online news tend to attract less investment, says Cllr John Merry.
EXCLUSIVE: Questions over taskforce purpose
Local government associations have called for ministers to define the purpose of a new taskforce ahead of April’s launch of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF), The MJ understands.
Let’s ditch ‘panel game’ funding
Cllr John Merry talks to Ann McGauran about how Key Cities are faring as they look towards recovery, and says he’s approaching the White Paper on levelling up with an ‘open-minded spirit’.
Creating a ‘great outdoors’ for our urban centres
Accelerating much-needed renewal of high streets will depend on giving councils the freedom to develop and manage their own strategic place plans, writes Cllr Philip Broadhead.
Report finds cities hit by 'Zoomshock' are best placed to economic recovery
Cities have been hollowed out by COVID but they are still best placed to drive the recovery, a report by economic growth specialists Metro Dynamics has said.
Levelling up needs long-term approach
A shake-up of local government funding is required to achieve a levelling up of the country, a new report has concluded.
City leaders raise concerns over levelling up fund
Council leaders have questioned the how effective the Government’s levelling up fund will prove to be.
The high street is dead, long live the high street
Six Key Cities members received all or part of the Future High Streets funding they originally bid for. Cllr John Merry explains how high streets can become the beating hearts of communities once again.
2020: Time for a new era in local and central government collaboration
Chair of Key Cities Cllr John Merry welcomes both devolution and the Government’s stated ambition to prioritise investment in infrastructure ‘as this is something that our regions are crying out for especially beyond London and the Home Counties’.
Mid-sized cities should be Government’s automatic choice for tech impact pilots
Chair of the Key Cities Group Cllr Peter Box says mid-sized cities are ideally positioned to be the UK's automation pilot areas (AutoPilots)
Time for a UK-wide debate on tourism levies
Cities south of the border including Birmingham have plans to consider tourism levies. Cllr Judith Blake says Core Cities UK believes it's time for a national discussion about whether one might work in the UK.
