Local government experts have called on ministers to rapdily implement 'City Deals' across a wider range of authorities under plans to boost economic growth.

In a letter to cities minister, Greg Clark, the chair of the Local Government Association (LGA), Sir Merrick Cockell, this week calls for discussions to 'consider how we could develop this policy to support the ambition for economic growth in our smaller cities, in our counties and in the sector as a whole'.