Named last month as one of 20 cities earmarked for City Deal status and home to some 50 top manufacturers, Sunderland, winner of The MJ Best Achieving award in 2012, is a successful example of how a council can help deliver the growth agenda while dealing with declining budgets. Michael Burton reports.

Last week, during a Local Government Association debate on the growth agenda, the Liberal Democrat peer Lord Shipley, ex-Newcastle City Council leader, member of the Regional Growth Fund advisory board, and government cities adviser commented that the primary role of local authorities in the future would be not to deliver services but promote growth.