Earlier this month, we announced the next steps for our UK Urban Futures Commission, an ambitious enquiry led by the Royal Society of the Arts and Core Cities UK in partnership with Lloyds Banking Group.

The aim is to look at policy interventions and practical steps that can transform our cities, and improve the health, wealth and wellbeing of our citizens.

It will launch a final report later this year after an intensive series of workshops and discussions.

This report will be a practical action plan for cities and city leaders to maximise the potential of the UK's city regions, and will outline how national policy can support and encourage innovation and growth.

Key to the commission will be the voice of the people who live in our cities so we want to work alongside local residents and communities as well as private sector and local government.

The commission will be jointly chaired by RSA chief executive Andy Haldane and myself.

The commissioners span the worlds of policy, academia, and finance. 

We still don't believe everyone in Whitehall and Westminster really gets the potential of our cities or the role of the local state in achieving it.

That's why we're asking some seemingly simple questions.

What are cities?

What do we want them to be and how do we get them there?

Part of the answer to realising our cities' potential will be further freedoms and controls and investment in areas like transport.

It will also lie in dismantling the bid culture that grips Whitehall but wastes so much money and time across local government.

But I'm also hoping for a few ideas that we haven't heard before.

That's why the international perspective – renowned urbanist Bruce Katz is on the commission – is so important.

What can we learn from nations that have made steps towards getting the best value out of their cities?

On 22 March, we will come together with colleagues from the Local Government Association (LGA) for the Future Cities Summit.

This will be a chance to update on both the commission and LGA's innovative work on the future of cities.

I look forward to a fascinating discussion. 

Marvin Rees is Chair of Core Cities UK