When the Centre for Cities published this year's Cities Outlook, it struck me that there is always a risk that the publication is caricatured as a 'league table of cities', and with the emphasis on what we're doing badly, rather than well.  

But, for me, evidence of performance has to be a spur for improvement.  For Newcastle, for example, it reinforces the challenges where our own city lags behind - to address the deep-seated inequalities we face as a city, to deliver on our plans for housing growth, and grow our private sector business base.  But I also take heart from the positive opportunities we're providing from growth, investment and jobs - which I'll say a bit more about in a moment.