Concerns about poverty and exclusion are among the central political issues of our age, with record levels of employment and continued economic growth failing to translate into rising wages for many across the country.

Addressing these issues has become a top political priority for national politicians, but is also increasingly high on the agenda for city leaders, too. The problem, however, is that cities largely lack the money, powers and capacity they need to fund and deliver policies aimed at extending prosperity and growth to more people.