Moving beyond devolution

9th March 2018

21-23 March 2018 in Leeds

The UK’s most important conference on devolution takes place in two weeks’ time in Leeds. It comes at a critical time for Yorkshire and all the regions outside London.

The UK regions have done very badly in the great recession; much worse than London and the South. The prospects ahead look no better; indeed, riddled with risk and danger.

Whatever your view of Brexit the prospects for anywhere north of Watford are likely to be, at best, mixed and typically involve slower growth and problems for industry. If ever there was an argument and a need for devolution then its time is certainly here. Power and money need to be devolved from Westminster to the regions now!

A series of elections of mayors in the coming years underlines the need for central government to pick up the pace on devolution and to ensure the release of major resources and investment in infrastructure, regeneration and housing in the North.

These are the biggest issues for the North over the next decades and perhaps this century. A major conference spread over three days provides the platform for regional agencies, local government, transport and the universities to come together and hammer out priorities for action.

Kicking off with a special launch at Leeds Civic Hall the key business will take place on 22 March and hear transport and economics experts alongside leading city mayors and leaders plot the options for sustaining stronger locally led growth.

This special conference in the Northern Powerhouse is an opportunity for policy and delivery agencies in local government and the city regions to join with academics and practitioners to focus on the major challenges facing the public sector and the new Combined Authorities. With input from the leading CORE cities and the KEY Cities Network, JUC/PAC is sponsoring this event with Northumbria University and Newcastle Business School, University of Northumbria, Leeds Beckett University, Leeds Business School and Leeds City Council and West Yorkshire Combined Authority, and the Regional Studies Association.

Further details and booking available at:

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/moving-beyond-devolution-a-forward-look-to-2030-tickets-44019166512?utm_term=eventurl_text