The debate on devolution of transport powers and funding was pushed back up the political agenda this week, as separate reviews converged in calling for a radical shift of responsibility to local government.
Sir Michael Lyon's , in his interim report to the Government on the funding and function of local authorities, warned of central government ‘crowding out’ local priorities. Greater powers over transport were essential to enable councils to be effective in driving economic development and ‘place shaping’.
Meanwhile, a two-year inquiry commissioned by town planners, advocated giving conurbations and other areas the same transport powers as the ~Greater London Authority~ as part of a strategy to close the North-South divide. Lyons has challenged the Government to give councils freedom to improve the economic, social and environmental wellbeing of their areas. There was a growing consensus that the UK’s towns and cities lacked the powers and tools to compete with their European counterparts, let alone London and the Southeast. This was most evident in infrastructure funding, he said, citing the difficulties in delivering tram extensions.
Even where councils had the support of the business community for road, railway, airport and other projects to boost the local and national economy, they ‘do not have the necessary levers to make them a reality,’ Lyons concluded. Local authorities in rural areas were similarly hampered. ‘The role of local action and strategy in promoting economic prosperity has been underestimated.’
Lyons will make recommendations on finance and function in his final report, being published in December. His interim verdict chimes with the findings of the Town and Country Planning Association’s commission. Its Connecting England report calls for greater investment in the regions; faster rail links north-south, across the Pennines, and to the Southwest; and more development at northern sea and airports, taking pressure off the South.
To drive this, it calls for a new statutory duty on all government agencies to promote development in sub-performing areas. London-style transport powers in metropolitan and other areas should be followed by equivalent planning and regional development powers. Local Government Association chairman, Sir ~Sandy Bruce-Lockhart~ welcomed the report’s ‘evidence-based case for localism and devolution,’ stressing the challenges facing government.
The LGA will shortly publish its own research into innovative local funding mechanisms for transport investment. : Lyons report: www.lyons inquiry.gov.uk : Connecting England: www.tcpa.org.uk
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