The West of England has joined a ‘cities for business’ partnership calling on the Government to devolve powers from Whitehall and give them more freedom to create jobs and attract investment.
The partnership brings together the leaders of England’s eight largest urban areas outside London – including the Bristol/Bath city region – and their Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) to advise ministers on creating growth outside the South East.
In a joint statement yesterday to Chancellor George Osborne, Shadow Chancellor Ed Balls and Chief Secretary to the Treasury Danny Alexander, the partnership calls for new powers and freedoms to create jobs, growth and investment across England’s biggest cities.
The Bristol/Bath city region is playing an active role in the partnership with Bristol Mayor George Ferguson taking part as Core Cities Cabinet member for low carbon and energy. 
He said: “There is tremendous benefit to be had from co-operation between England’s principal cities and Local Enterprise Partnerships as we join forces to bang the drum for our vital business sector.
“It's another step towards city regions being recognised as the country’s key drivers of growth and taking more responsibility for our local economies. Cities are best placed to work constructively with the business sector and ensure local, regional and national success.”
West of England LEP chair Colin Skellett, pictured, added: “In the West of England we have many years of partnership working across the four local councils, and through the LEP with business and our colleges and universities. We have shown most recently through the development of our West of England Strategic Economic Plan that we can work collaboratively as an area to drive economic growth.
“Local city and business leaders are the best placed to determine what investment and support is needed to deliver jobs and growth in their areas. Government has taken the first steps with the City and Growth Deals but they need to go further if the rest of the country outside London wants to seriously compete on an international scale.
“This new ‘cities for business’ partnership sends a strong message to government that collectively we are committed to gaining greater freedom and more local powers in order to unlock our economic potential.”
