Member Article

‘Super Cities’ on the agenda for Leeds and Manchester government leaders

The chief executives of Leeds and Manchester Councils are set to discuss devolution and the ‘super city’ concept this week.

Sir Howard Bernstein and Tom Riordan are appearing together, in Leeds, to discuss the future collaboration between the two cities at an event organised by Downtown in Business.

Bringing together key figures from the public and private sectors, the event will give business heads the chance to question the leaders of both cities, and takes place on Wednesday 17 September at the offices of Clarion Solicitors.

Held the day before the Scottish Independence referendum, the event will focus on the further devolution of powers to the regions, the creation of a Northern ‘super city’ and how the two cities can work together to accelerate economic growth.

Downtown in Business organised the event to allow businesses to better understand how much collaboration really exists between the two major cities across the Pennines, following the recent raft of announcements about big infrastructure projects for the North of England.

The lobbying organisation, that brings the private sector together with the public sector agencies that govern our region’s cities, is well-established in the Manchester, Liverpool and the North West.

In Leeds it has previously organised ‘smart city’ and ‘leaders lunches’ events with entrepreneur Ajaz Ahmed, Rachel Reeves MP and Chuka Umunna MP.

Downtown chief executive Frank McKenna said: “In order to help address the North South divide, it’s vital that our great northern cities work together to deliver economic growth.

“Historical rivalries have been put to the side in favour of greater co-operation, grander ambitions and a determination to deliver.

“Sir Howard Bernstein and Tom Riordan are two of the leaders at the heart of this transformation, and they will be key architects in the future development of the whole of the North.

“We’re delighted to have them at our event and we look forward to hearing what they have to say and how they will answer some of the key and difficult questions of the day.”

Steven Crow, business development director at Clarion Solicitors, which are hosting the event, said: “Historically, the North was the power house of the industrial revolution, where good infrastructural connectivity between Yorkshire and Humber and the Northwest created a mutually beneficial collaboration.

“In a rapidly changing global economy, we again need to focus on working together to create competitive advantage and Northern prosperity.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Clare Burnett .