A MAJOR summit on devolution to UK cities will take place in Glasgow next month, it has been announced.

 

The event, which has been timed to influence politicians ahead of the general election, will see the launch of a 'charter for local freedom' which will set out which powers participants believe should be transferred to the regions. Organisers said the charter would be a "21st century version of the Magna Carta".

The February 9 meeting, which it is hoped which will attract national politicians, was agreed at today's Core Cities UK Cabinet held in Leeds.

Core Cities UK, which represents Glasgow, Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester, Newcastle, Nottingham and Sheffield, lobbies for more powers to be devolved to local decision makers which it believes would provide a boost to their economies.

Gordon Matheson, Glasgow City Council leader, said: "I'm proud that Glasgow will host the Core Cities UK Devolution Summit.

"A centralising, power-grabbing Scottish Government is as much a barrier to achieving optimal economic growth and tackling inequality as an over-bearing Whitehall.

"All political parties in Scotland should urgently commit to devolving the new Smith Commission powers to Scotland's major cities and communities, starting with Glasgow, which is best placed to benefit. Merely transferring powers between one parliament and another does not advance the cities agenda."

Scottish Labour leader Jim Murphy has said previously that he supports devolving powers transferred to Scotland following the Smith Commission talks to local authorities.

Core Cities UK Cabinet Chair and Leader of Manchester City Council Sir Richard Leese, said: "City devolution is one of the key political issues of our times and our summit is a fantastic chance to find out more about the growing movement to give our cities the freedoms they need and deserve. All the political parties must make this a major manifesto commitment."

A spokesman for Infrastructure Secretary Keith Brown welcomed plans for the summit.

He said: "It is worth pointing out that around a quarter of all local government finance was previously ring-fenced by the Labour-led Scottish Government.We have consistently supported further devolution from London, and have an excellent record of devolving powers to the cities and regions of Scotland.

"The Scottish Government is investing significant funding in Glasgow that is helping create jobs and cementing Glasgow's position as one of Europe's leading cities with a vibrant, thriving economy.  Through the Scottish Cities Alliance we are exploring opportunities for all Scotland's cities and doing all we can to stimulate the economy in our cities and their regions.

"We have committed £500 million over 20 years to the Glasgow Clyde Valley City Deal, part of a £1.13 billion infrastructure investment fund that is expected to deliver around 29,000 jobs across the city region.

"Since 2008 we have provided capital funding of £1.1 billion to Glasgow City Council and invested £1.5 billion in the Commonwealth Games, the new Southern General Hospital, Fastlink and the Glasgow Subway improvements, as well as investment in the M8, M73 and M74 motorways, Glasgow to Edinburgh rail lines, City of Glasgow College, and the development of Maryhill, Gorbals and Woodside Health Centres.

"As opposed to political point scoring, we will continue to seek to work positively with Scotland's seven cities."