Core Cities Group
 | |
| Formation | 1995 |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | Manchester Town Hall |
Membership | Eight city councils |
Director | Chris Murray |
Staff | Two |
| Website |
www |
The Core Cities Group (also Core Cities UK) is a self-selected and self-financed collaborative advocacy group of large regional cities in England and outside Greater London. The group was formed in 1995 as a partnership of eight city councils: Birmingham, Bristol, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester, Newcastle, Nottingham, and Sheffield. The Core Cities Group has wide ranging interests, encompassing transport and connectivity, innovation and business support, skills and employment, sustainable communities, culture and creative industries, climate change, finance and industry, and governance. During 2012 the first wave of 'city deals' recognised the eight cities as "the largest and most economically important English cities outside of (sic) London".[1]
Since 2010 British cities outside England have started consultations for incorporation into the group. In August 2014, Glasgow joined the group as the first non-English city,[2] followed by Cardiff.[3]
A particular interest of the group is the High Speed 2 project to interlink the larger British cities faster. [4]
History
The group formed in 1995 and membership is made up of eight local authorities with city status; of which six are metropolitan borough councils and two are unitary authorities in the English local government system. The local authorities came together to promote their common interests of transport and connectivity, innovation and business support, skills and employment, sustainable communities, culture and creative industries, climate change, finance and industry, and governance. The eight city councils are also members of the pan-European Eurocities network, a group co-founded by Birmingham City Council.
Localism Act 2011
During the passage of the Localism Act 2011, the group promoted the 'Core Cities amendment' to allow for bespoke decentralisation to its members, which was successfully incorporated.[5] Several of the 'City Deals' subsequently agreed between the Cabinet Office/Department for Communities and Local Government in 2012 included enhanced powers and city regional working at their core, including new combined authorities, thanks to the provision.[6]
Cities and Local Government Devolution Bill 2015–16
The introduction of directly-elected mayors to combined authorities in England and the devolution of housing, transport, planning and policing powers to them are provisions contained in the Cities and Local Government Devolution Bill 2015–16.[7]
Group membership (English cities)
| City | County | Region | Local authority | Type | Population | Urban area | Metropolitan area |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Birmingham | West Midlands | West Midlands | Birmingham City Council | Metropolitan borough | 1,085,400 | 2,440,986 | 3,683,000 |
| Bristol | Bristol | South West England | Bristol City Council | Unitary authority | 428,200 | 587,400 | 1,041,000 |
| Leeds | West Yorkshire | Yorkshire and the Humber | Leeds City Council | Metropolitan borough | 751,500 | 1,499,465 | 2,302,000 |
| Liverpool | Merseyside | North West England | Liverpool City Council | Metropolitan borough | 466,400 | 816,216 | 2,241,000 |
| Manchester | Greater Manchester | North West England | Manchester City Council | Metropolitan borough | 503,100 | 2,553,379 | 2,556,000 |
| Newcastle | Tyne and Wear | North East England | Newcastle City Council | Metropolitan borough | 280,200 | 879,996 | 1,599,000 |
| Nottingham | Nottinghamshire | East Midlands | Nottingham City Council | Unitary authority | 305,700 | 666,358 | 1,543,000 |
| Sheffield | South Yorkshire | Yorkshire and the Humber | Sheffield City Council | Metropolitan borough | 552,700 | 640,720 | 1,569,000 |
Source for metropolitan area populations: [8]
References
- ↑ "Manchester City Deal brings 6,000 jobs boost - Announcements". www.communities.gov.uk. Inside Government - GOV.UK. 20 March 2012. Retrieved 17 July 2013.
- ↑ "Historic moment as Core Cities welcomes Glasgow into group". www.birminghamnewsroom.com. 14 August 2014. Retrieved 23 January 2016.
- ↑ "Cardiff Joins Core Cities Group". www.corecities.com. Retrieved 23 January 2016.
- ↑ "UK's big cities support launch of HS2 consultation". www.corecities.com. Retrieved 3 March 2011.
- ↑ 'Core Cities amendment to the Localism Bill clears the House of Commons', Core Cities Group website
- ↑ "City Deals and Growth Deals". www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk. Retrieved 23 January 2016.
- ↑ "Bringing our country together: cities, towns and counties to get stronger powers" (Press release). www.gov.uk. 29 May 2015. Retrieved 1 June 2015.
- ↑ "British urban pattern: population data" (PDF). ESPON project 1.4.3 Study on Urban Functions. European Spatial Planning Observation Network. March 2007. p. 119. Retrieved 22 February 2010.