Chancellor outlines plans to devolve power for city transport

In a speech given by Chancellor of the Exchequer, George Osborne on building Northern Powerhouse, the government’s plans to devolve power for city transport were outlined.

The Chancellors plans to create a Northern Powerhouse focus on devolvement of power from a London centric model to individual city level.  The Chancellor stated: “The old model of trying to run everything in our country from the centre of London is broken. It’s led to an unbalanced economy.” The plans initially apply to Manchester but it is the government’s wish for other English cities to follow – “Today I can tell you we will go much further and deliver radical devolution to the great cities of England. I say to these cities: it is time for you to take control of your own affairs.”

The Chancellor continued: “Now we’re devolving power over policing, skills, housing. We’re giving the City control over transport, including buses.

 “We will hand power from the centre to cities to give you greater control over your local transport, housing, skills and healthcare. “

Devolvement plans also include electing London style city mayors to work with local councils enabling a “single point of accountability”. He announced that Manchester agreed to have a mayor as part of the Northern Powerhouse and insisted that the door is “open to any other major city who‎ wants to take this bold step into the future.” Continuing he stated: “We will transfer major powers only to those cities who choose to have a directly elected metro-wide mayor.”

City Devolution Bill will be included in the Queens Speech on the 27^th May 2015.