好色先生TV

Further devolution of central government powers to UK city regions is 鈥渦nstoppable鈥�, the leader of Liverpool City Council and chief executive of Manchester City Council have said.

Addressing a Mipim debate on the 鈥淣orthern Powerhouse鈥� agenda, Liverpool mayor Joe Anderson said the case for greater devolution was making headway: 鈥淭he train is on the tracks 鈥� it鈥檚 unstoppable.鈥�

Howard Bernstein, chief executive of Manchester City Council, said the mooted devolution of transport powers to northern councils was essential for the region鈥檚 economy.

Bernstein said: 鈥淭he key to agglomeration is better transport connections. Look at city regions in Germany, you see them performing better in terms of GVA (gross value added) and productivity.鈥�

He warned that the biggest threat to the region was a shortfall in skilled workers and urged for a greater focus on education and training, warning: 鈥淭he skills system is on the verge of chaos.鈥�

Bernstein said there was 鈥渁 big buzz鈥� around the two cities and 鈥渁 lot of big projects鈥� would be hitting the Manchester market in the coming months, including the redevelopment of Granada Studios and the city鈥檚 planned 鈥楾he Factory鈥� arts venue.

Anderson admitted he was envious of Bernstein鈥檚 ability to co-ordinate the Manchester city region鈥檚 development through the Greater Manchester combined authority: 鈥淲ithout a doubt, of course I鈥檓 jealous. They鈥檝e had 14 years as a combined authority. Sure I鈥檓 frustrated by the lack of collaboration and parochialism [in the Liverpool city region].鈥�

However, he said he was proud to be Liverpool鈥檚 first elected mayor.