Sustainable Cities - Delivering Success

Over the past decade, the Core Cities group has made a significant contribution to championing the collective and individual significance of eight of England’s major cities. Having reinvented and in some cases reimagined themselves over the past two decades, these cities have been the economic motors for growth in their regions, contributing also to the success of the UK economy as a whole. At the same time, they have made real advances within a highly competitive international market, increasing their comparative standing and in different ways securing positive identities as places in which to live, work, relax and do business.

The publication in July 2007 of the Review of Sub-National Economic Development and Regeneration has signalled the Government’s recognition of the progress made by Cities in driving the economic growth and prosperity of their regions. The Core Cities Group welcomes the proposals made in the review and the commitment the Government has given to equipping cities with the tools to further determine and deliver their success.

This year’s Core Cities Summit in Nottingham on the 7th and 8th November has long been heralded as the most significant urban policy forum of 2007. The rescheduling of the event from June to November provides the perfect platform to openly debate the key issues arising from the Sub-National Review and showcase the culmination of a number of key workstreams which the Core Cities have developed closely with Government.

As the only conference since the publication of the Sub-National Review to be structured around its implications for cities, delegates can look forward to significant input from Government, key commentators and the academic and business communities along with the chance to further shape its implementation.

The Summit will be Hazel Blears' first address to the leaders of the country’s major cities since taking up office under Brown in June. She’ll set out her vision within the framework of the Sub-National Review. Plenary, workshop and fringe sessions over the two days will then cover the hot topics for the implementation of the Review’s recommendations.

Key themes and objectives
  • How can we co-ordinate the delivery of economic growth and sustainability at a regional and sub-regional level?


  • How can the proposed financial incentives be effectively implemented to deliver major projects?


  • Can we meet the challenge of establishing Multi Area Agreements by June 2008?


  • How can we establish effective sub regional delivery vehicles to meet the challenge laid down by the Housing Green Paper?


  • How can regional and local skills strategies tie together to ensure that cities are best placed to meet the demands of local businesses and the global economy?


  • How can science and technology build on initiatives such as Science Cities, so that it is innovation rather than regulation which becomes the main driver of sustainability?


  • How we can ensure our local and regional transport networks are integrated, fit for purpose and responsive to the needs for local economic growth?


  • How do city leaders incorporate enlightened views from their communities, partner organisations and younger citizens into a deliverable vision?
The Sub-National Review rightly states that "Economic Development needs to be taken forward in the context of environmental constraints, including the issue of climate change, described by Sir Nicholas Stern as the greatest global market failure the world has seen". The Nottingham Declaration on Climate Change, which has to date been signed by most local authorities, was an important first step in cities taking the lead on sustainability.

The summit will conclude with a ' Contract with the Future', a commitment from the Core Cities to bringing together public, private and voluntary sector partners to reduce carbon emission levels and explore how urban environments will need to adapt to future climate change.