Sub and city regions are set for a prominent role under Gordon Brown, it was confirmed this week. At the Lyons review conference, Treasury minister, Ed Balls, said: ‘We want local authorities to play a bigger role within city regions working with RDAs.' The Treasury is conducting a review into the role of English sub-regions and regions which will form part of CSR07 this autumn. Local government Phil Woolas empasised that recent ‘silence' on the subject ‘merely reflects the seriousness with which we take it'. And Sir Michael Lyons said: ‘Coaltions are the only way to deal with issues that transcend economic boundaries.' The Lyons review supports the use of multi-area agreements to support sub-regions with powers across transport, planning and economic development.
