Calls for the Government to show greater clarity in developing the powers of city-regions, have been met with a mixed response from council leaders. Members of the Commons' Communities and Local Government Committee have said the Government should set out the powers and responsibilities of city-regions to show how this new form of governance will work alongside existing regional assemblies, regional development agencies, and the regional network of government offices. In their report Is there a future for regional government? the MPs said: ‘While individual local authorities are essential for the implementation of strategy and service delivery… strategy is often best determined on a regional or sub-regional level.' Their conclusions were published ahead of the Lyons report and follow recent studies on regional governance by both the New Local Government Network and Local Government Association. LGA chairman, Lord Bruce-Lockhart said: ‘All areas – not just cities – would benefit from devolution of powers. A clear devolution of powers and resources from regional and national government to councils is the way forward.' And Cllr Keith Mitchell, leader of Oxfordshire CC and chairman of the English Regions Network, welcomed the case for strengthening the scrutiny powers of regional assemblies. ‘We agree it makes sense to build on the present regional arrangements rather than tear them up and start again,' he said. ‘Assemblies already lead regional development through our strategic planning, housing and transport roles. Regional alignment is best served by adding other responsibilities such as economic development.' A spokesman for the Department of Communities and Local Government said: ‘We disagree with the conclusions of this report. We have set a clear direction for devolving powers.' Conservative shadow communities and local government secretary, Caroline Spellman has promised to abolish regional assemblies in a New Local Government Network leaflet entitled Conservatives and localism.
