Devolution must deliver tangible economic change for England's left-behind towns and neighbourhoods if it is to retain public support, the Independent Commission on Neighbourhoods (ICON) has warned in a report published today.
The report argued disadvantaged communities needed to be put at the heart of regional growth plans to fulfil Prime Minister Andy Burnham's pledge of ‘growth in every postcode'.
Fresh polling showed more than half (52%) of the public backed greater powers and funding for mayors though 53% believed devolution would leave the gap between richer and poorer places unchanged or wider still.
The report called for mayors to target investment at disadvantaged areas, and for Government to devolve business rates and National Insurance relief powers and appoint a chief secretary of the nations and regions.
