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Our first online event of 2021 is about to start!
@AndrewCities & @Paul_Swinney are joined by an expert panel to outline the findings of #CitiesOutlook2021 and discuss the challenges that #LevellingUp and #Covid19 pose to UK towns & cities.
Follow here for live updates
@AndrewCities & @Paul_Swinney are joined by an expert panel to outline the findings of #CitiesOutlook2021 and discuss the challenges that #LevellingUp and #Covid19 pose to UK towns & cities.
Follow here for live updates
@CentreforCities CEO @AndrewCities welcomes us to the launch of #CitiesOutlook2021, our annual report which gives an economic analysis of urban Britain. This year we are focusing on the impact of #Covid19 on UK towns and cities.
@Paul_Swinney kicks off by outlining what we mean by the challenge of #LevellingUp and how #CitiesOutlook2021 looks at this in depth.
Undoubtedly, Covid 19 has made the challenge of levelling up much harder.
Paul goes on to explain how there is a new risk of 'levelling down'
@Paul_Swinney then explains how #CitiesOutlook2021 outlines 
categories for cities which require different approaches from the Govt.
categories for cities which require different approaches from the Govt.
@Paul_Swinney concludes by outlining what needs to change, both in terms of short term & long term priorities.
First up we hear from @AbiBrown1 who emphasises that levelling up and economic growth in Stoke need to part of local decision making.
She goes on to outline her Stoke Prospectus
@AbiBrown1 is focused on changing the narrative of Stoke on Trent and looks forward to sharing the exciting & achievable plans to grow the local economy.
Next up @CityMayorLeic Sir Peter Soulsby highlights the new challenges brought to us by #Covid19.
He outlines what is needed from the govt below:
- support for employment
- support for high streets
- support for SMEs
He outlines what is needed from the govt below:
- support for employment
- support for high streets
- support for SMEs
Sir Peter Soulsby goes on to stress the need to continue to devote spending to social care and education. 
Now welcoming @MetroMayorSteve who praises #CitiesOutlook2021 for being of key importance from both a national and regional perspective.
@MetroMayorSteve highlights the need for Liverpool City Region to have equal opportunities across the region to level up.
Steve goes on to say he will be studying the recommendations in the report and using the analysis to start to respond to the economic challenges faced by Liverpool.
@MetroMayorSteve announced he will be launching a Future Innovation Fund later this year and will also be looking at harnessing the opportunity of green recovery.
@MetroMayorSteve says that further devolution is highly important for the rest of the country given the value of local knowledge and understanding.
Time for our first Q&A session chaired by @AndrewCities 
How can we demonstrate that devolution benefits society at large? @MetroMayorSteve says that the North is a model example of devolution, noting mass testing as a prime example of this.
We’ll now be joined by @Jesse_Norman Financial Secretary to the Treasury.
@Jesse_Norman highlights that strong cities are the engines of economic growth and development, breeding grounds for innovation.
He goes on to discuss the challenges cities face due to #Covid_19 :
Do we really need cities given modern technology means we can work from home?
Will there be a mass movement away from cities?
Do we really need cities given modern technology means we can work from home?
Will there be a mass movement away from cities?
@Jesse_Norman believes cities are more important now than ever before, despite the impacts of #Covid_19, and we must now focus on how cities will continue to grow, not whether they will grow in the future.
@Jesse_Norman goes on to highlight the Govt's Urban Recovery Task to Build Back Better, focusing on:
housing
planning
regeneration
housing planning regeneration
He outlines that a change of culture is needed to bring about a fairer approach to #LevellingUp
@Jesse_Norman puts forward his vision for vibrant, prosperous & sustainable cities across the UK.
@cllrjudithblake begins by saying that leaders of cities play a vital role in being part of the solution going forward to recover from #Covid_19
She goes on to stress that real devolution doesn't exist in the UK and fiscal powers must be passed down to a local level.
@cllrjudithblake says that the Govt need to honour its commitments to supporting council budgets to lead recovery.
@cllrjudithblake says the levelling up agenda needs to be based on collaboration and not competition. Now more than ever, places must come together and recognise their different strengths
Up next, @RajeshAgrawal says that whilst the pandemic has had a devastating impact on towns and cities up and down the country, London has been hit particularly hard.
He goes on to say that a roadmap is in place that will meet the grand challenge of restoring confidence in London in the post-Covid19 landscape.
@RajeshAgrawal says that the government must do more to support London as well as other regions across the country, and he calls for a fiscal package to kickstart the city's economic recovery.
@AndyBurnhamGM calls for city regions to drive economic recovery from #Covid_19. A gargantuan task for all.
He goes on to stress that #LevellingUp has to start in the poorest communities - with people. Improving their homes, & environment.
@AndyBurnhamGM says that we need to see a major transfer of power and resources to the English regions in order to give #LevellingUp a chance.
@AndyBurnhamGM says we have an opportunity to come together as nations and regions of the UK at COP26 to develop the green recovery.
@AndyBurnhamGM concludes by saying that change is needed. Devolution can reinstate trust and create a sense of involvement and ownership - a healthier way of doing politics.
Now over to @AndrewCities to chair our second Q&A session…
@AndyBurnhamGM says devolution is the theme of our times and must be addressed if the whole of the UK hopes to emerge into the post-Covid19 world.
@RajeshAgrawal says London is part of the solution and can help to drive recovery throughout the rest of the UK.
@cllrjudithblake asks that the Govt recognise and trust work at a local level and calls for future engagements to get through this crisis.
