Centre for Cities

City Talks: What is the Northern Powerhouse?

In this episode of City Talks, Andrew looks at the economic theory underpinning the Government's 'Northern Powerhouse' initiative, and what the policy implications have been so far. The conversation touches on the debate between economists and geographers on the 'agglomeration' effects of cities, and why the Chancellor and the Treasury have taken on these ideas. The discussion also looks at some of the questions that remain about the Northern Powerhouse, including its geographical focus, the amount of additional investment in the North, and how far local leaders and citizens have embraced the concept. Joining Andrew are Bridget Rosewell, senior adviser at Volterra Partners and former Chief Economic Adviser at the GLA, Mike Emmerich, Founding Director of Metro Dynamics and former CEO of New Economy in Manchester, and Dr Neil Lee, Assistant Professor in Economic Geography at the LSE.

City Talks: Tony Travers on the history of London's boroughs

In this month's episode, Andrew talks to the LSE's Tony Travers about his new book London's Boroughs at 50, and what the 1965 reorganisation of the capital's local government can tell us about the formation of new city-region bodies today. The conversation touches on how the boundaries of London were drawn up and negotiated, the characters different boroughs have developed, and the balance of power between local authorities and larger metropolitan units of government. Tony and Andrew also discuss the legacy of the New Urban Left's battle with the Thatcher government in the 1980s, and how the boroughs will fare in the future. 

City Talks: Simon Parker on shifting power to cities and local areas

This month Andrew is joined by Simon Parker, Director of the NLGN, to discuss his new book Taking Power Back: Putting People in Charge of Politics. Simon explains how the UK has gradually concentrated power in Whitehall and Westminster over the course of the post-war period, and argues that the peculiarly British experiment with centralisation has failed. Instead, international social and technological trends point to new ways of delivering public services that puts local people in the driving seat. Using examples like the Occupy movement in New York, Simon outlines this new 'libertarian socialist' ideal of 'the commons', and how it can work in practice. He suggests that the city devolution agenda taken up by the current government is welcome, but should only be the first step to pushing more power down to local communities.

City Talks: the open data revolution?

In this month's episode, Andrew looks at how the use of data can transform city governance and public services. The conversation touches on how open data can increase innovation and improve efficiency, how cities can get started with open data, and how to address people's concerns with the idea of releasing data into the open. Joining Andrew are Doug Mcleod, Director of Socrata, and Thomas Forth, Associate at the Open Data Institute in Leeds.

City Talks: Is urban inequality inevitable?

In this month's City Talks, Andrew looks at the role of cities in concentrating inequality, whether we should try to reduce it, and how to do so. The conversation touches on different ways of defining inequality, why cities tend to be more unequal places, and whether the UK will become more or less unequal in the future. Joining Andrew to discuss these questions are Laura Gardiner, Senior Research and Policy Analyst at the Resolution Foundation, and Prof Fran Tonkiss, Director of the Cities Programme at the London School of Economics.

City Horizons: what does the future hold for China’s cities?

We were delighted to welcome the OECD’s Senior Councillor William Tompson to London's Southbank Centre to discuss the extraordinary progress of China's urbanisation and some of the challenges its cities now face.

Drawing from the OECD's recent Urban Policy Review, the talk places China's urbanisation in a global context and shows that the growth of Chinese cities has been relatively successful, despite some of the constraints imposed by national and local policy.

City Talks: is city success dependent on immigration?

In this month's episode, Andrew looks at the relationship between cities and immigration in the UK, and asks why urban areas tend to be more welcoming to migrants, and how cities can best contribute to the immigration debate. Joining Andrew to discuss these questions are Sunder Katwala, Director of British Future, and Phoebe Griffith, Associate Director for Immigration, Intergration and Communities at the Institute for Public Policy Research.

City Talks: the future of urban jobs

In this month's episode, Andrew looks at how people make a living in cities, and what the impact of new technology will be on urban jobs. Will automation destroy more jobs than it creates? Are city economies being stifled by the cost of housing? Will the government's approach to tackling low pay and productivity work? Joining Andrew to discuss these questions are Ryan Avent, News Editor at the Economist and author of The Gated City, and Giles Wilkes, Leader Writer for the Financial Times and a former Special Advisor to Vince Cable when he was Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills.

City Talks: trains, planes and economic growth?

In this month’s episode, Ben Harrison steps in for Andrew to discuss how transport within and between cities contributes to the growth of UK plc. The discussion touches on the Government’s plans for creating a ‘Northern Powerhouse’ and what it might mean in practice, the controversy around HS2 and other big investments, and the impact of the driverless car. Joining him are Dr Jon Lamonte, Chief Executive of Transport for Greater Manchester, Vernon Everitt, MD of Customer Experience, Marketing and Communications at Transport for London, and Bridget Rosewell, Senior Advisor at Volterra and a Non-Executive Director at Network Rail.

City Talks: Housing - crisis or continuity?

In this months episode, Andrew explores why housing has become such a politically potent issue over the last five years, where the roots of the crisis lie, and what we can do to improve affordability and boost housebuilding. Joining him are Kate Henderson, Chief Executive of the Town and Country Planning Association, David Lunts, Executive Director of Housing and Land at the Greater London Authority, and Catherine Ryder, Head of Policy at the National Housing Federation.