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Give locals more say into plans for the North, urges Heseltine

Former deputy prime minister Lord Heseltine has made a passionate plea for people to be at the centre of the decision making process about where they live. 

“You cannot make decisions about people and the places they live in without talking to the people themselves. They need to be part of those discussions and any regional plan must be designed by the people who live and work in that region.” So said former deputy prime minister Lord Heseltine, speaking at infrastructure conference, The Northern Summit, in Leeds today.

Drawing on half a century of political experience, much of it involved in regeneration and regional planning, Heseltine was keen to highlight a partnership message to his audience of business and political representatives who had gathered in Leeds to discuss the development of a new infrastructure plan for the north.

“The best solutions are based on a partnership between public and private and sectors working together harnessing the knowledge of both. Neither public sector nor private sector knows best,” said Heseltine.

Focusing on the devolution agenda, Heseltine said it was “revolutionary” and would change the country for the better. “Full scale devolution has been the game changer. Manchester is leading the way but virtually the whole of the north and the West Midlands are covered by devolved authorities,” he said. 

Turning to the sceptics of devolution he made a plea to get involved. “Local leaders should look to the opportunities on offer. A revolution of devolved powers is sweeping the country. Set aside your parochial, historical and regional differences. It is a fair deal and it is a good one, he claimed. “In terms of the Northern Powerhouse, some dismiss it as a slogan. But there is no room for doubt at all. The chancellor has made this a personal crusade and I have never seen anyone take something forward like the way he has this initiative,” he said.

Highlighting the importance of the devolution agenda on political and civic life, Lord Heseltine said: “All over the country dialogue about devolution is taking place. We are behind much of the world in local leadership. Our competitors elect mayors because mayors work. In 18 months’ time six elected people will have enormous power to develop their local areas and that power will be due to the democratic mandate that those people have been given by local people,” he said.

There was no room for complacency he said. “We have not completed the devolution journey yet and there is much left yet to do. Be bold, be radical. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity,” he said.

Lord Heseltine also said he was looking forward to seeing the work of the National Infrastructure Commission make a positive impact on the north especially by introducing measures to improve transport connectivity throughout the region. He also spoke enthusiastically about the £140bn being spent by the government to regenerate ‘sink’ estates. “People who live on these estates will define solutions. Nothing will be imposed. Communities will decide,” he said.

Heseltine said he will chair a panel of people who have experience of estate regeneration which will meet in February to discuss plans which local groups have submitted to the panel. He said that his panel hopes to work with 100 estates where residents will work collaboratively on a revitalisation agenda. “There is a hunger by local people to take control of their destiny and the creation of more affordable housing is a prime objective,” he said. 

If you would like to contact Andy Walker about this, or any other story, please email awalker@infrastructure-intelligence.com.

Comments

Hell will freeze over before this is allowed to happen. Politicians and government and business leader think they are elected and appointed to decide for the people and protect their own interests and power bases. Most people neither have the time or the trust their views will be listened to and acted upon. Heseltine is one of those people who is out of date and out of touch and along with his political and business mates is the reason why there is a public demand for change. Northern Powerhouse, devolution is yet more jobs for the elite and their policies on all angles of the political spectrum attack underpaid and undervalued working people.
Hell will freeze over before this is allowed to happen. Politicians and government and business leader think they are elected and appointed to decide for the people and protect their own interests and power bases. Most people neither have the time or the trust their views will be listened to and acted upon. Heseltine is one of those people who is out of date and out of touch and along with his political and business mates is the reason why there is a public demand for change. Northern Powerhouse, devolution is yet more jobs for the elite and their policies on all angles of the political spectrum attack underpaid and undervalued working people.
Hell will freeze over before this is allowed to happen. Politicians and government and business leader think they are elected and appointed to decide for the people and protect their own interests and power bases. Most people neither have the time or the trust their views will be listened to and acted upon. Heseltine is one of those people who is out of date and out of touch and along with his political and business mates is the reason why there is a public demand for change. Northern Powerhouse, devolution is yet more jobs for the elite and their policies on all angles of the political spectrum attack underpaid and undervalued working people.