Agenda item

The Chair welcomed Lord Bob Kerslake to the Board to provide further details on the UK2070 Commission’s work.

Lord Kerslake outlined that the commission is an independent inquiry into city and regional inequalities across the UK that looks at the spatial issues related to the UK’s long-term city and regional development.  

The commission is designed to have three distinct features:  

1.    A strong evidence base to avoid diversion from key areas they are facing.  

2.    To be intentionally long-termed by looking forward and back 50 years to provide context on decisions. 

3.    To establish the case for a spatial framework in the UK. 

The focus is to look at the evidence of what has happened and what might shift the dial on inequalities. The commission is also supported by a research partnership. 

The commission plans to publish the first report in May 2019, ahead of a national symposium to be held in Leeds on 13 June 2019 which will look at sharing the views of stakeholders to use towards the final report.  

The aims of the agenda is to reinforce agenda for cities, regions and nations to maximise their potential for sustainable and inclusive growth; add value to the emerging range of national strategies for planning, housing, industry, land use, environment and infrastructure –?through greater integration and clarity in their place-based implications; develop more inclusive and empowering approaches to national and strategic decision-making; and investment for regions, cities, towns and communities; and to draw on UK and international experience in tackling issues of spatial inequalities.  

Decision: 

The Board supported the Commission’s work and committed their involvement in further progress.