Growth Minister Dan Tomlinson has promised that the Government will transfer greater fiscal powers from the Treasury to English regions, with further detail due at the Budget.
In a speech to the West Midlands Growth Summit, Tomlinson said the Government would publish a Rewiring the State delivery plan later this year covering skills, housing, transport and innovation.
He argued that raising productivity in the five largest mayoral strategic authorities outside London to the national average could add around £53 billion to UK economic output.
The Government intends to focus on core cities and economic clusters while giving local leaders more control over the services and infrastructure that shape growth.
Tomlinson said councils would also receive support to improve financial stability and invest in high streets, regeneration and local transport. He linked the approach to the West Midlands growth plan and a new co-ordination group for Birmingham's proposed Sports Quarter.
The speech was delivered on 8 October and published on 13 October. It signals forthcoming policy rather than announcing specific regional allocations, which are expected through the Budget, spending review and later delivery documents.
