English city devolution plans

English city devolution plans

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The referendum on Scottish independence has stirred up demands for devolution in big cities across England. But what would greater city control over tax, spending and policy mean for accountants and their business clients?

Big cities including Liverpool are trying to get more control over their budgets and tax. Manchester already has.

I'm writing an article about this for AccountingWEB.

What opportunities does this create for accountants, advising councils, business etc?

I'm keen to talk to accountants in practice in the North West and South West of England. Plus a few big companies in these regions who can talk about what devolution could mean for the business. Email me: [email protected]

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By Cloudcounter
09th Dec 2014 11:27

It could mean

a lot of hot air and a lot of time wasted on conjecture when we don't know if it will happen, when it will happen if it does, or how it would happen.  Much of that cojecture will be about things that we can't control even if they do happen

Some people like that sort of thing.  Others will concentrate on the real world and what we are dealing with now

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Nick Huber profile image
By Nick Huber
09th Dec 2014 13:24

England devolution - not just hot air

Hi Cloudcounter, thanks for your views but I disagree.

It's not all conjecture. It's certainly the 'real world' for Manchester which has recently been given fairly extensive new devolution powers over things including transport, a £300m housing budget, business support budgets and a plan to combine health and social care across Greater Manchester.

All these things could have significant implications for accountants working in practice, business and the public sector.

Here's the announcement: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/fil...

Liverpool council will soon submit its proposals for greater economic and political freedoms and other big cities are interested.

Plus the ICAEW in the North West tells me that regional devolution is a hot topic for its members ...

 

 

 

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