Chancellor's Budget should "give Oliver Coppard the power he needs" to support crumbling schools and hospitals
“Britain's hospitals and schools are crumbling”
A think tank is calling on the Chancellor - Rotherham MP John Healey - to offer mayors more funding powers to help restore failing public infrastructure.
The Future Governance Forum (FGF), in partnership with Trowers and Hamlins law firm, has published a report on the ‘Mayoral Infrastructure Investment Partnerships' which proposes alleviating stresses on the public sector by giving regional mayors greater power to invest in local infrastructure.
The group claim that if mayors could use public-private partnerships to deliver housing, health and school infrastructure projects it would help local authorities deal with problems that national agencies like the NHS may be too overwhelmed to handle.
Adam Terry, FGF executive director, said: "Britain's hospitals and schools are crumbling and it would cost nearly £16bn in the NHS alone just to bring it back up to a functioning standard, let alone to meet our future infrastructure needs.
“‘Mayoral Infrastructure Investment Partnerships’ would enable the public and private sectors to work together to build infrastructure at pace, and deliver progressive outcomes in terms of jobs, skills and community benefits.
“The Chancellor is right to identify investment and place as two major drivers for getting our country growing again and bringing back hope. In his Budget he can address both by giving Oliver Coppard the powers he needs to get building again in Sheffield."
They are calling on Chancellor John Healey to introduce changes in his upcoming Budget that would allow mayors to make these changes.
Amardeep Gill, partner and head of public sector at Trowers & Hamlins, added: "This report makes a compelling case for giving mayors the tools, flexibility and accountability to unlock investment that can transform communities.
“By bringing together public ambition and private sector expertise, it highlights how a new generation of partnerships can deliver not just vital infrastructure, but wider regeneration, skills and long-term economic growth.
“At a time when public resources are under pressure, this is a practical and forward looking blueprint for delivering meaningful change across the UK."