Levelling up must be more than ‘political slogan’, says city leader

THE leader of a Yorkshire council has called on the Government to fulfil its levelling up agenda by committing to moving a department from Whitehall to one of the biggest city centre regeneration developments in the country.

Discussions are continuing between civil servants in Whitehall and senior officers and politicians at York Council to iron out a deal to bring a government department to the North Yorkshire city. The sprawling 110-acre York Central development site, centred on the city’s railway station, which is set to see 6,500 jobs and 2,500 homes created, has been pinpointed as an ideal location for the relocation.

However, the Liberal Democrat leader of York Council, Coun Keith Aspden, told The Yorkshire Post that the planned move needs to become a reality to ensure faith is retained in the Government’s much-heralded blueprint to tackle regional inequalities across the country.

He said: “Job relocations alone don’t constitute a Northern strategy that would bring together policy and meaningful investment for the region.

“The pandemic has only further highlighted the under-investment and lack of joined-up thinking when it comes to supporting jobs, transport, housing and local government service delivery across the north of England.

“I look forward to seeing the promises made to our city, the region and the North, to level up being delivered beyond political slogans.”

The Government announced earlier this month that a new agency, called Active Travel England, would be based in York, bringing 100 new jobs to the historic city.

The Cabinet Office also announced in the spring of last year that 200 civil service jobs were to be relocated to York.

Coun Aspden confirmed that advanced talks are under way after the Government Property Agency, which was formed in 2018 with a remit to manage the Government’s property portfolio, indicated that York is a preferred location for a hub of up to 2,250 civil servants.

Senior civil servants have also travelled from London to see firsthand the York Central development site to discuss the relocation of jobs.

The Government stressed that it is investing £77m in the York Central site, with the development expected to bring a £1.2bn boost to the wider regional economy.

A spokesperson said: “The Government’s central mission is to level up every part of the country by spreading opportunity, empowering local leaders, improving public services and regenerating our town centres and high streets.

“York continues to feature heavily in plans to relocate roles out of the capital.”

Job relocations alone don’t constitute a Northern strategy. York Council leader Coun Keith Aspden.