Sir Peter Soulsby looks back on the events of 2011 - and discusses where regional devolution might lead next.
It’s ten years since Leicester switched to leadership by directly elected city mayor.
That historic change in governance prompted the Institute for Government to ponder whether Leicester had instigated the ‘revolutionary constitutional change of 2011’. The headline of the Guardian’s leader proclaimed ‘Where Leicester Leads’.
So where did it lead? Rory Palmer will chair a panel which will reflect with Sir Peter on what having a directly elected mayor has meant for the city. The panel includes:
- Rory Palmer, the city's first deputy mayor and former East Midlands MEP
- Helen Donnellan, De Montfort University's Director of Enterprise and Business Services and the city council's former Inward Investment and Place Marketing Director
- Dr Kate Broadhurst, lecturer in International Business, Strategy and Innovation at Loughborough University and researcher in economic development and place-based partnerships
The panel will consider economic development, the attraction of investment and promotion of enterprise, and the city’s national and international profile.
Audience members can also expect reflection and thoughts on the first ten years of mayoral leadership - as well as future challenges and opportunities, including potential next steps for city and city region devolution.
Writing in 2011, Andrew Adonis drew comparison with the London mayoralty, adding: “The Mayor of Leicester will be arguably the most powerful local government figure in England after Boris Johnson.”
This event will consider how that power has been utilised in Leicester over the last decade.
This event is being hosted by 1284. Its founder, George Oliver, is a former editor of the Leicester Mercury. 1284's email newsletter covers regional innovation, change and more.