A 'Cities Paper' published by the Treasury, Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM) and Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and alongside the budget confirms the economic and social revival made by England's major towns and cities since 1997. However, challenges remain to strengthen and widen the urban renaissance. The paper builds on the independent State of the English Cities Report, published earlier this month, which revealed that major cities in the East Midlands are benefiting from rising economic performance and employment rates, and improvements in social cohesion, liveability and integration.
For example:
- Derby saw a significant increase (over 16.3%) in the number of jobs from 1997-2003 - well above the regional and national average. There was also a small increase in the number of jobs in Leicester over the same period.
- Unemployment has fallen since the late 1990's in all cities in the region, but particularly in Leicester and Nottingham.
- All the region's cities saw a significant increase in the number of pupils achieving 5 or more GCSE grades at A to C between 2001 and 2004, particularly in Leicester and Nottingham where numbers rose by 40% plus.
- Derby, Leicester and Nottingham have seen a marked rise in the proportion of graduates in their workforces from 1991 - 2001 - especially in Leicester and Nottingham where the increases of more than 46% were well above the regional and national average. This trend is supporting dynamic new economic sectors in the local economies.
- Nottingham experienced a big drop in the proportion of working people claiming Income Support or Jobseekers Allowance between 1998-2003.
- Leicester saw a marked decline in burglaries between 1999 and 2004.
- Residential segregation by ethnicity declined in all three cities (Derby, Leicester, Nottingham) between 1991 and 2001.
- Leicester is one of three cities in England (the others are Milton Keynes and Oxford) where the non white population was less likely to live in the most deprived areas in 2001.
The Deputy Prime Minister said:
"Our major towns and cities have made remarkable progress in recent years. The years of decline have been overcome as a result of record
investment combined with strong economic growth and stability. We have seen an urban renaissance take shape in East Midlands centred around Nottingham, Leicester and Derby.
"The message of the State of the English Cities Report and the 'Cities Paper', is that our cities are back as successful places to live and work. However, challenges remain to make our cities even better. There is still much to do. We need to build on this progress to deliver rising prosperity in all our cities and regions, and opportunity for all."
