Centre for Cities - Cities Outlook 2012

“Cities Outlook 2012 highlights some of the challenges confronting cities today: economic development, unemployment and changing demographics but most importantly the need to stimulate private sector growth. Leaders will need to act decisively and on a broad range of topics if their cities are to transition successfully into 'Smarter Cities'. The greatest advances are created by visionaries who are able to see and plan beyond organisational boundaries; much of the technology already exists to help them achieve this. Understanding where you are today, with respect to your peers and competitors, is an essential first step towards setting and achieving goals - this report helps provide these valuable insights.“ Stephen Leonard, Chief Executive, IBM UK and Ireland

Download the report: Centre for Cities - Cities Outlook 2012 (3.0MB)

Cities Outlook 2012 highlights some of the challenges confronting cities today: economic development, unemployment, changing demographics, ever-increasing resident expectations - all coupled with significantly reduced budgets. Leaders will need to act decisively and on a broader range of topics if their cities are to transition successfully into ‘Smarter Cities’.

“Cities Outlook 2012 shows the scale of the challenges our cities face today, but it also underlines their potential to drive economic growth. The key to unlocking that potential is a new deal. This year the Government will enable cities to exercise new powers, new choices about how local public services work, and new flexibility over funding, in proportion to the evidence of strong and accountable local leadership. Letting our cities do things their own way will help make them the most liveable, vibrant and prosperous places they can be.” Rt Hon Greg Clark MP, Minister for Decentralisation and Cities