“Not only should the aspirations for the City Deal be centred around a low carbon economy but it must demonstrate that it works for everyone, that it tackles persistent poverty, ill health and poor life chances in all parts of the region, rather than focusing on shiny new town and city centre infrastructure.

“The City Deal offers the 10 local authorities involved a unique opportunity to work together for the long-term well-being of future generations.”

In advance of the Growth and Competitiveness Commission report, to be published Friday, 16^th December, the Commissioner has written to those involved setting the challenge and highlighting where the Well-being of Future Generations Act can be used to make a real difference to the future prospects of people living and working in these areas

In a challenge to the Cardiff Capital Region City Deal to demonstrate how they will fulfil their legal obligations under the newly created Well-being of Future Generations Act Ms Howe says:

“The City Deal is a 20 year long programme and this provides a chance to approach persistent challenges such as climate change, poverty, inequality, jobs and skills in a transformational and preventative way.

“It is also an opportunity for the 10 authorities to demonstrate how they are using the five ways of working to maximise their contribution to the well-being goals required under the Act, through a major public investment programme.

Some of the challenges and questions which the City Deal must address include:

• Ensuring the business opportunities that will be pursued through the City Deal are appropriate to a low-carbon economy
• Ensuring investment in transport infrastructure as proposed realistically reduces the environmental costs of travel in the Cardiff Capital Region. It must take into account future travel needs, such as changing patterns of work, modes of transport and implications of an ageing population
• Taking action on inequalities in health and well-being and breaking inter-generational cycles of poverty
• Putting mechanisms in place to ensure that community voice is a key driver of the developments that will come about through this programme Sophie Howe concluded:“As a growing number of cities in the UK and across the world place sustainable development and their citizens at the heart of their economic development, we would maintain that the Cardiff City Region deserves nothing less than a similarly visionary approach fit for our future generations.”