The Government and the EU have been urged to place more faith in major UK cities like Birmingham to generate jobs and wealth through partnerships with the private sector and voluntary organisations.
Mike Whitby, leader of Birmingham City Council, said London and Brussels should put more trust in the ability of cities to deliver regeneration and promote economic growth.
Speaking at the Art of City Making conference at the ICC, Coun Whitby (Con Harborne) told delegates from 20 European states that Birmingham was at its best when its entrepreneurial spirit was allowed to flow free of interference.
"My message to the UK government and to the EU is to take a big risk and trust big cities. Trust us with the necessary resources, both to seize our opportunities and to tackle our problems," he said.
"Trust us with the necessary powers to raise resources. We have shown in Birmingham that with the right entrepreneurial spirit cities can start to turn round their fortunes."
Criticising the Government for an obsession with growth in London and the South-east, he said: "We have an increasing regional imbalance with the South-east growing at a huge pace and the rest of us running to keep still."
