{"id":387,"date":"2010-10-18T17:34:49","date_gmt":"2010-10-18T17:34:49","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/leedscd.wordpress.com\/?p=387"},"modified":"2010-10-18T17:34:49","modified_gmt":"2010-10-18T17:34:49","slug":"making-leeds-the-best-city-in-the-uk","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/realisedevelopment.net\/index.php\/2010\/10\/18\/making-leeds-the-best-city-in-the-uk\/","title":{"rendered":"Making Leeds the Best City in The UK…"},"content":{"rendered":"

…<\/p>\n

That is the challenge laid down<\/a> to us by the new Leeds City Council Chief Executive, Tom Riordan.<\/p>\n

What would it mean for any city to be the best<\/a>?<\/p>\n

What criteria would be used to decide and bestow such an accolade?<\/p>\n

And who would it be ‘best’ for? \u00a0Employers? \u00a0Residents? Students? Homeless? Artists? Financiers? Children? Elders?<\/p>\n

But suppose we framed the question of ‘best’ differently, and asked how we could make everyone in the city feel like Leeds was the ‘best’ place for them to be to make the most of their life and to fully explore and develop their potential?<\/p>\n

To live their life the way they\u00a0want\u00a0to, making their own decisions and living with the consequences. \u00a0Feeling valued, respected and like they belong here. \u00a0Feeling supported in a community that they enjoy and contributing to it fully.<\/p>\n

Now that would be a question worth asking. \u00a0 An\u00a0accolade\u00a0worth pursuing. \u00a0A league table worth topping.<\/p>\n

It would almost certainly not depend on physical infrastructure, but on psychological infrastructure. \u00a0A network of relationships, support and encouragement\u00a0that\u00a0valued\u00a0people, regardless of wealth or education, ethnicity, gender, sexuality or age. \u00a0A psychological infrastructure in which help could be asked for and offered. \u00a0A city in which collaboration, association and innovation in the pursuit of progress was\u00a0everyone’s\u00a0business<\/p>\n

It would be a city of enterprise and compassion.<\/p>\n