CardiffWalesMap

So apparently Cardiff council has been in serious talks about wanting to join the core cities group.

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/cardi ... ty-7665825

https://www.caerdydd.gov.uk/ENG/Your-Co ... group.aspx

What is the likeliness of this happening, and what real effect or power does this group actually have? Is it just another ineffectual quango? If it is worth pursuing could Cardiff's capital status be a handicap in this instance, or would its relative size and stature negate that? Interestingly, Glasgow is now a member however Edinburgh is not.

I don't see what harm can come from it, assuming (perhaps naively) there is no cost to the taxpayer associated with it.
I would consider measures to help counter-balance the pull of economic pull of London are a good thing, really, but I don't know if the Core Cities Group have had much tangible success yet.

There was an intresting piece about this group in the Sunday Times (£). I don't see much harm in Cardiff joining but its hard to see how some of their ideas would dovetail with devolution. They seem more relevant to English cities.

The reason for (Labour controlled) Glasgow's membership is pretty clearly a piece of political gamesmanship against SNP controlled Holyrood.In Cardiff's case I doubt the council would go ahead with joining without having had the nod from the WG. I can't really see any reason why the WG would object although I'm not sure it would achieve anything.