Leese back in December 2009, boasted that Manchester was the first UK City to have a statement of it’s policies to combat Climate Change; http://www.manchesterclimate.com/  It would appear that Nottingham was the first City, to have a policy for Climate Change called the Nottingham Declaration; http://www.nottinghamcity.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=14385 , back in 2000.  This has been taken up by all 46 Authorities in the East Midlands region

Climate East Midlands – The Regional Climate Change Partnership.

Maybe Leese got the idea for ‘Manchester – A Certain Future’; , from his home town; http://www.climate-em.org.uk/images/uploads/Mansfield_public_statement_ND10.pdf