After the recent announcement about the Greater Manchester region changes, there are proposals for further change to local government within the West Midlands area, with four Black Country Councils and Birmingham City proposing to work together and possibly form a combined authority.
Sandwell Council writes:
The West Midlands can become the lynchpin for the national economic recovery say council leaders who are announcing plans to form a Combined Authority.
Council leaders from the four Black Country councils and Birmingham have today made an agreement in principle to work as a Combined Authority in a move which will attract hundreds of millions of pounds of investment to create jobs and improve transport links.
And they have invited Solihull and Coventry, as well as a number of the neighbouring councils, to join negotiations with the aim of building a broad and deep coalition for prosperity for the West Midlands.
The Government and the opposition in Westminster have made it clear that they are prepared to pass significant funding and powers to cities and regions that come together to form a Combined Authority. Today’s announcement means that the West Midlands will be able to take advantage of that opportunity along with other cities.
The key purpose of the Combined Authority which could represent over 3.4 million people, will be to drive growth, create jobs and improve local skills. Improving regional transport infrastructure and boosting economic investment and development will be key priorities.
Council leaders say the move will ensure the region makes a full contribution both to the UK’s economic recovery and the re-balancing of the national economy. They have also emphasised the plans will create a better deal for local people and will not impact on the day to day delivery of council services by the independent local authorities.
West Midlands’ council leaders will now look to finalise the finer details of their arrangement, including an official name for the Combined Authority. The priority of initial discussions will be to establish the role and remit of the Combined Authority and council bosses will also look at the most suitable leadership model for the West Midlands.
Meetings are continuing to finalise the specific details of the arrangement and the councils will make further announcements in the coming weeks.
