Andy Street announces his new ‘cabinet’

Andy Street, West Midlands Mayor

The new West Midlands Mayor, Andy Street, has finalised the team which will be responsible for delivering both his own priorities and those of the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) over the coming year.

The team’s composition was concluded at the annual general meeting of the WMCA, which was held at its offices in Summer Lane, Birmingham.

Key roles have been allocated to the leaders of the seven metropolitan authorities that make up the constituent membership of the combined authority.

The portfolio leads will be:

Wellbeing Board and HS2 – Cllr Bob Sleigh (Solihull)

Transport – Cllr Roger Lawrence (Wolverhampton)

Skills & Productivity – Cllr George Duggins (Coventry)

Economic Growth – Cllr John Clancy (Birmingham)

Environment – Cllr Pat Harley (Dudley)

Cohesion & Integration and Public Service Reform – Cllr Steve Eling (Sandwell)

Housing & Land – Cllr Sean Coughlan (Walsall)

An eighth portfolio, Finance and Investments, will go to Cllr Izzi Seccombe, leader of Warwickshire County Council, even though the council is a non-constituent member of the WMCA.

Mr Street said: “These appointments will help deliver my mayoral priorities and the priorities of the WMCA.

“Each area is vitally important and the portfolio holder will work with politicians and officers right across the West Midlands to help deliver the homes, jobs, skills and other targets we need.”

In addition to the appointment of the portfolio holders, the Mayor is proposing a Business Advisory Group to serve as the ‘voice of business’ on the WMCA.

Mr Street said: “I am absolutely clear that business needs to play a key part in the WMCA and that is why I will set up this group which will include organisations like the Chambers of Commerce, CBI, Institute of Directors and Federation of Small Businesses.

“As we move into the Brexit negotiations, it is going to be more important than ever that the voice of business is heard.”

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