Here we go again! We heard these arguments time and again by the local politicians/leaders etc during my 7 years at WMDA (RDO = Heseltine initiative) and AWM (RDA =Labour initiative). The only losers were the people and businesses of the West Midlands. Indeed I recall one minister saying with regard to transport priorities, that the government did not 'bash' the Midlands in favour of elsewhere but as it always spoke with so many voices and gave different transport priorities, they'd rather give the money to a region speaking and working collectively even if their ideas/plans were less ambitious. So, we moan about Manchester, fall out with our neighbours and waste time fretting what to call city regions, LEPs, or whatever else they might be, lamenting what might have been and what we have but as ever, failing to articulate what could reasonably and effectively be pulled together on behalf of the area (whatever that may be). Again UDI by certain areas is completely unhelpful - the Black Country population size equals that of Birmingham but instead of uniting and working together, the factions, fiefdoms/empires remain the priority. No !! This must not be the brave new world. When everyone worked together, great things happen - remember the G7 summit, Eurovision/Lions conference all in the same year 1998 (pre RDA) with huge collective involvement from business community, public and other bodies. Look at bringing the college of Law to Birmingham, other collective campaigns - the airport reconfiguration, professional services/tourism growth in recent years adding vast numbers of jobs to replace historic 'more traditional' industries. We've worked together before - let's do it again! For goodness sake, why don't we all get around a table, discuss what is needed like sensible adults? Roles/responsibilities/titles/logos/ownership can all be agreed in time but for now focus on what we have in common, what needs urgent assistance, who in terms of organisations/work (not necessarily individuals wanting to be crowned) might/could/want to be involved and start to build something solid on firm foundations. As Marc says, at least then there would be something to help others generate ideas or criticise. RDOs were created in a recession to help regeneration those areas lacking employment and investment to enable them work together to attract foreign direct investment and market the region. In those days, we had little money, were a small organisation but boy, did we know what we stood for, and did we leverage relationships to the common good of promoting the region internationally and being clear when working with partners who needed to lead on what. We weren't perfect but we gained an awful lot of leverage without vast budgets or hordes of staff. It's not rocket science and it doesn't take an army. If we don't step up to the opportunity, we'll almost certainly get a horse designed by committee foisted on us. Don't we deserve better? Don't we owe it to ourselves to make the difference? Come on, we can do it. Working together is the only realistic way forward... put the egos aside, look for the wood amongst the trees, and focus on the minutiae when principles have been properly debated and agreed. If we fall at this first hurdle, we will deserve what we get.

Janette Rawlinson