Telford & Wrekin makes overtures to West Midlands Combined Authority

ANOTHER West Midlands council has come forward and stated its intention to join the region’s new combined authority.

However, Telford & Wrekin Council wants to follow in the footsteps of Cannock Chase Council by becoming a non-constituent member of the proposed engine for growth.

As a non-constituent member of the West Midlands Combined Authority, as the super-council has been dubbed, Telford & Wrekin Council would remain independent, retaining all its current powers and would not come under the remit of any West Midland Mayor.  
 
Nevertheless, the WMCA has already welcomed the approach.

Cllr Bob Sleigh,  chairman of the Shadow Board for the WMCA, said: “We are delighted that Telford & Wrekin Council is looking to come on board with our emerging West Midlands Combined Authority, subject to the approval of their cabinet.
 
“We are working hard to make a case to government that our Combined Authority should cover the three Local Enterprise Partnership areas and with Telford & Wrekin Council set to sign up to become a non-constituent member, it makes our voice louder and stronger for the region as a whole.”

In addition to remaining outside the control of the Mayor, the borough would also remain in the Marches Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) through which the area has already benefitted from over £19m of investment.
 
Telford claims to be a major economic force in the West Midlands with the most ‘ready to go’ development land  in the region and high aspirations to create more jobs, better paid jobs, support business growth and continue to reduce unemployment.  
 
If approved by the council’s cabinet on October 6, non-constituent membership of the WMCA could open up potential opportunities to retain more business rates in the borough resulting in millions to reinvest, attract new inward investment and improve the ability of local young people to fill jobs.
 
The council said it would also give Telford & Wrekin the best chance of negotiating and agreeing its devolution proposal.
 
The WMCA currently consists of seven authorities which are Birmingham, Walsall, Wolverhampton, Sandwell, Solihull, Dudley and Coventry.  The Government is seeking to devolve more powers to the regions and has made a commitment to negotiate a devolution deal with the new super-council, which would be capable of challenging the likes of the Northern Powerhouse.

Under proposals agreed by the government the new authority would have responsibility and spending powers for economic development, transport infrastructure and skills.
 
The council has already submitted its own devolution bid to the Treasury and has designated the borough as an enterprise area – Enterprise Telford.
 
This move would put the borough very close to the decisions that will shape the region’s competitiveness and support the delivery or our local devolution deal.
 
Council leader Cllr Kuldip Sahota said: “Telford and Wrekin is one of the region’s fastest growing economies.
 
“Being a non-constituent member of the WMCA would give us the influence we need and retain our independence without giving up any of our powers.
 
“This is simply too great an opportunity for the borough to miss – it would allow us to negotiate and agree our devolution proposals; opportunities to retain more business rates, which could result in millions to reinvest here in the borough.”
 
The move has the backing of the Telford Business Board.