West Midlands Combined Authority appoints new portfolio heads
THE newly-vested West Midlands Combined Authority has designated the portfolio responsibilities for its lead members.
The positions were allocated after the body held its inaugural annual general meeting.
Cllr Bob Sleigh, leader of Solihull Borough Council, will be the chair of the new authority and he will have special responsibility for HS2 growth strategy, devolution deals and communications & engagement.
His deputy will be Cllr Pete Lowe, leader of Dudley Borough Council. He will have responsibility for Health and wellbeing – a portfolio that extends to mental health, mental health commission and health devolution.
Birmingham City Council leader, Cllr John Clancy will be responsible for Economic Growth, and as such will oversee delivery of the body’s Strategic Economic Plan (SEP), access to finance for business, the Collective Investment Fund (CIF), the WMCA growth company, international trade and exports, digital strategy and the arts and cultural activity.
Cllr Sean Coughlan, leader of Walsall Borough Council, has been handed responsibility for Housing and Land, for which he will deal with land commission, the Land Remediation Fund (LRF), housing delivery, and public estate.
The new leader of Coventry City Council, Cllr George Duggins, will handle Skills and Productivity, overseeing Skills and Productivity (including employability), learning for the future and Further Education (FE) area reviews.
Cllr Steve Eling, successor to the late Darren Cooper as leader of Sandwell Borough Council, has been designated responsibility for Public Service Reform, which covers the public service reform agenda, troubled families, criminal justice, welfare reform, shared services and social inclusion.
Cllr Roger Lawrence, leader of Wolverhampton City Council, has been handed responsibility for Transport, reflecting his area of expertise.
He will be responsible for delivery of the Strategic Transport Plan, Midlands Connect, West Midlands Rail, HS2 delivery transport and the Transport Delivery Committee.
The new combined authority is taking the lead role in helping to drive devolution in the region.
It will also play a major role in the impact of the Midlands Engine, the body charged by the government with driving forward economic growth across both the East and West Midlands.
