WMCA Mayoral consultation set to expire

PEOPLE interested in submitting their views on the decision to elect a Mayor for the West Midlands Combined Authority have been urged to do so quickly.

The deadline for responses to be received expires at midnight on Sunday (August 21).

The position is an important one for the future of the area as the person filling the post will essentially be the Prime Minister for the West Midlands.

The consultation outlines the functions of the Mayoral role and the results of its findings will be submitted to Local Communities Secretary – and Bromsgrove MP – Sajid Javid.

Cllr John Clancy, leader of Birmingham City Council, said: “The idea of a Mayor for the WMCA area is to provide a strong voice for the region and to be an ambassador for the area, promoting it on the global stage.

“The Mayor would be the point of contact when the Government want to speak to the West Midlands and be responsible for driving the Devolution Agreement within government and the region.

“This is an opportunity to shape how the region is governed in the future and I encourage all residents, businesses, community groups and partners from across the region to take it by having their say in the consultation.”

So far, the prospect of an elected Mayor has had little impact on the region, which has been preoccupied of late from the implications of the decision to leave the European Single Market.

The Mayoral election takes place next May and so far, Labour’s Siôn Simon is the only confirmed candidate in the race.

Details of the consultation can be found here