National recognition for West Midlands Combined Authority

NATIONAL recognition of the new West Midlands Combined Authority has made great strides, with the super-council persuading an important House of Commons Committee to abandon Westminster in favour of Wolverhampton.

The influential Public Accounts Committee has agreed to stage a meeting in the city tomorrow (Friday).

The event, in the City of Wolverhampton Council chamber, will examine devolution and its implications.
 
It will take the form of four panels of speakers with question and answer sessions, each addressing themes relating to devolution: the economics of devolution and growth, regeneration, HS2 and centre-local relations.   
 
Cllr Roger Lawrence, leader of the city council, said: “This is a great way to put our city on the national political map and raise its profile amongst national politicians. It also demonstrates our commitment to supporting an open and transparent political debate on devolution.
 
“As a key member of the newly-formed West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA), I’m looking forward to helping the committee understand the city’s perspective on, and strong support for, devolution.
 
“We believe that by drawing down more power and funding from Whitehall to the West Midlands we are creating the UK’s strongest partnership for growth.”  
 
The Wolverhampton conference will be opened by committee chair Meg Hillier MP, who said: “Devolution is intended to create opportunities for local communities and to enable those with the best local know-how to create more responsive and efficient services.
 
“However, with Mayoral elections scheduled for May next year, many details essential to implementing these deals are still unclear.
 
“The clock is ticking and in the race for the tape it is crucial the best interests of the public are kept front of mind.”
 
She said taxpayers had to be assured safeguards were in place to ensure devolved funds spent on their behalf were being invested wisely, and that acceptable service levels were being maintained.

“Transparency, accountability to Parliament and the public and the push for greater value for money must not be lost in the establishment of new structures and platforms,” she added.
 
“We look forward to hearing the experiences and perspectives of colleagues and stakeholders in the West Midlands.”

Speakers and attendees at tomorrow’s meeting will include Meg Hillier MP, chair of the Public Accounts Committee; Rob Marris MP; Martin Reeves, chief executive, Coventry City Council and chief executive of the WMCA; Tom Walker, director (at CLG) of the Cities and Local Growth Team; Professor Diane Coyle, University of Manchester; Katie Trout, director, Greater Birmingham and Solihull LEP; Sarah Whitney, founding director, Metro Dynamics; Rachel Egan, head of employment and skills, Solihull MBC; Paula Deas, operations director, Coventry and Warwickshire LEP ; Sarah Middleton, chief executive, Black Country Consortium; Cllr Lawrence, also WMCA lead on transport, Liz Peace, former CEO at British Property Federation; Jan Britton, COO, WMCA and chief executive, Sandwell Council; Prof Colin Copus, Professor of Local Politics, De Montfort University; and Dr Arianna Giovannini, lecturer in Local Politics, De Montfort University.