Let’s follow the Manchester model, say local Chambers
WEST Midlands business leaders today called on the region to adopt the “Greater Manchester Protocol” as the best way to put pressure on the Government.
In a move that is likely to raise eyebrows given Birmingham’s rivalry with Manchester, Birmingham Chamber of Commerce Group (BCCG) and the Black Country Chambers of Commerce (BCCC) have produced a joint document calling for urgent action on transport issues across the West Midlands “without boundaries”.
It is a call to follow the ‘city region’ lead of Manchester, Leeds and Sheffield.
BCCG chief executive Jerry Blackett said: “It’s time to put tribal differences behind us and do more together.
“We are calling on the two Local Enterprise Partnerships in Greater Birmingham and the Black Country to create a shared vision for transport.
“It’s clear from our research that the Government only takes local areas seriously when the geography is sufficiently large enough to capture the Treasury’s interest. That’s what Greater Manchester, and the city regions of Leeds and Sheffield have done.
“They are winning transport spend. Leeds and Sheffield are seeking to secure transport funds of £1bn and £500m respectively, and Manchester is currently constructing the highly-anticipated Northern Hub project.
“Together, the Black Country and Birmingham geographies could be generating vastly higher productivity levels and tax revenues if the economic potential is enabled by the right transport infrastructure. Businesses do not recognise local authority borders and time is of the essence. Let’s act now.”
The two Chambers have joined forces to produce a discussion document which identifies the importance of large economic geographies working together to maximise investment in transport infrastructure from the government and others.
Blackett and Colin Leighfield, who chairs the Black Country Chamber Transport Group, have co-signed the document, which will be sent to key decision makers in the region.
The paper examines examples of good practice in regional co-operation, with reference to the Northern Hub and East West Rail.
The Northern Hub project in Northern England is a large-scale rail project born out of a collaborative effort. It is expected to create 20,000 jobs and provide over £4bn in wider economic benefits
Leighfield said: “Both Chambers feel now is the time to encourage a cross-boundary process to develop a shared long-term vision for transport investment. Our paper draws on case studies of the Northern Hub and East West Rail; we believe the evidence for cross boundary working is made clear in our report.”
The report recommends that the West Midlands’ local authorities, LEPs, and other stakeholders combine to commission a piece of economic analysis sufficient to capture the growth potential of economically functional geography that crosses LEP borders.
