A West Midlands Combined Authority

On 6 July a Launch Statement was published by the seven Metropolitan Councils* within the West Midlands proposing the creation of a West Midlands Combined Authority by April 2016.

Stratford-on-Avon District Council is now in the process of considering its position in relation to being part of the West Midlands Combined Authority, often called the Midlands Powerhouse.  The Government is keen to devolve its powers where there are sound economic links between constituent Councils.

Cllr Chris Saint, Leader of Stratford-on-Avon District Council says: “The Local Government landscape is constantly changing at the moment with many future challenges.  The District Council is looking carefully at the West Midlands Combined Authority approach but no formal decision has been made.  Firstly, we are consulting with the public and local business leaders, by way of a survey, launched today.

“People need a clear picture of the Government's devolution agenda and how this might impact on them.  It is important to hear views of the combined authority proposal from both the public and businesses alike.

“Stratford-on-Avon District Council is part of the West Midlands network of Local Enterprise Partnerships^#. It is important that the District Council uses these negotiations to assess where its future best lies. Whatever decision is going to be made will undoubtedly need to be and will be in the best interests of Stratford-on-Avon District residents and businesses. 

The consultation starts today at 5pm on 5 August and runs until 10am on Monday 24 August, so that results can be collated to inform the Decision to be made by Full Council at a Special meeting on 1 September 2015.

The survey is available online on the District Council's website www.stratford.gov.uk by following the front page link:  www.stratford.gov.uk/consultation/combinedauthority

• *The seven Metropolitan Councils are Birmingham City Council, Coventry City Council, Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council, Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council, Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council, Walsall Metropolitan Borough Council and City of Wolverhampton.
  
  
• # Three Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs), The Black Country, Greater Birmingham and Solihull as well as Coventry and Warwickshire cover the WM sub region.

• Combined Authorities were introduced in the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009 to enable Councils to integrate economic development and transport functions and decision-making across a functional economic area.

• A Combined Authority operates as a public body with its own legal personality, can impose a levy on constituent authorities and can borrow money for transport services.
  
  
• A Combined Authority structure is designed to enable Councils to work together to implement powers devolved from central Government.  They do NOT replace existing Councils, but ensure better collaboration on issues that are more effective when delivered together.  They work on issues that cannot be solved by individual Councils, such as transport investment or strategies for skills and economic prosperity.
  
  
  
• If Stratford-on-Avon District Council joined the West Midlands Combined Authority it would not be merging with other councils and would still be an entity in its own right.  The proposal does not mean transferring powers from Stratford to Birmingham, Coventry or any other metropolitan area but that arrangements can be made for powers to be devolved from central government to the new combined authority.  Stratford on Avon District Council would not lose any of its current powers but would be able to influence other issues that it currently does not have the opportunity so to do.