Birmingham next for devolved powers, says Lord Hestletine
Birmingham is to become the next city to get devolved powers, it has been claimed, in a move that would likely mean councils in the Black Country being granted greater responsibilities.
Conservative Party grandee Lord Hestletine said it had been agreed by the Government to make the change in the second city.
The move, which has already been made in Greater Manchester, would likely mean councils in the Black Country being given greater freedom over business rates, transport, planning and public health services.
Former deputy prime minister Lord Hestletine said: "Birmingham is next, that's been agreed."
In November, Chancellor George Osborne said Greater Manchester would get its own elected mayor with powers over transport, taxes, housing, planning and policing as part of his plan to create a northern powerhouse to act as a counterbalance to the economic power of London.
Gaining control over local business rates alone is expected to provide Manchester with a £1.1billion boost.
Mr Osborne also said Greater Manchester would get control of its £6billion health and social care budget in February.
The city will assume full control over health and social care in a year.
Council bosses in Birmingham and the Black Country have already agreed to create a combined authority in the region.
The controversial move will see leaders or representatives sit on a new board that looks at issues of joint concern, such as transport, regeneration, education and skills.
The move is part of a plan to get greater decision-making powers over funding and more control for councils without the need to go cap in hand to Whitehall for access to potentially billions of pounds of public money.
But the plan has attracted criticism from UKIP members in the West Midlands who say it would erode the identity of each area.
