Business leaders back plans for Black Country, Birmingham, Coventry, and Solihull to become Combined Authority
Business leaders in the Black Country have welcomed moves towards joining up the West Midlands in a combined authority to handle powers devolved from Whitehall.
The deal between Birmingham and the Black Country took a major leap forward this week when Coventry City Council's controlling Labour group backed a plan to join in while the leader of Solihull Council indicated his support too.
Sandwell Council's leader Darren Cooper has stressed the name Greater Birmingham must not be used, particularly as the authority will include three cities - Birmingham, Wolverhampton and Coventry.
Mike Dell, chairman of the Black Country Chamber of Commerce devolution group said: "This is good news. Our members are in favour of a West Midlands approach and the news is one step further forward to achieving this.
"Whether we like it or not we are competing with Greater Manchester and the Northern Powerhouse and the 'industrial heart' of the UK needs the right political infrastructure to ensure we are able to manage our future effectively.
However, where we can make a real difference is through the engagement of business leaders. I understand the Government's focus on elected mayors but without business leaders taking ownership of the skills and transport agenda, all we will end up with is a bureaucratic superstructure.
Maintaining our distinct individuality whilst also being part of a powerful and coherent whole will ensure that the industrial heart of the UK takes its rightful place on the world stage."
