Express & Star

COMMENT: Should the Black Country combine forces with Birmingham?

The Black Country is being offered more powers over funding, skills and transport in a major programme of devolution.

Published

To get it, council leaders are teaming up with Birmingham, Coventry and Solihull to create the West Midlands Combined Authority.

The debate has so far centred on its name - with Black Country opposition to suggestions of Greater Birmingham.

But what's it really about?

Here, Sandwell Council leader Darren Cooper presents the argument for joining force while UKIP MEP Bill Etheridge gives his reasons for going it alone.

But before I talk about the huge positives this will bring to the Black Country and the wider West Midlands, I want to put to bed some of the myths.

A combined authority is not about Birmingham swallowing up all of the smaller councils.

It's not about adding an extra layer of government, or more politicians. Some people have even asked me if their address would change.

The answer is no. Who your council is, where you live and what town you come from will not change.

Sandwell, and all of the other councils, towns and cities, will keep their own name, their own governance arrangements and their own identity.

What will change is it will be the West Midlands – and not Westminster – making the big decisions on the things that affect us.

We'd be daft not to take this opportunity.

A combined authority will mean higher productivity, more skilled and better paid jobs, better health outcomes, reformed public services and a lower welfare bill.

A combined authority gives the West Midlands a future where we'll be able to secure more resources from the government and have the power to choose to spend that money where they are most needed. Our vision for the future is clear. All of the West Midland councils have committed to delivering growth, prosperity and well-being for the benefit of all of our residents.

By all of the councils working closely together, we'll be able to deliver investment, jobs, homes and regeneration in communities right across the whole of the region. Every day more than 60,000 Sandwell residents drive, walk, cycle, or take public transport to work outside Sandwell.

On their way to work, a similar number of people are driving in the other direction commuting into Sandwell to work. It's the same over much of the West Midlands. People cross boundaries to get to work, to socialise, to travel to and from home.

Where we all work, live and socialise doesn't follow the boundaries of local councils. So when it comes to tackling the big things like investment in transport infrastructure, new homes, attracting business and new jobs – we're missing the bigger picture by working alone. The administrative boundaries of local authorities don't match the economic boundaries.So councils need to work together to make major changes to benefit the wider West Midlands region.

The UK economy is dominated by London – the only truly global city in the UK. We've all heard about the Northern Powerhouse being established as a counterweight to London.

This creates a real need for a Midlands Powerhouse to provide further economic balance for the country and make sure we're not squeezed between the powerhouses in the North and South. Creating the combined authority is only the first step on a long journey of economic prosperity for the region.

The Government has signalled its intention to have a full and frank discussion with us about a package of measures which will enable the new combined authority to take direct more responsibility for its future.

The latest EU-led threat is a push towards regionalisation – or so-called 'combined authorities'.

As a member of the EU's Committee on Regional Development (REGI) I have heard the idea of 'city regions' and regionalisation being debated – literally our very identity under discussion.

I am hugely concerned by the EU regionalisation agenda (the creation of combined authorities) and its Cities 2020 targets.

As a member of the REGI committee I am worried that we may be on a dangerous road and the destination – congestion charging for private cars in urban areas.

The idea of city regions emanates from the European Union and is tied to its City 2020 targets which include congestion charging for private car use in urban centres and charging for commercial and domestic waste collection and disposal.

Tory and Labour politicians can pontificate about combined authorities and Metro Mayors – but there is a major spanner in the works – history.

In 2012 a referendum was held and the people of Birmingham democratically decided to reject the idea of having a city mayor.

Indeed, in May 2012, referendums were held in 10 English cities to decide whether or not to switch to a system that includes a directly-elected mayor. Only one, Bristol, voted for a mayoral system.

The people said no in 2012 and I for one will not stand idly by as clearly forgetful politicians try and force through the creation of Metro Mayors charged with overseeing combined authorities.

The Government is also holding a gun to this region's head by saying full devolution can only be achieved by having Metro Mayors. So much for democracy then. I am a proud Black Country man and will fight any attempts to betray our heritage for the sake of centralisation of power. Large regions could be created to replace small authorities, shifting the decision-making process even further from the electorate.

This power grab from the people will deeply damage local democracy, accountability and transparency and there is a real danger that our weakened local councils would be forced to whistle to the tune of a Metro Mayor. 'Ode to Joy' perhaps?

Government at a local, national and European level has become too remote and all the creation of combined authorities would do is increase that remoteness.

Speaking to the Express & Star last November, Sandwell Council Leader Councillor Darren Cooper said the West Midlands should unite under one combined authority banner.

Well Councillor Cooper, rather than centralisation I believe in localisation. This is demonstrated by UKIP's manifesto pledge to hold local referenda on issues of major public concern.

Last December I, along with fellow UKIP West Midlands MEP James Carver, held two 'Hands off Birmingham, Hands off the Black Country' protests to send out a strong message to people like Councillor Cooper.

These protests attracted major media attention. We will continue to campaign and defend our local democracies and identities.

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