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We'd be daft not to devolve, says Sandwell Council leader

A combined authority for the West Midlands is 'not about Birmingham swallowing up all of the smaller councils', a Black Country leader has insisted.

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Sandwell Council leader Darren Cooper says councils need more help

Darren Cooper, leader of Sandwell Council, said bosses would be 'daft' not to take the opportunity.

It comes after West Midlands MEP Bill Etheridge said the move would 'deeply damage democracy' and lead to the break-up of the NHS.

The West Midlands Combined Authority will be made up of councils in the Black Country, Birmingham and Solihull.

It is set to be up and running by April 2016, and supporters say it will give the area devolved powers to oversee transport spending, skills and attracting investment.

Councillor Cooper penned a lengthy post on his blog to set out his arguments on why the authority would be a boost for the region.

He said: "A combined authority will bring millions of pounds worth of investment into the West Midlands

"It will take decision making powers away from the government and give them to us here in the very heart of our country.

"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."

UKIP MEP Mr Etheridge said the proposed deal was one third of a 'terrible trio' which he said would 'deeply damage democracy'.

The others, he claimed, were the European Union and the system of political cabinets running councils.

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