Unanimous backing for West Midlands Combined Authority

Concerns were raised at a full council meeting in Wolverhampton over whether the new authority would mean Birmingham benefitting from investment at the expense of the Black Country.

But none of the 60 city councillors voted against the proposal for the city to join.

The combined authority will see councils work together on transport, regeneration and skills. It will include Wolverhampton, Walsall, Sandwell, Dudley, Coventry, Solihull and Tamworth, with other districts also invited to sign up.

Wolverhampton's council leader Roger Lawrence said: "I am delighted to be able to bring forward the proposal for a combined authority.

"The combined authority is not a new single council. This council (Wolverhampton) will continue to do all the things it has always done.

"The combined authority is also not a devolution deal, it's an attempt to bring back and create devolution for the West Midlands."

He added: "We shouldn't ignore the fact we are still behind Greater Manchester and other areas such as Merseyside."

Conservative councillor Wendy Thompson, leader of the opposition on Wolverhampton council, said she had concerns over whether the people of Wolverhampton would be able to get the necessary skills to do the jobs that new funding from the Combined Authority would create.

She also raised concerns over whether the authority would cause the Black Country to become part of Greater Birmingham. But Councillor Thompson committed the party to supporting the scheme as they wanted investment for Wolverhampton.

She added: "We think it's right to get this off the ground, even if we have one or two worries."

Councillor Malcolm Gwinnett, the only UKIP councillor in the city, questioned the European Union's involvement in the scheme.

Mr Lawrence dismissed Mr Gwinnett's concerns over the EU as 'paranoia' .

He added: "It will benefit all parties."