West Midlands Combined Authority 'in Osborne's hands'
Council leaders across the West Midlands have submitted their bid to form a combined authority saying it is now in the hands of George Osborne.
But the so-called 'super council' may already be facing a challenge after Warwickshire County Council voted against joining - and wants to lure Coventry away from the Black Country and Birmingham.
Sandwell Council leader Councillor Darren Cooper said he did not believe the Warwickshire vote would derail the combined authority.
He said: "It has long been the case that Warwickshire County Council did not feel they fit in to joining in with our proposal.
"That's probably the right thing for them. But Coventry does have a long history of working with us, being part of the same police force, the same fire service and the same transport authority as the Black Country, Birmingham and Solihull."
Warwickshire councillors are to discuss trying to set up their own combined authority and want Coventry to join them.
The seven councils already signed up to the West Midlands Combined Authority will be expected to put up to £300,000 each into it in set up costs.
The authority would receive devolved powers from Whitehall to cover issues such as regeneration, transport and skills, which council leaders say go across borders.
Yesterday the bid was submitted to the government to set up the authority.
Councillor Cooper said: "It is now in the hands of the Chancellor, George Osborne."
A question mark still hangs over whether the West Midlands will have to have an elected mayor.
Mr Osborne has said he will want to see 'accountability' for any new powers devolved to councils and combined authorities.
And Tory grandee Lord Heseltine has said the Chancellor will not do a deal without an elected mayor.
The proposal put to the government neither rules in nor out the prospect of a politician with powers reaching across the West Midlands.
The name West Midlands Combined Authority came under fire from business leaders who believed Greater Birmingham would be a more internationally recognised brand for attracting investment.
But Black Country council leaders were adamant it had to be off the table to avoid Wolverhampton, Walsall, Sandwell and Dudley as well as Coventry and Solihull appearing to come second to Birmingham.