The seven local authorities that make up the West Midlands Combined Authority have announced five key priorities to back their pledge to create the “most effective” organisation in the country.
The WMCA, which comprises Birmingham, Coventry, Dudley, Sandwell, Solihull, Walsall and Wolverhampton councils, working together with neighbouring district and county councils and the three local enterprise areas (LEPs) of the Black Country, Coventry and Warwickshire and Greater Birmingham and Solihull, aims to attract investment, increase productivity and create thousands of new jobs for the region on the back of early delivery priorities including:
• developing an overarching strategic plan for the West Midlands;
• allowing access to a finance and collective investment vehicle;
• getting the transport offer right for the long term;
• creating an economic policy and intelligence capacity; and
• launching a joint programme on skills.
With a population of 4m, the WMCA would be the largest combined authority in the UK and the second biggest economic area after London.
Councillor Ann Lucas, leader of Coventry council, said: “Across the region we face some critical challenges: skills, transport infrastructure, productivity, land use and public service reform. By working together we can move powers from Whitehall to the West Midlands and start building a Midlands engine in the heart of the country.
“Since the general election in May there has been unprecedented collaboration between political colleagues in the West Midlands, as well as our LEP chairs and business leaders to establish this new partnership. Our aim is to consult and work with more partners across the private, public and third sector so that we can establish our combined authority in April next year.”
Councillor Bob Sleigh, leader of Solihull council, added: “We recognise there is a £16bn output gap between the West Midlands and the national average. We generate around £4,000 per person less in wealth than the national average and clearly eliminating that gap is one of our key priorities moving forward.”
Commenting on the announcement, business secretary Sajid Javid said: “I welcome the ambition shown today by the new West Midlands Combined Authority and will back them in their mission to drive forward the Midlands engine. This is a great opportunity to help increase security and opportunity for working people across the West Midlands.”
