Decision Details

(30 minutes allocated) (1600-1630)

To consider a paper of the Leader of the Council.

The Leader of the Council, Councilor Ian Ward, to move the following Motion:

"This Council:

• Notes and welcomes the progress on devolution in the West Midlands since the first devolution agreement of November 2015, including the second devolution agreement of November 2017 and the subsequent deals on skills and housing.

• Notes the paper from the Leader of the Council attached.

• Supports the current work of the Combined Authority and its member authorities to secure further devolution, including through the Spending Review 2019.

• Believes that the UK needs stronger, more resilient cities and city regions and a more balanced economy if it is to prosper in the years ahead, and that this requires greater devolution and more sustainable public services. The popular desire to “take back control” must mean more powers for our city regions, cities and communities.

• Calls upon the Government, the Combined Authority and the Mayor of the West Midlands to adopt a “double devolution” policy, identifying opportunities for further devolution and flexibilities at the local authority level and below, and recognising the role of local authorities and their services in the delivery of a stronger economy and a fairer society.

• Calls upon the Government to renew its commitment to devolution and use the 2019 Spending Review to set out a bolder and more coherent approach which can provide for sustainable local government funding, locally controlled economic investment and joined up public services and which can restore civic pride to our great cities."

(break 1630-1700)