Issue - meetings

Report of the Chief Executive

The Cabinet considered a report of the Deputy Chief Executive (Place) that provided an update on discussions with Government on a Second Devolution Deal for the West Midlands and the implications for Coventry and the region, and sought approval for its introduction.

Following the General Election in June 2017, the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) initiated discussions with Government on a second devolution deal based on proposals brought forward by the Devolution Strategy Group. During negotiations, some discussion has also taken place with government about developing a new approach to devolution discussions. The intention of the WMCA was that this should be more of a continuous process, with initiatives and agreements announced at different times, moving away from the stop-start approach to agreeing deals. Importantly, this should be more of a collaboration between partners and less of a deal making process.

The intention was to agree an Action Plan for the next stages of this work between the WMCA and government, based on the wide ranging agenda set by the second devolution deal. This would include work on the Housing Deal and the Local Industrial Strategy as well as projects covering skills, employment, transport, public services and the Finance for Growth Commission. It provided an opportunity for the West Midlands to move into the vanguard of the devolution agenda, working in a closer partnership with government to deliver our shared West Midlands priorities for the decade ahead.

Unlike the First Devolution Deal, there were relatively few items that would require changes to the powers and Constitution of the WMCA and the formal legal process of drawing up Statutory Orders and presenting them to Parliament. These items related to finance and governance arrangements and would be subject to separate ratification processes by constituent authorities (for example the changing governance of the West Midlands Fire Service, which was already underway and the creation of the new power to levy a Supplementary Business Rate).

RESOLVED that the Cabinet:

1)  Acknowledges the benefits of the second Devolution Deal and agrees to the Second Devolution Deal for the West Midlands.

2)  Delegates authority to the Leader of the Council to advise the West Midlands Combined Authority Board that it is the City Council’s expectation that proper consultation on the proposed arrangements in respect of the new Governance model for the Police and Crime Commissioner and Mayoral roles will take place to inform any final decision of the West Midlands Combined Authority Board and Constituent Councils; and that this should include public consultations on the principles of the proposed governance model and the detailed operational proposal for the governance model.