Agenda and minutes

There were no declarations of interest.

(a)  To agree the minutes from the meeting of Cabinet on 19^th April 2016

(b)  Matters arising

The minutes of the meeting held on 19^th April 2016 were agreed and signed as a true record.

There were no matters arising

Report of the Chief Executive

The Cabinet considered a report of the Chief Executive, which set out the proposals for implementing the Devolution Agreement and provisions for Mayoral West Midlands Combined Authority.

The seven Metropolitan Councils of the West Midlands (Birmingham City Council, City of Wolverhampton Council, Coventry City Council, Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council, Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council, Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council and Walsall Metropolitan Borough Council) conducted a Review of Strategic Governance in 2014 to assess whether the arrangements for economic development, regeneration and transport as they stood should continue or would benefit from improvements. This review highlighted the positive joint working to date that has been in place through informal arrangements, and then considered the options for the future.

The Cabinet noted that this concluded that the establishment of a combined authority for the West Midlands was best placed to support business, to further growth, and to create jobs to secure an improvement in the region’s economic conditions. The Combined Authority would draw together strategic work across transport, economic development, employment and skills, improving outcomes and providing opportunity for the region. 

A Scheme was then drafted to form the legal basis for the creation of the new body, containing the membership, powers, functions and voting arrangements.  On the 13^th October 2015, the Council endorsed these proposals and agreed that Coventry City Council should formally become a constituent member.  In addition, it resolved that the Devolution Deal should come back before Cabinet and Council for full consideration and debate.  Following this agreement, the Scheme was submitted to Government and a Draft Order (“The Establishment Order”) based on the Scheme was created by the Secretary of State.

On 23^rd February 2016 the Council consented to a Draft Order being laid before Parliament to allow for the creation of the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA).  The Cabinet noted that this “Establishment Order” was currently before parliament and was anticipated to come into force on 10th June 2016, on which date the WMCA would be established.

Negotiations with Government had continued to ensure that the WMCA created the right economic development incentives for the people of Coventry. In November 2015, a proposed “Devolution Deal” was signed by the Leaders of the seven Constituent Councils and the three Local Enterprise Partnership Chairs. The “Devolution Deal” was the basis of the agreement and underpinned the first stage of devolution. Assurance work around the Devolution Deal was also undertaken by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PWC) and Grant Thornton and were appended to the report submitted.

The Cabinet were advised that the Devolution Deal stipulated that the Chair of the WMCA would be a newly, directly elected Mayor, holding specific powers and functions. A draft order, the “Mayoral Election Order” was also appended to the report for consideration. Subject to consent by all of the constituent authorities, it was anticipated that the Order would be laid before Parliament in June 2016 providing for the Election of a Mayor for the WMCA on 4^th May 2017.  The Cabinet noted  ...  view the full minutes text for item 145.

There were no other items of public business