REDDITCH residents are being urged to take part in an online survey being conducted by the West Midlands Combined Authority.
The brand new ‘Midlands Powerhouse’ is close to being given the go-ahead by the Government and the survey is seen as an important way of getting people’s views on the new body prior to Parliament being asked to approve the new body.
Redditch, as part of Worcestershire, is a ‘non-constituent’ member so will be outside the influence of the yet to be elected new ‘Metro Mayor’ who will lead the seven metropolitan consitituent members, namely Birmingham, Wolverhampton, Coventry, Dudley, Sandwell, Solihull and Walsall.
Despite this the borough will stand to benefit from the estimated £36 million a year which will come to the new authority over the next ten years, which is expected to create half a million new jobs.
Such is the attraction of the WMCA that Stratford district council last week did a U-turn on its previous stance and is now asking to join.
Councillor Bob Sleigh, Chair of the WMCA’s Shadow Board, said: “As Council Leader I believe that by working together with other authorities we have a tremendous opportunity to move powers from Whitehall to the West Midlands and our locally elected politicians who know this region best.
“Furthermore the establishment of a combined authority will allow us to work together on the issues that really matter to the people and the businesses in the West Midlands; growth, jobs, skills, transport and homes.”
The survey, which has a closing date of Monday, February 8 can be found at http://westmidlandscombinedauthority.org.uk/#consultation . For question seven, which lists only the metropolitan boroughs, local residents are advised to put ‘Redditch’ or ‘Stratford’ depending on their locality.
