WEST Midlands Mayor Andy Street has announced the team to deliver his own priorities and those of the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) over the coming year.
The Annual General Meeting of the WMCA, which was held at its offices in Summer Lane, Birmingham, agreed proposals to allocate key roles to the leaders of the seven metropolitan authorities that make up the constituent membership of the combined authority.
The portfolio leads will be:
* Wellbeing Board and HS2 – Coun Bob Sleigh (Solihull)
* Transport – Coun Roger Lawrence (Wolverhampton)
* Skills & Productivity – Coun George Duggins (Coventry)
* Economic Growth – Coun John Clancy (Birmingham)
* Environment – Coun Pat Harley (Dudley)
* Cohesion & Integration and Public Service Reform – Coun Steve Eling (Sandwell)
* Housing & Land – Coun Sean Coughlan (Walsall)
* An eighth portfolio, Finance and Investments, will go to Coun Izzi Seccombe, leader of Warwickshire County Council – a non-constituent member of the WMCA.
The Mayor said: “These appointments will help deliver my mayoral priorities and the priorities of the WMCA.
“Each area is vitally important and the portfolio holder will work with politicians and officers right across the West Midlands to help deliver the homes, jobs, skills and other targets we need.”
In addition to the appointment of the portfolio holders, the Mayor is proposing a Business Advisory Group to serve as the ‘voice of business’ on the WMCA.
Mr Street added: “I am absolutely clear that business needs to play a key part in the WMCA and that is why I will set up this group which will include organisations like the Chambers of Commerce, CBI, Institute of Directors and Federation of Small Businesses.
“As we move into the Brexit negotiations, it is going to be more important than ever that the voice of business is heard.”
