Coventry set to join 'Greater Birmingham' super authority

[dutchman]

Ah but Ann Lucas "knows what's best for us", the same way she "knew what was best" for Coventry City!

[rebbonk]

I'd like to know her qualifications for knowing what's best for us!

In fact, I'd like to know the background and qualifications of all the council cabinet. I know Gannon is a PhD student and that's about all.

[rebbonk]

Interestingly, Maton persisted in butting into today's discussion in which Blundell was supposed to be giving his ideas and views.

Blundell came across far better than Maton did yesterday and Maton only served to increase my opinion that he's an oaf.

[dutchman]

Angry scenes as Coventry council says NO to referendum on combined authority link-up with Birmingham

Angry words were exchanged between councillors and members of the public as Coventry City Council ruled out a referendum on Coventry joining a combined authority with Birmingham.

The Labour controlled council’s cabinet voted unanimously to rule out a public vote on the issue of whether Coventry should join Birmingham, Solihull and the Black Country in a combined authority.

One member of the public accused the council of “replacing democracy with dictatorship”, while another called on council leader Ann Lucas to resign as the decision was passed claiming she had “lost the confidence of the people of Coventry” and was “the most hated woman in the city”.

The discussion over the issue lasted almost 90 minutes as it was continually interrupted by angry members of the public demanding a vote on Coventry’s future in any West Midlands Combined Authority.

But a vote was ruled out as councillors pointed to an officers’ reported which suggested that there is not enough time to give residents a vote on the issue, that it would be too costly and that questions on the voting form would be too complex.

Officers estimate a poll on the issue could cost £150,000 via a postal vote system, with online and telephone responses possible, or up to £500,000 for a full referendum.

Insistence that a vote would be too expensive to organise comes despite the council recently signing off a budget of up to £250,000 to “engage” with residents over the issue of a combined authority.

Chris West, the council’s finance officer, was asked why some of that funding couldn’t be used to host a vote.

He said: “We needed to make some budgetary provision for costs which could be incurred while investigating opportunities.

“It was a finger in the air figure, we didn’t have any information to go by. We need to keep the figure under review as more information emerges.”

The news comes in the wake of strong public opposition to Coventry joining forces with Birmingham, the Black Country and Solihull in a combined authority in a bid to secure more spending powers from central government.

Many fear such a set up would see Birmingham overshadow other areas and more than 3,500 people had already signed a petition calling on the council to offer residents in Coventry a vote on the issue.

Glyn Davies, the organiser of another petition on the True Coventrians Facebook page, was invited to speak at the meeting.

He said: “We have had a petition and a vote online and it’s quite unanimous. People are against this in its entirety. We are not being given a chance to have a vote on this.

“There seems to be a lot of misinformation about it. If it was a planning thing you would have notices everywhere and letters through everybody’s door.

“We feel we are not being consulted about this. What input will we have on this decision? Any at all?”

The Labour group prefers a partnership with Hinckley and Bosworth and the Greater Birmingham and Solihull and the Black Country Local Enterprise Partnership areas along with Warwickshire.

But two Warwickshire council leaders have already publicly stated they prefer a combined authority set up away from Birmingham.

The opposition Conservative group in Coventry prefers an alliance with Warwickshire and had also called for a referendum on the issue.

Coventry City Council now insists it will still engage with residents on the issue through a series of drop-in sessions, website material and an “independent” citizen’s panel.

Coun John Blundell, leader of the Conservative opposition, said the council avoided a referendum because the leadership knew what the result would be against joining a West Midlands combined authority.

He said: “I believe this council is fundamentally wrong. Is it because they know what the result will be?

“I believe a referendum can and should be done.”

[rebbonk]

an officers’ reported which suggested that there is not enough time

Fools rush in!

Coventry City Council now insists it will still engage with residents on the issue

Lucas and her barmy army will be telling us what's going to happen.

I just hope that people remember this when the local elections come round and this disgraceful, democratic charade loving rabble, are removed from office once and for all.

[dutchman]

Coventry councillors hit out at West Midlands plans



Proposals for a West Midlands combined authority have sparked heated exchanges during a full council debate in Coventry.

Coventry City Council’s controlling Labour councillors were accused of “fearing” the debate on whether Coventry should join Birmingham in a combined authority by the opposition Conservatives.

But Labour hit back by accusing the Tories of “scaremongering” and playing politics.

The debate was brought by the Tories. Long-serving Conservative Coun Tim Sawdon said: “This is probably the most important debate we have had since I have been here.

“But it has fallen on the Conservative opposition to push this debate because Labour fears it. This is a debate about us joining Birmingham.”

But Labour Coun Kevin Maton, cabinet member for business, said: “I am worried that what’s taking over in this debate is the politics of fear.

“There’s an innate fear of Birmingham and they are using that to persuade people in a particular direction.”

Labour council leader Ann Lucas also hit out at “lies” being circulated about a proposed West Midlands combined authority.

She said: “Coventry will remain Coventry. Our debts will remain our debts, and our assets will remain our assets – the same as Birmingham, the Black Country and Solihull.

“Yet we have this scaremongering that Birmingham is really badly off and we will have to give them all our money.

“It’s wrong and it doesn’t matter how many times people tell lies.”

Conservative Coun Ken Taylor, said: “Birmingham are a failing authority with massive debts.

“If you don’t think they’re the enemy, who spent money to kill off our airport? The only reason they want us on board is to make up the numbers.

“They have never done anything to support us, and I don’t think they are going to change their focus.”

At the end of the debate both parties agreed the council would “continue to explore the possibility of working together with our local authority partners to investigate the feasibility of a combined authority within the government’s timescales which ensures Coventry’s future economic security.”

[rebbonk]

Sadly, I think this is a done deal.

I don't believe half of what we're being told and longer term I see Birmingham coming out as the dominant partner, should we throw our hand in with them.

There are other viable alternatives, but this council don't seem inclined to explore them. As regards short timescales, that's flannel. Salesmen try that trick all the time. I'd far rather miss the deadline and go it alone, than get into something that I don't fully understand and that might turn out not as I first thought afterwards.

There have been ample 'surveys' carried out collecting the views of our citizens; all have been against this linking up with Birmingham. Yet our (democratic ) council refuse to listen or give us a referendum on it. I wonder why? What are they hiding? What are they scared of?

[dutchman]

No dissent over 'Greater Birmingham' authority name choice, says Brum leader



Birmingham City Council leader Sir Albert Bore has said there was “no dissent” when it came to choosing a name for the proposed West Midlands Combined Authority.

Business leaders in Birmingham and the Black Country have insisted that ‘Greater Birmingham’ was the only name which would attract global recognition for the new authority.

But it is understood the leaders of the other six metropolitan councils were fiercely opposed to the name and it was eventually described as a ‘deal breaker’.

Now the name West Midlands Combined Authority has been officially adopted and Sir Albert said he was happy with the choice.

He said: “The Greater Birmingham name was from the local enterprise partnership.

“We’ve all agreed, there’s been no dissent that the combined authority will move forward with the name West Midlands.

“That’s appropriate, everybody is happy with that. The name is a distraction.

“What this is about is bringing the seven metropolitan districts together, in a combined authority that will drive the economy of the West Midlands.

“Let’s put the name to one side, it’s an irrelevance in many respects.”

[rebbonk]

They need to cut the crap, this is a done deal.

Stop wasting OUR money with the pretence Lucas, you are going ahead no matter what. - But you will rue the day!

[dutchman]

Coventry residents invited to Q&A sessions over super-council plans



People have been invited to find out more about plans for Coventry to join Birmingham, Solihull and the Black Country in a West Midlands super council.

A series of meetings will be held at neighbourhood forums across the city for the rest of the month.

Presentations and question and answer sessions on what joining a West Midlands Combined Authority could mean for Coventry residents is on the agenda.

City centre drop-in sessions are also planned.

Coventry City Council leader, Coun Ann Lucas, said: “We know from the media coverage and what residents have been telling us that there’s a lot of interest in combined authorities.

“People have been asking me if it means we merge with Birmingham or lose any of our powers as a council, which absolutely isn’t the case.

"So it’s really important we explain to people what this is really about – moving power from Whitehall to the West Midlands, not from Coventry to Birmingham.”