Coventry set to join 'Greater Birmingham' super authority

[rebbonk]

If this happens I will laugh my socks off.

[dutchman]

Coventry Tories slam 'waste of time' council EU referendum debate amid anger over no Greater Birmingham vote

Conservative councillors slammed a decision to hold an extraordinary meeting of Coventry City Council to debate the EU referendum.

Several members of the opposition Tory party hit out at Labour leader George Duggins for calling the debate against a background where Coventry residents had been denied a referendum on whether or not to join the West Midlands Combined Authority - commonly referred to as ‘Greater Birmingham’.

The one-hour debate on Britain’s membership of the EU was held in the Council House on Thursday ahead of the referendum on June 23.

It was arranged as another special meeting - arranged to scrutinise the amount of time the city council’s £210,000-a-year chief executive, Martin Reeves, was spending working in Birmingham on the formation of the WMCA - was cancelled.

Both Tory leader Coun John Blundell and Coun Duggins had agreed that meeting would not be a good use of councillors time or public money.

But Coun Blundell indicated he might be regretting that decision as he spoke during the EU debate meeting, which was not attended by Mr Reeves.

He said: “I find it strange that we are having this debate having had an EGM on the role of the chief executive in the West Midlands Combined Authority called off.

“Coun Duggins said it would have been a waste of officers’ time and money. I think this will be the same.

“There’s an option in June for people to have their say on membership of the EU. Residents in Coventry were not given the opportunity to have a say on membership of the WMCA.”

Conservative colleague Coun Peter Male highlighted recent revelations that Mr Reeves was spending two days a week working in Birmingham on the WMCA.

He said: “The people of Coventry will not have a say on the West Midlands Combined Authority because of Labour’s refusal to have a referendum or accept residents’ previous rejection of mayoral governance.

“Greater Birmingham will see an erosion of power. Coventry will be governed by an unelected committee and a mayor.

“People say EU membership is a waste of money and does not represent value for money. The cost of a combined authority for Coventry is the loss of a chief executive who can now only spare a couple of days a week to work here.”

[rebbonk]

Not impressed by Duggins, he needs to get a grip and up his game.

[dutchman]

Coventry agrees to West Midlands mayor and devolution deal



Coventry City Council has agreed to a devolution deal for the West Midlands which includes control by a regional West Midlands mayor.

The landmark vote was held during an extraordinary general meeting of the full council today to debate the devolution agreement and the powers of a West Midlands mayor who will be voted in on May 4, 2017.

It was the latest step in the formation of the West Midlands Combined Authority, commonly referred to as ‘Greater Birmingham’. It will see seven metropolitan councils - including Coventry and Birmingham - join forces in a bid to secure additional powers and funding from Whitehall. It is due to be formally established on June 10.

Opposition Conservative councillors made a big play of the fact that the people of Coventry had not been granted a referendum over the decision to join the WMCA or to be controlled by a regional mayor. Many highlighted what they perceived as inadequate consultation - including surveys which left out key questions about a metro mayor and whether respondents wanted to join the alliance.

In response to claims that the Tory government was imposing mayors and combined authorities on councils, Conservative Coun Ken Taylor said it was Labour’s job was to challenge government and that they had failed in this instance.

Before the vote Coun Blundell had clarified his party’s stance saying “We are agreeing to the devolution deal in principle.”

But the Conservatives eventually voted against the agreement after their amendments were rejected.

The council voted to accept the devolution agreement and the mayoral order by 33 votes to 13 with all Labour councillors voting in favour.

[rebbonk]

Duggins had a chance to offer the voters their say. The fact that he chose not to speaks volumes.

May he rot in the same Hell that his predecessor will!

[Melisandre]

I fully agree with you Rebbonk what I would like to know is why do we have 3 or more councilors for one ward and why are there far more Labour councilors than Conservative and any other party s that to me is not democracy . I dread what we are not being told in this deal.

[dutchman]

Unofficial "Greater Birmingham" moniker sparks backlash from several Midland MPs

Referring to the West Midlands Combined Authority as “Greater Birmingham” is an insult to neighbouring towns and cities, Parliament has been told.

The use of the “Greater Birmingham” name was condemned as Parliament officially approved legislation creating the authority.

And a number of MPs and members of the House of Lords were fiercely critical of the plan, saying it had been forced on local people against their will

Coventry has now joined Birmingham, Solihull, Walsall, Sandwell, Dudley and Wolverhampton in the new authority which will be chaired by a regional mayor, to be elected in May next year.

Jeff Rooker (Lab), the former MP for Birmingham Perry Barr who is now a member of the House of Lords, said Birmingham City Council was badly run compared to neighbouring authorities.

He said: “The Wikipedia entry for the West Midlands Combined Authority says that it is commonly referred to as Greater Birmingham Combined Authority, or simply Greater Birmingham.

“This is very unfair on the better-run authorities. I make that quite clear.”

Lorely Burt (Lib Dem), the former MP for Solihull who is now also a member of the House of Lords, pointed out that Birmingham City Council had serious financial problems, unlike its neighbours.

He said: “I am very concerned about the difference in the relative wealth of the various local authorities. Birmingham is, for want of a better expression, broke. ​Fortunately, other local authorities are not in such a bad position.”

[rebbonk]

All hot air and cheap words.

The Lords have failed us. They ought have demanded that the job was done properly.

[Melisandre]

It was known prior to signing Birmingham was terrible at managing their affairs and money. When I was voting I was told it was forced on Coventry I replied rubbish Coventry did nt have to join Birmingham to the lady who gave me my voting slip . I ve come to the conclution its more of an important and their interest for the Labour party s in these areas combining rather than whats good for our City.

[rebbonk]

It certainly isn't in the interest (or the desires) of the people. I think we better get used to this style of 'democracy!'