Agenda and minutes

There were no apologies for absence.

Cllr Phil Bateman declared a non-pecuniary interest in transport matters.

To consider the minutes of the previous Council meeting held on 6 April 2016.

The Mayor proposed, the Deputy Mayor seconded, and it was resolved:

That the minutes of the previous meeting, held on 6 April 2016, be agreed as a correct record and signed accordingly by the Mayor.

There were no matters arising.

To seek Council’s consent to the Mayoral (elections) Order, to be laid in Parliament, establishing the position and term for a Mayor for the West Midlands Combined Authority.

The Leader of the Council, Cllr Roger Lawrence, outlined the proposed arrangements to implement a Mayor for the West Midlands Combined Authority, which would be the subject of an Order to be placed before Parliament. He commended the progress made over the past 14 months and welcomed the decision by Warwickshire County Council to become a member.

Cllr Lawrence explained that each of the constituent councils was required to agree the proposals before the Order was placed before Parliament. He expressed the view that the West Midlands had learnt from the experience in other areas, notably Manchester.

Cllr Lawrence emphasised that the Combined Authority was not predicated on taking powers from councils, but on aggregating the powers from separate authorities and then exercising them in conjunction with those councils.

Cllr Thompson expressed the Conservative group’s support for the proposals and the hope that it would drive economic benefit across the region, as the West Midlands plays a key role on an international stage.

Resolved:

1.  To consent to the draft West Midlands Combined Authority Mayoral (elections) Order, providing for the election of a directly elected Mayor for the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA).

2.  To delegate approval of any minor and drafting amendments of the Mayoral (elections) Order to the Leader of the Council, in consultation with the Managing Director, for final consent, this delegation to include approval of the precise term of the elected Mayor, as this is still under ministerial discussion.

3.  To endorse the conclusion of the Governance Review that the making of an Order to confer on the WMCA the additional functions in the draft Mayoral WMCA ‘functions’ Scheme, and the associated revisions to the governance arrangements, would be likely to improve the exercise of statutory functions in the West Midlands.

4.  To approve the draft Mayoral WMCA ‘functions’ Scheme to be published and consulted on, pursuant to section 112 of the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009, as amended.

5.  To delegate minor and drafting amendments of the draft Mayoral WMCA ‘functions’ Scheme to the Leader of the Council, in consultation with the Managing Director, this delegation to include the approval of additional members of the Combined Authority.

6.  To endorse the arrangements for public consultation on the proposals in the Mayoral WMCA ‘functions’ Scheme.