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Who we are

We are 18 local authorities and four Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) working together to move powers from Whitehall to the West Midlands and its locally elected politicians, who know this region best.

Mayor

Mayor

The election of a Mayor of the West Midlands was a key requirement of the devolution deal agreed between the region and Government.

On 4 May 2017, Andy Street was elected to serve an initial three-year term as Mayor, working with council leaders and the chairs of the Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) to deliver the West Midlands’ devolution programme. 

A key part of Andy's role is to act as an advocate and global ambassador for the West Midlands and to chair the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA).

The Mayor has specific areas of responsibility including local transport and the region's ‘more and better homes’ agenda. From 2018-19, the Mayor will also have the ability to raise a precept and, with the agreement of the relevant LEP, a business rate supplement.

As the devolution agenda develops so the role of the Mayor is also expected to evolve, working with combined authority colleagues to deliver the best possible outcomes for the residents and businesses of the West Midlands.


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Devolution

Devolution is the handing down of powers and money from central government (Whitehall) to local authorities so they are able to decide for themselves on how best to spend that money for the overall benefit of the region.

On the 17 November 2015 the Chancellor of the Exchequer agreed and signed a devolution deal with the members of the WMCA.

To read the devolution agreement please click here and to find out more about the key points of the devolution agreement please click here.

The government is to begin negotiations with the WMCA over further transfer of powers and funding to the region. Greg Clark MP, Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, confirmed talks over a second ‘Devolution Deal’.

WMCA structure chart

Find out how the WMCA is structured and its membership


View Chart

Governance

Leadership of the WMCA comes from the Mayor and the leaders of the seven constituent local authorities, which have full voting rights. The leadership also includes the chairs of the Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) which are business-led organisations that help build relationships between businesses and local authorities. Non-constituent authorities, which include the LEPs and ten local councils from across the wider West Midlands region, have reduced voting rights but play a crucial role at board level, helping to inform policy and drive forward the WMCA agenda.

Elected members and officers lead on key policy portfolio areas, working in partnership with LEP colleagues.

There are also observer organisations who include other councils, LEPs and bodies awaiting non-constituent membership, as well as non-voting observers.

The Chief Executive of the WMCA is Deborah Cadman, who took up the role in September 2017 and with the Mayor is building a leadership team to deliver the combined authority's agenda and policies.

To view the WMCA Constitution please click here or download the full version here.

As the WMCA grows, so our number of partners increase and we anticipate working with even more organisations in the future. This partnership working is particularly strong within the private, educational, health, faith and voluntary sectors and is key to achieving the WMCA’s vision.

Black Country Chamber of Commerce
Coventry & Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce
Finance Birmingham
Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce
Highways Engalnd
HS2 Ltd.
Midland Metro Alliance
Midlands Connect
Midlands Engine
West Midlands Academic Health Science Network
West Midlands Growth Company
West Midlands Rail
West Midlands Women's Voice

A co-optee is an organisation which has a seat at WMCA Board meetings and can engage with discussions at the Chair’s discretion. They do not have a vote and not required to pay a membership fee.

Trade Union Congress (West Midlands)

These are formal partnerships that have been established, in part, to support the work of the WMCA.

Improvement and Efficiency West Midlands
Sustainability West Midlands
West Midlands Combined Universities
West Midlands Housing Association Partnership - supporter