Council profile

Population: 1,073,045 (Census 2011)

Council website: www.birmingham.gov.uk

Official council Twitter account: @BhamCityCouncil

Official council Facebook account: www.facebook.com/birminghamcitycouncil

Reason for being part of the WMCA:

An opportunity to shape how the West Midlands is governed in the future and provide a strong voice for the region, promoting it on a global stage

Key WMCA projects that will benefit the area:

The HS2 Growth Strategy to ensure maximum economic benefit, including the Curzon Masterplan, expansion of the Metro network east and west and an additional 100,000 new jobs

Council profile

Population: 249,470 people (Census 2011)

Council website: www.wolverhampton.gov.uk/home

Official council Twitter account: @WolvesCouncil

Official council Facebook account: www.facebook.com/WolverhamptonToday

Reason for being part of the WMCA:

• A share of the £200 million land remediation fund will enable brownfield sites to be brought back into use for housing and employment - currently a major problem and obstacle to development in our city
• Better transport links and connectivity to HS2 will boost jobs and growth in the city
• A share of the benefits related to the £1 billion of direct government investment which unlocks £8 billion devolution funding.
• Longer-term we'll be at the table to be part of the future opportunities that devolution will bring
• Wolverhampton is a city that has invested in, and believes in, partnership working. Collaboration gives you greater resilience, greater freedom and greater spending power and gives the City of Wolverhampton an historic chance to benefit now and in the future.

Council profile

Population: 345, 400 (mid-year 2016 estimate from ONS)

Council Website: www.coventry.gov.uk

Official council Twitter account: @coventrycc 

Official council Facebook account: www.facebook.com/coventrycc

Reason for being part of the WMCA:

• Better transport links across the whole region
• A regional fund to boost building on brownfield sites
• Funding for skills and training to get people jobs in the region
• More business support and foreign investment

Key WMCA projects that will benefit the area:

• The City Centre South development

Council profile

Population: 316,500 (Nomis, mid-year estimate)

Council Website: www.dudley.gov.uk

Official council Twitter account: @dudleymbc

Official council Facebook account: www.facebook.com/DudleyBorough

Reason for being part of the WMCA:

• Access to 30 year investment fund
• Improving road and rail network to boost transport
• Creating jobs and skills for the future
• Enabling stronger and safer communities
• Building a better environment for people to live and work
• Access to contaminated land fund to bring contaminated sites back into use

Key WMCA projects that will benefit the area:

• Investment into the proposed Midland Metro extension from Brierley Hill to Birmingham
• Investment in some of our most contaminated sites via contaminated land fund

Council profile

Population: 319,000

Council website: www.sandwell.gov.uk 

Official council Twitter account: @sandwellcouncil

Official council Facebook account: www.facebook.com/sandwellcouncil

Reason for being part of the WMCA:

• Better transport links across the region – including roads, rail and Metro, helping to reduce congestion and connect people with jobs and opportunities
• Unlocking brownfield sites for new businesses and homes

• Creating significant new business opportunities in the freight network for Friar Park, Wednesbury

• Continuing to regenerate West Bromwich – building more town centre homes, attracting more businesses and supporting industry

• Investment for new homes – including by the new Midland Metropolitan Hospital in Smethwick

• Boosting skills and job opportunities
• Supporting businesses and attracting investment

• Sandwell businesses and residents benefiting from the region’s economic growth and opportunities from the HS2 development
• Improving health and wellbeing and transforming contaminated and non-useful land to new green spaces

Key WMCA projects that will benefit the area:

• Extending the Metro through Sandwell from Wednesbury to Brierley Hill

Council profile

Population: 210,445  (2015)

Council website: www.solihull.gov.uk

Official council Twitter account: @SolihullCouncil

Official council Facebook account: www.facebook.com/solihullcouncil   

Reason for being part of the WMCA:

• The added value being a part of the WMCA brings, to deliver more economic growth than Solihull could achieve on its own at a faster rate.
• Direct investment in Solihull of £636 million over 30 years plus further benefits from the overall £8 billion investment package. It will see Junction 6 (M42) improvements, HS2 Interchange funding, alongside other transport investment joining investment into skills, infrastructure and businesses.
• Significant opportunities to create new jobs and homes within the borough whilst also ensuring the West Midlands region to performs more effectively
• A combined authority provides the extra investment that will create economic growth for the borough, accelerating our plans for managed growth and bringing real benefits to the local economy.

Key WMCA projects that will benefit the area:

• Arrival of HS2
• UK Central

Council profile

Council website: www.walsall.gov.uk

Official council Twitter account: @WalsallCouncil

Council profile

Council Website: www.cannockchasedc.gov.uk

Official council Twitter account: @CannockChaseDC

Council profile

Population: 62,000

Council Website: www.northwarks.gov.uk

Official council Twitter account: @North_Warks_BC

Official council Facebook account: www.facebook.com/northwarksbc

Reason for being part of the WMCA: We are part of a connected economy that covers most of the WMCA. Opportunities to enhance the West Midlands economy will directly benefit our residents and those who work in our area.

Key WMCA projects that will benefit the area: Major infrastructure improvements, such as to the A5 and the A446, are required that are currently risks to economic growth. Connectivity to HS2 and promotion of other rail services are also key.

Council profile

Council Website: www.nuneatonandbedworth.gov.uk/site/

Official council Twitter account: @NBBCouncil 

Council profile

Population: 84,700 (ONS projection)

Council Website: www.redditchbc.gov.uk

Official council Twitter account: @RedditchMatters 

Official council Facebook account: www.facebook.com/RedditchBC

Council profile

Population: 101,600

Council Website: https://www.rugby.gov.uk

Official council Twitter account: @rugbybc

Official council Facebook account: www.facebook.com/RugbyBoroughCouncil

Reason for being part of the WMCA: Being part of the WMCA gives Rugby Borough Council influence over greater powers and funding to promote economic growth and development.

Key WMCA projects that will benefit the area: The combined authority’s priorities around economic growth, skills, transport and housing will support the borough council’s objectives to facilitate physical and economic growth, while protecting the essential characteristics that make our borough our home.

Council profile

Population: 121,522 (mid 2015 population estimate)

Council Website: www.stratford.gov.uk

Official council Twitter account: @StratfordDC

Official council Facebook account: www.facebook.com/StratfordDC

Reason for being part of the WMCA: Being part of the WMCA supports the objectives contained in the council’s Corporate Strategy, such as ‘a flourishing local economy’ and ‘responsible community leadership’

Key WMCA projects that will benefit the area: Improved transport infrastructure (road and rail), culture, creative and tourism, fiscal devolution, mental health and skills.

Council profile

Council Website: www.shropshire.gov.uk

Official council Twitter account: @ShropCouncil

Council profile

Population: 77,100 (2014)

Council Website: www.tamworth.gov.uk

Official council Twitter account: Twitter:@TamworthCouncil

Reason for being part of the WMCA: The decision to join the Combined Authority as a Non-Constituent Member was in essence, quite simple. As a founding member of the Greater Birmingham & Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership, the Borough Council had already established that its economic future and long term growth aspirations were aligned to the Birmingham conurbation and it’s positioning in terms of regional, national and global market access.

As a supporter and beneficiary of functioning economic geography, Tamworth was quick to recognise and accept its role as one of the links in the economic belt encircling the Greater Birmingham economy… that of a ‘Dormitory Town’.  The Council’s ambition was to be the most accessible ‘dormitory town’ with the best offer possible for its commuters.

The same principles apply to the WMCA only over a much greater scale.  The opportunities are greater too; this is not just about “growth”, the WMCA - even for NCMs - provides opportunities for improvement, both in terms of “People” and “Place” and as with the GBSLEP, the Council’s vision and ambitions can only be achieved if they are “In it to win it”!!!!

Council profile

Population: 170, 000

Council Website: www.telford.gov.uk

Official council Twitter account: @telfordwrekin

Official council Facebook account: www.facebook.com/telfordwrekin  

Reason for being part of the WMCA: Associate member – support economic growth and help attract business to the borough

Council profile

Council Website: www.warwickshire.gov.uk

Official council Twitter account: @wcc_news 

Black Country LEP

Website: www.blackcountrylep.co.uk

Official Twitter account: @blackcountrylep

Coventry and Warwickshire LEP

Website: www.cwlep.com

Official Twitter account: @CW_LEP

Greater Birmingham and Solihull LEP

Website: www.centreofenterprise.com

Official Twitter account: @GBSLEP

Herefordshire Council

Council website: www.herefordshire.gov.uk

Official council Twitter account: @HfdsCouncil

Official council Facebook account: www.facebook.com/hfdscouncil

The Marches LEP

Website: www.marcheslep.org.uk

Official Twitter account: @marcheslep

Police and Crime Commissioner

Website: www.westmidlands-pcc.gov.uk

Official Twitter account: @WestMidsPCC

Fire and Rescue Authority

Website: www.wmfs.net

Official Twitter account: @westmidsfire

Reason for being part of the WMCA: Observer status, lead on public service reform