Why are combined authorities being created?

Combined authorities are a way of devolving power, funding and decisions currently made in Whitehall to regions so councils can work together as a group or combination to make decisions based on sub-regional, not national, priorities. They help councils work together - they do not replace them.

Combined authorities are about better collaboration between local councils on issues that are more effective when delivered together or ones they cannot decide alone, such as transport investment or strategies for skills and economic development.

What has Coventry City Council decided about a combined authority?

The Council has agreed in principle to create a combined authority with a preferred option of councils from Coventry and Warwickshire and Hinckley and Bosworth with councils from Greater Birmingham and Black Country LEP areas. This is the just the beginning of a formal legal process that’s been set out by Government.

This decision means that the Council can work with other councils to improve the economy of Coventry, Warwickshire and the wider West Midlands by working together on issues such as transport and investment as a combined authority.

This decision will also allow the Council to be part of negotiations with central Government to ensure the best deal for Coventry and other areas in a combined authority.

At a meeting of Full council on 23 June all councillors agreed that:

Following the Queen’s speech and the Government’s statement on Devolution and Combined Authorities, Coventry City Council agree to 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 time scales which ensures Coventry’s future economic security.

Why can’t we have a referendum on the issue? The setting up of a combined authority is set down in legislation. There is a formal process to follow and the final decision is taken by the Secretary of State and endorsed by Parliament.

1 This process does not include a referendum but does allow local consultation to take place and includes a formal process of consultation that is undertaken by the Secretary of State before a decision is made. The Chancellor of the Exchequer has made it clear that referendums are not required and not expected as part of this process as the policy was clearly set out in the Conservative manifesto upon which the new Government has been elected. The Government expects the proposal or scheme to form a combined authority for consideration by the Secretary of State should be made by local councils.

Following the submission of petitions that asked for a referendum to take place on this issue the Council took a number of futher issues into account before deciding that it would not feasible to add a referendum to the statutory process. Not a clear “yes –no”option: referendums are used where there is a decision to be taken locally or nationally between two or more clear options. The development of a combined authority is more complicated than this, involving a number of councils and a range of factors, a mass of information, and the consideration of the views of a range of partners. A broader form of consultation and engagement allowing people to express their views and discuss a number of issues and explore options would be more effective.

Cost. It would cost around £150,000 for a postal referendum and around £500,000 for a referendum run like local and general elections.

Timing. It would take weeks to set up a referendum – even if it was just done by post. The Electoral Reform Society would need to be involved (in issues like the exact wording of any question asked) and the timeframe set by government to move forward with combined authorities wouldn’t give us enough time to hold a referendum over the next few weeks.

Why is Coventry joining up with Birmingham and other councils?

We’re not – and never will be – part of something called Greater Birmingham as has been widely reported. It has already been agreed that a combined authority for the area should be called the West Midlands Combined Authority, to reflect the fact that a number of important towns and cities want to work together as a combined authority.

Combined authorities mean devolving powers from Whitehall to councils in the West Midlands, not devolving powers from Coventry to Birmingham. And in fact the Council’s

2 preferred option for a combined authority is much bigger than the Greater Birmingham area and could lead to working across the wider Midlands area.

Coventry City Council would lose none of its current powers as a result of being part of a combined authority; the new powers would move from Whitehall to the region. The Council will remain at the heart of civic life in Coventry

The new Conservative government – with Greg Clark as secretary of state at the Department of Communities and Local Government (DCLG) – has devolution as a priority. The West Midlands region is now the only major urban area without a combined authority.

What does it mean for Coventry?

It will mean plans for economic growth, transport, housing and regeneration can be made locally in the West Midlands and not in London.

All councils who are part of a combined authority make joint decisions about spending – decisions previously made in London by Whitehall civil servants and government ministers.

What are the benefits of being part of a combined authority?

Decisions currently made in Whitehall by national politicians and civil servants will be made in the West Midlands rather than in London.

All councils have an equal voice and one vote each in deciding what works best across the West Midlands to deliver economic growth.

Big projects and initiatives – like NUCKLE south scheme (extending railway line from Coventry station to Stratford) can be delivered more quickly

We can develop our own solutions to particular problems – like making sure apprenticeships and training courses meet the manufacturing skills gap we have in Coventry and across the West Midlands

Major schemes that need big cash injections to get off the ground – similar to Friargate – can be financed by the combined authority

If you’ve already made your decision, why are you consulting us?

3 There’s been a lot of media coverage of this issue, so it’s clear that many people believe that a combined authority could see us merging with other councils, or even becoming part of Birmingham. We want to make sure people have all the facts about the decision in principle that’s been made so they understand why the Council believes this is the best way to ensure Coventry’s economic future.

And we want to listen to people’s views about what’s important to them so we can make sure these views influence our priorities. So, we know that travel is a big issue for many people – so we think a priority for a new combined authority could be developing a version of the Oystercard that could make it easy to use buses and trains across the Midlands.

Big manufacturers like Jaguar Land Rover who are expanding their operations right here in Coventry tell us there’s a real problem with getting local people with the right skills to work for them. Developing an apprenticeship scheme across the area that delivers the skills manufacturers need would have real benefits to us all in Coventry – that’s something a combined authority could do, rather than relying on national government schemes that aren’t tailored for what we need here.

Getting residents’ views on issues like these is important, and the government will look at these carefully when they carry out their consultation on a combined authority later in the year

Why are we considering this particular area?

A combined authority is required to cover an area that makes sense economically – such as an area in which many people commute to work or where there are strong links between local firms, universities and other institutions.

Forming a combined authority based on the same geography as the three local enterprise partnerships in the West Midlands has many practical advantages. It means that a West Midlands combined authority would be the largest of its kind in the country - and second only to London - representing the interests of four million people in the region.

What powers would councils lose if they became part of a combined authority?

None. This is about central government – Whitehall – devolving powers to the region, not individual councils giving up power to the region.

4 Would we lose control over local decisions, like house building or planning approvals?

No. Local councils will continue to make the decisions over local issues.

Will it mean a single big council that means we will lose our local identity?

No, a combined authority is not a replacement for existing councils and councils do not merge to form a single new body when they create a combined authority. Each member council continues to provide local services and to represent the local area in the same way they did before.

The leaders of the councils within a combined authority are accountable to their own council and their councillors and through them to their local residents and businesses.

Why can't we stay the same – why do we have to make a decision about this now?

Birmingham and the Black Country councils have already decided to move forward with proposals for a combined authority. So even if we did nothing we’d have to change many of the ways we work together already on things like transport across the West Midlands – the role and function of Centro, for instance, in the future would have implications on bus and train travel schemes across the region. The Council has a legal responsibility for the economic, social and environmental wellbeing of residents, so the Council is legally obliged to consider the impact of government policies – such as the new government’s announcement about English devolution – and how Coventry people could benefit. That’s what we’re doing now.

What has Coventry got to do with Birmingham?

Since 1986 Coventry and the other six metropolitan districts (Solihull, Birmingham, Sandwell, Walsall, Dudley and Wolverhampton) have been part of the West Midlands joint committee, which has a role in the oversight of policing, the fire service and transport.

Coventry is one of seven councils along with Birmingham who make up the West Midlands Integrated Transport Authority, which is responsible for public transport, including Centro. We jointly own Birmingham Airport with the other six councils and other public services, like the probation service are run across the West Midlands. We already work with Birmingham and other councils in the region very closely without losing our own identity and sovereignty.

5 But we also have strong economic links with Warwickshire and would like councils in Warwickshire to join the combined authority too. Currently several district councils are involved in discussions about the principle of joining a combined authority.

What about the LEPs?

Local enterprise partnerships are partnerships between local authorities and businesses. They consider what the priorities should be for investment in roads, buildings and facilities in the area to drive economic growth and prosperity. Combined authorities do not remove the need for LEPs, but makes it easier for joint working between the LEPs and councils with LEP chairs being part of the combined authority board.

Is this just another layer of bureaucracy? Would councillors get additional payments to sit on the combined authority?

No. The combined authority will make use of existing staff and finances and the decisions will be made by the existing council leaders working together who already receive an allowance for working on these sorts of issues.

What about an elected mayor for the region?

Although we don’t have to have one the Government has made it clear that areas that do go for this – like Manchester – will get the most powers from Whitehall. And if we did go for one their powers and responsibilities would be negotiated with Government as part of a devolution deal.

We are at very early stages with the detail of a combined authority. Combined authorities do not have to have elected metro mayors and so far only Greater Manchester has agreed to have one. This was negotiated by central Government with all the councils involved without a referendum.

There is no common blueprint for a metro mayor and the role would depend on negotiations with central government on the powers to be devolved down to the mayor from Whitehall. In Greater Manchester it is proposed that the mayor will chair the Combined Authority which will still be made up of the Leaders of all the Greater Manchester councils. Certainly this role would not be exactly the same as, say, the Mayor of London, and would not take on any responsibilities currently delivered by councils like Coventry.

6 But we’re some way off from making that decision, so we need to understand what it would mean for the West Midlands if we went down that route.

Coventry and Warwickshire LEP has been pretty successful and delivered lots of funding to the region – couldn't we be a combined authority with Warwickshire alone?

There are bigger economic prizes from being part of a bigger area. This new proposal combines the best of both worlds. We want Warwickshire – and Solihull – to be part of a West Midlands combined authority.

When will you make a final decision?

This is the beginning of the process. The Council has agreed in principle to look to form a combined authority on a preferred geography of Coventry and Warwickshire with councils from Greater Birmingham and Solihull and the Black Country LEP areas. This means that these councils can undertake a review together to consider how well the current arrangements promote the economic growth of the area and the prosperity of local people and businesses.

Ifthe councils all then agree that they wish to put proposals to Government this will need to be approved by each of the individual councils. The Secretary of State will consider the proposals and then consult again and then make the decision. The Secretary of State then will need to get the formal approval of Parliament for his decision.

Currently the timetable looks like this:

 June to September – local engagement with residents and key stakeholders.  14 July – Full Council debate and decision on the principle of joining a combined authority  1 August to 7 September – engagement across West Midlands with businesses, universities and key partners.  September 2015 –Full Council debate and decision on whether to proceed and submit scheme to the Secretary of State for consideration.  Autumn 2015 – Secretary of State carries out further consultation in the West Midlands including with neighbouring local authorities; Coventry residents, businesses, universities and key partners.  April 2016 – establishment of new combined authority.

Will the public get a say in this?

7 In Coventry councillors have agreed that it’s important that residents have as much information as possible with plenty of opportunities to have their say, so an engagement programme with residents, businesses and other key partners will run throughout July and August.

The Secretary of State will only recommend that our proposal goes ahead if it will improve decision making and efficiency and achieve better results on transport and economic development.

What will the public debate involve in Coventry?

Over the next few months we’ll be talking to as many people as we can about what a West Midlands combined authority really means. Clearly the business community and partners like our universities are really important because they have such an important stake in our economic future.

There will be plenty of ways that residents can get involved in the debate – by attending ward forums and special drop-in sessions in the city centre and in other parts of the city where they will be able to talk about the issues they’re concerned about. They will also be able to share their views online and write to us.

A special citizens’ panel – a small group of Coventry people who represent all walks of life in the city – is also being established to gather residents’ concerns and issues about a combined authority, and make sure they’re addressed. This work is being carried out independently of the Council, so watch out for more updates over the coming weeks. The work is being carried out by the Democratic society, a not for profit organisation which works to get people directly involved in political debate. Although they work with governments, they are independent of any political parties.

There’s more information on this in the Have your Say section, and we’ll be updating this over the next few weeks as more details are finalised We’ll also be sharing this information with the media and producing leaflets which will distribute as widely as we can in libraries and other council venues so you can find out more.

Are you spending £250,000 on consulting us about this?

8 Members of the Council’s Cabinet have agreed to allocate a budget of up to £250,000 to facilitate engagement with residents, local businesses, the city’s universities and other key partners and undertake and also to strengthen the economic analysis required to inform the work on a devolution deal. So some of this funding will be used on economic analysis to make sure the benefits of joining a combined authority are understood in detail.

Where we can we are using existing resources to engage with residents – ward forums, for instance, the double page spread in Citivision, drop-in sessions in Council premises do not need extra funding. We’re spending around £6,000 carrying out a survey of residents’ views. The cost of producing leaflets, posters and displays with information about combined authorities will cost hundreds, not thousands of pounds.

There will be a more significant cost attached to the Citizens’ Panel, which will allow us to explore the issue of combined authorities in detail. This has to be set up independently of the Council to ensure its impartiality. We have not yet finalised these costs.

We will continue to share details of the costs involved in the engagement programme as they’re finalised – it’s important that residents have this detail. But we are not expecting the total cost to be anything like £250,000.

What will be the name of the combined authority?

It is being proposed to call the new combined authority the West Midlands Combined Authority.

How will money be allocated to cities and districts in a combined authority?

In terms of finance for the combined authority, there won't be a set amount per head of population for each council. The government will pass on funding for the combined authority that previously was allocated and decided on in Westminster. So decisions about transport investment, for instance, would be made by the West Midlands leaders of councils each with an equal vote in a combined authority, instead of the current system where government ministers and civil servants make decisions about funding these kinds of projects.

These decisions would be based on a formal assessment of the benefits of any scheme or programme to the local economy and local residents for example in terms of productivity, jobs and skills. Another example is skills funding - across the area leaders may decide that we could provide a better programme of apprenticeships and further education courses by focusing on the skills needed by employers and residents in the West Midlands and funding

9 the provision of training and support for these, rather than just the current national programme or initiative.

The key is that powers, responsibilities and funds move from Whitehall to the West Midlands. By doing this we think we can make decisions that take account of our area's needs and ambitions more effectively than London based politicians and civil servants.

10