Local Government Must Play a Leading Role in Driving the Region Forward
The Chairman of an influential new group of Midlands politicians has challenged local government to provide clear and decisive leadership for the region – and issued a stark warning about the future if councils do not rise to the challenge.
Councillor Ken Taylor, Chairman of the new West Midlands Leaders' Board, made up of council leaders from across the region, outlined the challenges facing the West Midlands at a meeting of the board held in Birmingham on Wednesday 28 October.
"No-one is in any doubt that this region has been dealt a major blow by the recession and we will need to work harder than other areas to recover. That means we've got to be very clear about our priorities and work together with businesses and other agencies to deliver them for the benefit of everyone who lives and works here," he said.
"There's no room for small town politics here – we've got to think clearly and strategically and be prepared to make some potentially tough decisions if we're to succeed as a region. We haven't done enough of that in the past, and other regions have benefited as a result of what – frankly – has been a fragmented approach to some key issues.
“But the new board gives us the chance to address this and is a real opportunity for local government to take collective action, develop a strong and clear voice for the region and make sure we're leading the way. We can't let this opportunity go, and my challenge is to everyone working in local government – whatever their politics – to be prepared to focus on the future for the region. "
Priorities identified included the need for local authorities to facilitate and support business to drive growth, work together to maximise the public funding coming into the Region and how the skills of the workforce can be developed to meet the current and future needs of our employers.
The Leaders' Board brings together the elected leaders of all 33 local authorities in the West Midlands. As the new decision making body for local government in the region, it has taken over the role formerly carried out by the West Midlands Local Government Association and is set to replace the West Midlands Regional Assembly which is due to be abolished next year.