Lead Member – Mr Malcolm Pate – Leader of the Council and Portfolio Holder for Strategy, Financial Strategy, Budget and Business Plan.

Report of the Chief Executive is attached, marked 6.

Contact: Clive Wright 01743 254312

RESOLVED:

i)  That Shropshire Council become a non-constituent member of the West Midlands Combined Authority.

ii)  That authority be given for the Chief Executive, in liaison with the Leader of the Council and the Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Business and Economy, to carry out the necessary arrangements for becoming a non-constituent member and to represent Shropshire Council on the West Midlands Combined Authority in discussions and negotiations in the run up to mayoral elections in 2017.

iii)That Cabinet receive a progress report on devolution developments at regional and national level at a timely future date, at which point further recommendations may be tabled. 

The Leader presented a report by the Chief Executive outlining the rationale for Shropshire Council to become a non constituent member of the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA), and the potential long term economic growth benefits to the County in doing so.  It was confirmed that as a non-constituent member, the Council would remain independent, retaining all of its current powers.  

RESOLVED:

i)  That Shropshire Council become a non-constituent member of the West Midlands Combined Authority.

ii)  That authority be given for the Chief Executive, in liaison with the Leader of the Council and the Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Business and Economy, to carry out the necessary arrangements for becoming a non-constituent member and to represent Shropshire Council on the West Midlands Combined Authority in discussions and negotiations in the run up to mayoral elections in 2017.

iii)That Cabinet receive a progress report on devolution developments at regional and national level at a timely future date, at which point further recommendations may be tabled.