2015-05-28 18:05:55 +0100
To: The Leader of Coventry City Council
Let Coventry residents decide whether or not they should be part of WMCA
Hold a referendum giving Coventry residents the opportunity to decide whether or not Coventry becomes part of the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) with Birmingham, the Black Country and Solihull, and possibly Warwickshire, Hinckley and Bosworth.
This combined authority was formerly known as 'Greater Birmingham'
This combined authority was formerly known as 'Greater Birmingham'
Why is this important?
Coventry City Council is supporting the proposal that it, alongside other Warwickshire councils in Coventry and Warwickshire’s Local Enterprise Partnership, joins the Greater Birmingham and Solihull LEP and Black Country LEP to form a West Midlands Combined Authority (this has been confirmed as the name of the CA).
Despite the fact that many residents have concerns about Coventry playing very much the second fiddle to Birmingham, as it did in the old West Midlands County Council days, our Council is not intending to canvas the opinion of residents through a referendum.
I do not believe that such a decision about the City, which will have an impact for decades ahead, should be made without full consultation and an extensive and public discussion of all the pros and cons.
Despite the fact that many residents have concerns about Coventry playing very much the second fiddle to Birmingham, as it did in the old West Midlands County Council days, our Council is not intending to canvas the opinion of residents through a referendum.
I do not believe that such a decision about the City, which will have an impact for decades ahead, should be made without full consultation and an extensive and public discussion of all the pros and cons.
