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PRIVACY
Economic Development

Birmingham Chambers call for greater say on region's future

Companies in the West Midlands need more power to control the tax raised here and better engagement in regional politics

Lord Heseltine who has been a big supporter of shifting powers away from London

Businesses need a voice in a less centralised º£½ÇÊÓÆµ - and the West Midlands needs a greater say in its destiny - lobby groups claim.

Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce (GBCC) has called for the region to control more of the tax raised here and for companies to be engaged in a change in regional politics.

A chamber spokesperson said: "All of us outside London should have much more say over our destinies.

"Local businesses deserve a say in how a new, less centralised º£½ÇÊÓÆµ is governed in future."

He added: "A situation where central government retains and decides how to spend 95 per cent of taxes raised locally should not be allowed to prevail."

The chamber is a partner with ThinkBirmingham on an event called Empowering Cities taking place on September 29 which aims to provide a platform for the debate.

Speakers will include Chris Murray, chief executive of Core Cities Group; Kevin Johnson, of ThinkBirmingham; Andrew Carter, deputy chief executive at Centre for Cities; Waheed Saleem, chair of the Lunar Society; and Dr Steven McCabe, of Birmingham City University.

Tim Pile, president of the chamber, who will chair the event, said: "Cities are the driving force behind the º£½ÇÊÓÆµ economy but only control a fraction of the money they raise.