A new devolution deal between the West Midlands Combined Authority and central Government has been ratified which could see new housing and levelling up zones come to the region.
The so-called deeper devolution deal was approved at the latest meeting of the combined authority's board and contains around 190 commitments.
The total value of the deal is estimated at £1.5 billion and will put more cash and power in the hands of local leaders to invest in priorities such as public transport, skills and housing.
Under the deal, which was announced by the Government in the Spring Budget in March, the combined authority will see a new long-term funding settlement that will enable the mayor and local councils to plan ahead.
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Among the main elements of the deal are a housing deal worth up to £500 million to drive brownfield regeneration, greater control over local finances, including retention of business rates for the next decade, and up to six levelling up zones, backed by 25-year business rate retention.
There will also be measures to tackle digital exclusion, including greater influence over high-speed broadband investment, greater responsibility for delivering careers advice and devolution of the bus service operator grant.
There is also a commitment to a new partnership with national arts and culture organisations to shape their investment in regional cultural priorities.
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West Midlands Mayor Andy Street said: "This £1.5 billion deeper devolution deal marks a step change in the relationship between Whitehall and the West Midlands - with the single settlement putting us on similar footing to a government department and empowering our region's local leaders to allocate funds in the way they determine will best serve local people.
"This builds on the previous deals we've struck with the Government - granting us greater control over key areas like transport, housing and regeneration.
"It marks the beginning of the end of what I've described in the past as the begging bowl culture where we must regularly submit bids for various pots of money on a piecemeal basis."
A feature of the devolution deal includes a 'single settlement' where, for the first time, a region will be treated as if it were a government department, enabling West Midlands leaders to prioritise, target and decide how funding is spent in key areas from the next spending review onwards.
Currently, the combined authority receives funding via various government pots, each with different timescales and overlapping accountability.
Instead, the Government will allocate the single settlement to the West Midlands and give local leaders greater flexibility and more control to deliver projects and initiatives aligned to local needs.