There is less than a year to go before the West Midlands elects its first mayor - but what powers should the new leader have?
Should the elected figurehead be able to order mass house building schemes? Or should they be able to raise taxes and business rates?
These are among a series of questions being asked of residents, businesses and community groups ahead of the role being finalised by Parliament.
The mayor is due to be elected on May 4, 2017 and is expected to oversee region wide policy on transport, housing, economic growth and mental health.
Currently Euro-MP Sion Simon and former council social services chief Steve Bedser, are battling it out for their party鈥檚 nomination. While former business minister Lord Digby Jones has indicated he would stand as an independent.
An online consultation has now been launched by the (WMCA) the group of councils and business leaders who have taken on devolved powers and 拢8 billion extra funding from Government.
It is asking how much power should the new mayor have. There that the mayor could be 鈥榮mothered鈥 by the seven council leaders, chairing their committee rather than taking a stronger leadership role.
Powers being considered include :
鈥 Strategic transport - region wide road, rail and bus networks
鈥 Environment - particularly pollution busting measures to improve air quality and reduce ill health
鈥 HS2 growth - delivering 拢4.4 billion transport and infrastructure improvement to ensure entire region benefits from high speed rail
鈥 Housing - taking over from Government appointed Housing and Communities Agency to deliver major housing development
鈥 Could place additional levy on business rates and council tax to deliver region wide policies
results will be handed to Local Government Secretary Greg Clark to consider when he sets out the role and responsibilities of the mayor in the Parliamentary order later this year.
WMCA chairman Bob Sleigh, the Conservative leader of Solihull council, said: 鈥淭he idea of a mayor for the WMCA area is to provide a strong voice for the region. They would also be an ambassador for the area, selling it on the global stage. They would be the point of contact when the Government want to speak to 鈥榯he West Midlands鈥 and be responsible for driving the Devolution Agreement within government and the region.
鈥淚 encourage residents, businesses, community groups and partners from across the region to complete the consultation and have their say.鈥
