Solihull is “some time away” from signing up to a , according to its leader.
Birmingham and four councils in the Black Country have already agreed to create a new authority for the West Midlands, with Coventry and parts of Warwickshire set to follow, but Solihull remains the most reticent.
Speaking to the Post, Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council leader Coun Bob Sleigh said it was an “exploratory process” currently being discussed by the authority’s cabinet, but he was some way away from an announcement.
READ MORE: {}
Meanwhile, work has already begun on the new combined authority, with an ambitious target of April set to have all members in place and a clearly-defined strategy for powers like skills and policing to be devolved from central government.
Coun Sleigh said: “I think it is some time away and there is a lot of work to be done.
“I think some overall evaluation is needed of what this would mean over and above what we currently have in place.
“I have to take this through the democratic process.
“What we have agreed to do at this stage is explore options and that is what we will do.”
Most Read
The Post reported as long ago as April that Solihull was the for the new authority, which is vital to devolve powers and access tens of billions of pounds of funding.
Authorities in Birmingham, , , and signed an agreement to create the new body last week and sent a .
The Post understands Coventry City Council has also agreed to sign up – but has yet to rubber stamp the move which promises to attract hundreds of millions of pounds of investment to the region.
The creation of a combined authority is a vital step to devolve powers currently held in Westminster to the regions, over areas like development, housing and skills.