Telford & Wrekin Council has announced that it is pulling out of the Birmingham, Coventry and the Black Country City Region with immediate effect.
Council Leader Andrew Eade said: “I’ve always said that we would stay in the City Region to try and maximise any benefits to our community here in the borough.
“But recent announcements suggesting changing statutory requirements for membership have caused us to reconsider this and look at working together with our existing partners and neighbours without retaining formal membership of the City Region.”
“We have contributed strongly to the City Region since this administration came to power, even though we were wary of the Government’s regional arrangements.
“In the meantime, we have built up very good working relationships with the other West Midlands authorities and we want to continue exploring with them where we can work together more efficiently and effectively.
“This is especially important in the work we have been doing together on employment and skills, which has brought in over £350,000 to the borough over the last couple of years.”
“Withdrawing from the formal arrangements now leaves the rest of the City Region free to pursue city region pilot status. We wish our colleagues every success in pursuing this goal”.
