Stratford U-turns to join combined authority

Cllr Chris Saint, leader of Stratford-on-Avon District Council, welcomed the decision.

“I am pleased that the District Council has taken the decision to be part of the West Midlands Combined Authority and aim to maximising the benefits for our district," he said.

“The decision taken means that the District Council will be able to play an active part in the devolution process currently under development.

"This does not represent a 'super council' as each member of the Combined Authority retains its independence and will continue to provide services like planning and refuse and recycling.

"It just means that there will be better collaboration between councils on strategic issues such as investment, skills, housing and economic development.

“We have always been a big believer in partnership working and where you cannot do things on your own, joining a partnership gives you greater resilience, greater freedom and greater spending powers allowing us to make sure our district benefits as much as possible."

Previously, Nuneaton and Bedworth District Council was the only one of the six councils in Warwickshire to join the West Midlands Combined Authority, whose principal members are Birmingham City Council, Coventry City Council, Wolverhampton City Council, Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council, Walsall Metropolitan Borough Council and Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council.