Council out of city 'club'

Telford & Wrekin Council today announced it is pulling out of the controversial Birmingham, Coventry and the Black Country City Region with immediate effect.

Its Tory leaders have always been uneasy about belonging to the Birmingham-based economic "club" – a policy inherited from their Labour predecessors. Now they have decided it is no longer worth it.

Council leader Andrew Eade said: "I've always said we would stay in the City Region to try and maximise any benefits to our community. 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."

He said Telford's Conservative rulers had contributed strongly to the City Region, even though they were wary of regionalisation.

"We have built up very good working relationships with the other West Midlands authorities and want to continue exploring with them where we can work together more efficiently and effectively," he said.

"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."