Revealed: Shropshire Council prepared to join West Midlands Combined Authority in U-turn

The move to join West Midlands Combined Authority is a U-turn on its previous policy.

Former Shropshire Council leader Keith Barrow said the council had "more synergy" with places like Staffordshire.

But members of Shropshire Council's cabinet have now been recommended, in a report by chief executive Clive Wright, to apply to join the West Midlands authority.

The move, which would cost £25,000 a year, has already been backed by Shropshire Council's deputy leader and cabinet member for business and economy Steve Charmley.

Cabinet members will have to make a decision by Wednesday.

Councillor Charmley said: "This is a vitally important opportunity for Shropshire to take control of our own economic growth and prosperity and play a key role in the future economic growth of our county and the wider region.

"This deal will bring great benefits for Shropshire and for the people who live and work here, as well as those businesses already operating in the county and those who will be attracted to set up here."

Following a decision, the council could make an application ahead of West Midlands Combined Authority "going live" on June 1 this year. Shropshire would, like Telford, be a "non-constituent" member.

Council leader Malcolm Pate said that should the case be put forward showing the benefits, it would be right to make the decision.

He said: "The Government has developed the devolution programme and WMCA has been put forward.

"We are looking at a few things to do with devolution that work to the best advantages of Shropshire people and one of the things we are looking at which we are going to discuss is whether or not we make an application to be a non-constituent member to the combined authority.

"We would not be led by the mayor and we would have total control of our own affairs – it would be more of a political arrangement.

"It is obvious they want to push this devolution programme and if we want extra powers and collective money we are going to have to do some form of devolution."

The WMCA is made up of seven full-member metropolitan boroughs, three local enterprise partnerships, and a current total of five non-constituent members, including Telford & Wrekin Council.

Stratford-upon-Avon District Council is also set to join as a non-constituent member later this year.

Joining the partnership would not take powers away from Shropshire Council and it would remain part of Marches LEP, along with Herefordshire Council and Telford and Wrekin Council. It would also allow the council to do business with others as well as with central government to improve the transport, housing, broadband and mobile infrastructure of Shropshire.